Printed Matter is pleased to announce the appointment of Lesley A. Martin as Executive Director, following an executive search process led by Arts Consulting Group (ACG). Lesley comes to the organization with more than 25 years of extensive project management, leadership and editorial experience, and with a longstanding commitment to publishing and the art book community. Lesley succeeds Max Schumann, who recently retired from Printed Matter after more than 33 years with the organization, and takes over the role from current Interim Director Krista Manrique.

In her new capacity as Executive Director, Lesley will be responsible for leading the organization’s strategic planning and fiscal management, fundraising, shaping its programs and creative partnerships, as well as overseeing the operations of Printed Matter’s two bookstores. She will be charged with strengthening Printed Matter’s organizational footing and advancing its mission in innovative ways, overseeing 18 full- and part-time staff, and working in partnership with the Printed Matter Board of Directors.

Lesley joins Printed Matter from her previous role as Creative Director of the nonprofit publisher Aperture, an organization committed to conversations around photography, where she worked in various capacities over the last two decades. Among her achievements during this time, she edited more than 150 books of photography, founded and published The PhotoBook Review for ten years, and co-founded the Paris Photo–Aperture Foundation PhotoBook Awards. She brings a deep familiarity with the contemporary arts publishing landscape, in-depth experience collaborating with artists, securing resources and interfacing with stakeholders, and a strong record developing and managing ambitious and complex projects. She comes to the new role at Printed Matter with an in-depth understanding of not-for-profit arts organizations with publications at their core.

On her appointment to Executive Director Lesley said “It’s a tremendous honor to join the Printed Matter team and to work with an organization that I greatly admire for its contribution to a broader understanding of the potential of artists’ books today, and for its impact on the cultural landscape of the city and beyond. I look forward to collaborating with the staff to support and build on the incredible work that they do, and to steering the organization forward on behalf of artists and the publishing community as a whole.“

Printed Matter’s Board President Phil Aarons said of the appointment “We’re extremely pleased to have Lesley as our new Executive Director. Lesley’s record demonstrates that she is extremely capable of navigating involved projects and that she is fully invested in the power and potential of the book as a medium. We look forward to seeing the creativity she will bring in navigating the challenges and opportunities ahead for Printed Matter as the organization begins a new and exciting chapter.”

Menon Dwarka, Senior Vice President at Arts Consulting Group, shared “ACG is very happy to congratulate Printed Matter on completing the search process, and we thank the Board and staff for their participation in the process. Lesley brings a wealth of knowledge and experience around non-profit work and publications, and has a long history working collaboratively within dynamic arts organizations. We think she will be very well suited to leading the organization.”

Lesley will begin as Executive Director on January 8, 2024.

Photograph by Kris Graves.

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