Pilot Press is the imprint of artist Richard Porter.

Started in 2017, it is a solo-run endeavour in the countercultural tradition of the gay liberation movement and DIY artist's publishing, with a focus on sharing bold and challenging work that may not find an outlet elsewhere.

Since the beginning, it has been the mission of the press to share the work of unknown and emerging voices alongside the better established, as well as recover those lost to history. The AIDS crisis and what was destroyed plays a central role in the philosophy of the press, and its anthology series (2021-2023) focused on responses to works of art from this period.

The press has a not for profit model and receives no external funding or institutional support, relying entirely on income from sales to pay for printing and distribution. To support its work, you can purchase a fundraising edition, here.

The press's titles are stocked by independent bookshops worldwide including Donlon Books in London, Printed Matter in New York, World Food Books in Melbourne, Burning House Books in Glasgow, Rile* in Brussels and After 8 in Paris.

A selection of publications are also held at several special collections for printed matter, including those at the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York Public Library, Wellcome Collection, University of Cambridge, Glasgow School of Art, National Gallery of Australia and Tate Britain.

In 2023, the press was a finalist for the Republic of Consciousness Prize for Small Presses for publishing My Dead Book,  the debut novel of American writer Nate Lippens. Its titles have also been featured and reviewed by publications including the Guardian, Interview Magazine, TLS, GRANTA, Los Angeles Review of Books, Frieze and The Big Issue.

For enquiries about U.K. and international wholesale, please contact Bryony Lloyd at Public Knowledge Books: bryony@publicknowledgebooks.com. Public Knowledge Books is a new independent distributor championing queer and underrepresented voices.

For anything else, write to pilotpresslondon@gmail.com. Please note that as a very small operation it may not be possible to respond to every message received. The press does not accept submissions from literary agents nor does it subscribe to careerist ideas about writing or publishing.