Release Mechanism

Release Mechanism is a (soon-to-be-launched) curated, artist-run platform for mid-career and emerging artists who make books to present new work.

The primary audience for the presentations is librarians, curators, and collectors of artists’ books, but all events will be free and open to the public. The presentations will happen online and will feature performances/readings of the books as well as descriptions of the content and process. Audience size at each event will be limited to allow for extensive questions and conversation.

Events are tentatively scheduled to start in the second half of 2026. All of the events will be recorded and published online as a public archive.

Release Mechanism is artist-run and artist-focused. All of the books presented at the events will be available for purchase through the Release Mechanism/NewLights Press website and 80% of each sale will go to the artist-publisher.

Online presentations are not the ideal way to show books, but the hope is that the series can provide a convenient, efficient, and focused space for librarians and curators to hear directly from artists about their work and engage the artists in conversation. Release Mechanism will be a supplement to fairs and in-person visits by dealers and artists.

Questions can be directed to Aaron Cohick.