About the studio
bd-studios.com is the art and publishing studio by luke kurtis. We publish artists’ and poetry books, organize exhibitions and performances, and more. We approach publishing as a creative practice—each project is an experiment in medium, format, and concept, transformed into bold and unconventional works of art.
As the art studio and publishing-as-practice platform of its founder, kurtis helms all aspects of the studio and press—including creative, editorial, and operational—while collaborating with a range of artists and writers to bring their projects to life. The studio is as much an artistic gesture as it is a production space: a conceptual container for hybrid, interdisciplinary work.
Much of what we publish is by queer creators. We are a progressive press exploring themes such as architecture, art, design, history, language, music, nature, sexuality, spirituality, and technology. We focus on print-on-demand paperbacks and eBook editions—mass-produced readymades that circulate like traditional books but function as conceptual art objects. Our titles are available directly from bd or through your favorite bookseller, distributed by Ingram.
What we publish
Our line of Artists’ Books features titles by Michael Tice (painting), Michael Harren (music and performance art), Jonathan David Smyth (photography), and Donald Tarantino (printmaking). Our Poetry Books feature work by Dudgrick Bevins, William Doreski, Sandy Hiortdahl, and Anastasia Walker. We are always interested in connecting with artists and poets whose work resonates with our values and approach.
In addition to books, we produce small-batch zines (handmade in limited quantities), postcards, prints, t-shirts, and other objects that blur the line between merchandise and artwork. These projects are distributed through our shop, which functions less like a traditional store and more like a gallery—an exhibition space where objects can circulate and be held, read, worn, or shared.
Visit the Press Room for news about our projects and a selected bibliography.
About luke kurtis
luke kurtis is a conceptual and interdisciplinary artist working at the intersection of visuals, text, and tech. His practice is driven by ideas, not mediums. He uses familiar formats—books, albums, videos, and more—not to conform to artistic conventions but to play with them. In his hands, a poetry book might function like a sound score; a photo series might echo a piece of music. Pop culture forms often become vessels for experimental content, with the artist performing the roles of poet, musician, or photographer not to “be” those things, but to explore what those categories even mean.
Select projects include INTERSECTION, The Language of History, Angkor Wat, and exam(i)nation, all part of a body of work that blends photography, writing, and design. His albums, including obscure mechanics and electronic quartets, incorporate spoken word, sound art, and experimental music. He also creates short films and video art, including the woods are watching and convergence, both tied to immersive installation works. He has exhibited in galleries and alternative spaces across the country, including solo exhibitions at New York Public Library and Massillon Museum.
bd-studios.com is his long-term publishing-as-practice platform, an ongoing performance of art-making, editing, curating, and collaborating. He is the co-founder of New Lit Salon Press and lives and works in New York City’s Greenwich Village.
For more details about luke’s practice, see his resume.