The Renaissance Society is driven by an unwavering faith in artists and their ideas. We support them to produce new art and, with it, new knowledge, new discourse, and new ways of thinking. This is especially evident in our publications, which have been at the core of our activity since we were founded in 1915.
This is why we are thrilled to announce the establishment of the Joe and Rika Mansueto Publications Program following a $1 million commitment from the Chicago-based philanthropists. We are deeply grateful for this transformative gift, which secures the Ren’s publishing activities for the next 10 years and expands the possibilities of what we can do with our books.
In 2019 we are looking forward to publications with artists Alejandro Cesarco and Liz Magor, plus the catalogue for Unthought Environments. These feature contributions from noted writers such as Julie Ault, Ina Blom, Keller Easterling, Sheila Heti, Wayne Koestenbaum, John Durham Peters, Mitch Speed, and Lynne Tillman.
Recent publications include the catalogue for Let me consider it from here, with new poems from Geoffrey G. O’Brien, Simone White, and Lynn Xu; Sadie Benning: Shared Eye, with texts from John Corbett and Christine Mehring, and an interview between the artist and Julie Ault; and Richard Rezac: Address, with essays by Matthew Goulish, Jennifer R. Gross, and James Rondeau.
The Joe and Rika Mansueto Publications Program will make it possible for us to publish a monograph, catalogue, or artist book to accompany each exhibition, typically four per year. These funds will also enable us to commission more contributors per book, and to work with a wide range of skilled collaborators to produce them.
The Mansuetos’ donation follows the success of our Next Century Fund, a $5 million campaign launched in conjunction with the Ren’s 100th anniversary in 2015. With lead gifts from the Edlis Neeson Foundation, the Pritzker Traubert Foundation, and the Zell Family Foundation, this fund has enabled a significant increase in the production of new artworks by artists including Kevin Beasley, B. Ingrid Olson, and Shadi Habib Allah.
Our publications play an essential role in documenting, sharing, and reflecting on these new commissions, and we are incredibly thankful to the Mansuetos for their generous support.
Visit our online store to view Renaissance Society publications.
