In the lead-up to our next group exhibition, Print Is Not Dead, we’ve had the pleasure of visiting the studios and spaces of some of the artists exhibiting work in the show, opening September 6th. This week, we visited The Aesthetic Union in San Francisco.
The Aesthetic Union, founded in 2013 and based in San Francisco’s Mission Creek neighborhood, is a letterpress studio that balances craftsmanship, community, and creativity in our increasingly digital era. Beyond producing finely crafted stationery, art prints, and custom letterpress projects, the studio serves as an inviting physical space where individuals can learn, experiment, and explore the tactile magic of printmaking.
With hands-on workshops, studio and press rentals, and community events, The Aesthetic Union nurtures both novices and seasoned makers, empowering them to transform ideas into tangible works of art. The studio houses an impressive array of vintage equipment—from Vandercook proofing presses to Heidelberg windmills and cylinder machines—holding true to tradition while embracing contemporary design. Run by Katya Kisin, the owner, who manages production, design, and platemaking, alongside press operator William White, a longtime Bay Area printer, this woman-owned studio embodies craftsmanship, stewardship of an analogue medium, and a welcoming creative hub in the heart of San Francisco.
The Aesthetic Union has long fostered creative collaboration through their ongoing AU Split Editions initiative, which invites artists to partner with the studio in producing letterpress projects. Since June, the latest edition—featuring Oakland-based designer and artist Connie Harvey—has been on display. Harvey’s practice, rooted in abstraction from architectural forms and Afro-minimalism, translates into artwork defined by geometric composition, tonal color gradations, and references to natural objects—resulting in a simple yet bold visual language.
As part of the Split Editions model, Harvey and the studio share the edition: each retains half of the limited print run following the printing process, offering a sustainable balance between artistic independence and collective support . The prints, executed with traditional letterpress techniques on heavyweight, acid-free cotton paper and accompanied by signed certificates of authenticity, lend a tactile dimension to the studio’s space—mirroring the hands-on ethos captured in your photographs and underscoring The Aesthetic Union’s commitment to craftsmanship, community, and thoughtfully facilitated collaboration.
You can look forward to viewing work from The Aesthetic Union in our upcoming group exhibition, Print Is Not Dead, opening Saturday, September 6th from 6-9pm. We look forward to seeing you.
Learn more about The Aesthetic Union here.
