WINCHESTER, MASS.- The Griffin Museum announced its two photobook exhibitions, the 15th Annual Photobook Exhibition and the 2025 Handmade Photobook Exhibition, showcasing over 50 photobooks in the Griffin Gallery & Library this summer.

15th Annual Photobook Exhibition. The Photography Artist Book Initiative. Juried by Karen Davis and Crista Dix.

The Griffin Museum of Photography opened its 15th Annual Photobook exhibition showcasing the work of over 40 artists working in this format. Photobooks offer their own visual language, often conducive to more narrative qualities and seriality than the standard on-the-wall format.

2025 Handmade Photobook Exhibition. Atelier Gallery | Under Glass. Juried by Sangyon Joo.

The Griffin Museum is presenting the work of 20 artists who have created handmade photobooks. Handmade photography books transcend the digital realm, offering a tangible and deeply personal experience. They are more than mere collections of images; they are crafted narratives. The unique quality of a handmade photobook lies in its tactile nature, where texture, style, and craft converge. The selection of paper, the binding technique, and the attention to detail all contribute to a sensory tangible object of beauty. Each page invites the viewer to not only see, but also to feel the story within.

This dedication to craftsmanship elevates the photobook from a simple album to a cherished artifact, a testament to the photographer’s vision and the enduring power of physical media.

The jurors:

Sangyon Joo was born in Seoul, Korea. She earned her BFA from Seoul National University in 1994 and her MFA from Hongik University in 1999. She studied with Linda Connor and received a second MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute. In 2010, she founded Datz Press and Datz Museum, focusing on photography and books. Since beginning her career as an artist, she has continued to exhibit her work in book form and present it at numerous international art book fairs. Recently, she published Other Ways of Being and held a solo exhibition at Datz Frame. Her works have been featured internationally and are included in numerous private and public collections. She has been deeply engaged in international cross-cultural art exchanges as both an artist and a creative director.

Karen Davis, Co-owner & Curator, Davis Orton Gallery.

Karen is a teacher, gallerist and photographer. For over 15 years she taught Photography Atelier, a portfolio development course in the Boston area at Radcliffe Institute, Lesley University and, most recently, at the Griffin Museum of Photography. She now teaches Portfolio Development and Marketing for Fine Art Photographers and The Self Published Photobook Workshop ONLINE for the Griffin Museum of Photography. Karen has been an invited reviewer of portfolios at the New England Portfolio Reviews, Photolucida in Portland OR, FotoFest in Houston TX and Critical Mass (online/Photolucida) and Magenta Foundation’s Fence project.

Her photographs are in the collections of the CPW, Kingston NY, the Lishui Museum of Photography (China), and the Houghton Rare Books Library, Harvard University, and can be seen at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA). Karen is a Critical Mass finalist and recipient of the CPW Artists Fellowship Award. Her word image book, Still Stepping: A Family Portrait, was published in 2020. A second edition (2022) is available at The Spotty Dog Bookstore in Hudson, Inquiring Mind Bookstore in Saugerties NY, and the Davis Orton Gallery website. Her photographs, photobooks and artist books have appeared in solo and featured exhibits throughout the country.

Crista Dix, Executive Director, Griffin Museum. Crista Dix has spent the last two decades as part of and surrounded by the creative community of photography, serving as the executive director of the Griffin Museum of Photography and previously as the owner of Wall Space Creative. With a passion for visual storytelling, Dix has dedicated her career to promoting and curating photographic artistry. wall space had locations in Seattle and Santa Barbara, showcased emerging and established photographers, fostering dialogue and appreciation for the medium. As the executive director of the Griffin Museum of Photography, located in Winchester, Massachusetts, Dix continues to elevate photographic narratives, offering a platform for diverse voices and perspectives within the art form. With a keen eye for innovation and a commitment to fostering community engagement, Dix’s leadership continues to shape the landscape of contemporary photography, inspiring creative artists and enthusiasts alike. Ms. Dix has written essays about photography, introducing creative artists' work to a broader community. She has been a member of numerous panels and discussions on the craft of photography, juried creative competitions and has participated in major portfolio reviews across the country in cities like Houston, Portland, Los Angeles, Santa Fe and New Orleans.