Saint Lucy Books was established in 2017 by artist and writer Mark Alice Durant. Our first book, Hidden Mother by Laura Larson, was shortlisted for the Aperture / Paris Photo Best Photobook of the Year. Since then, we have released 12 critically-acclaimed titles. Saint Lucy works on one book at a time; we value collaboration and respect to produce elegant, idiosyncratic, and accessible books that combine words and images to celebrate contemporary photographic artists, and to explore the marginal, hidden, and parallel histories of photography.

The name Lucy derives from the Latin word for light—Lux. Saint Lucy was a young Christian, living in Siracusa Sicily in the third century, who was martyred during the Diocletian Persecution when she refused to marry a pagan nobleman. She suffered numerous tortures for her refusal. One apocryphal version of the story has Saint Lucy taking out her own eyes and offering them to her would-be suitor because he admired them, declaring “Here are my eyes that you desire, now leave me to God.” Saint Lucy is the patron saint of the blind and protector of sight. In devotional images she is most often portrayed holding a golden platter on which her eyes rest. Saint Lucy Books’ logo derives from a 1474 painting by Francesco del Cossa in which a regal Lucy proffers a stem adorned with eyes in place of blossoms. The palm branch in her right hand represents victory over evil. Saint Lucy’s feast day is December 13, which in the Julian calendar was thought to be the longest night of the year. Lucy acknowledges darkness and the coming of light.

Mark Alice Durant: Publisher and Editor

Guenet Abraham: Art Direction and Book Design

Sara Hinterlong: Editorial Assistant and Website Design