OPEN • SET 2025 Competition & Exhibition
Sponsored by the American Academy of Bookbinding, Open•Set is a prestigious triennial exhibition and competition celebrating the art of finely crafted design bookbindings. The exhibition opens in two parts, reflecting the Open•Set namesake and the two categories the binders complete; the Open Category, in which the artist chooses which textblock to bind, and the Set Category, in which participants bind the same textblock.
The 2025 Open•Set exhibition opens January 21-25 in conjunction with San Francisco Art Week at two prestigious locations, the American Bookbinders Museum and San Francisco Center for the Book. Please join AAB in celebration of the incredible books selected for the Open•Set exhibition.
Open•Set Exhibition Schedule
San Francisco Center for the Book
Open Category Books 2025 Exhibition
January 18 – March 24, 2025
American Bookbinders Museum
Set Category Books 2025 Exhibition
January 11 – March 29, 2025
University of Denver – Anderson Academic Commons
Open•Set 2025 Exhibition
May 2 – August 10, 2025
Opening Reception May 9th from 6:00-8:00
PRIZES & AWARDS
OPEN CATEGORY
1st Prize – Sofia Mendizabal (Argentina)
2nd Prize – Zigor Anguiano Calzada (Spain)
3rd Prize – Sol Rebora (Argentina)
SET CATEGORY
1st Prize – Zigor Anguiano Calzada (Spain)
2nd Prize – Eva Vincze (France)
3rd Prize – Delphine Platten (Canada)
HIGHLY COMMENDABLE AWARDS
Given to those bindings that display skillful treatment of an aspect of binding.
INTERESTING USE OF LEATHER AWARD
Sponsored by J. Hewit & Sons. Given by David Lanning.
Katy Starr-Baum
THE UNIVERSITY OF DENVER INTERNATIONAL PRIZE
Sponsored by the University of Denver, this award recognizes the taste and scrutiny of the OPEN • SET 2025 Jury by purchasing one of the prize-winning bindings designated as most excellent in all aspects of the art of binding and from a submission from outside of the United States; the book will remain in the Special Collections and Archives at the University of Denver.
THE UNIVERSITY OF DENVER BIBLIOPHILE PRIZE
Sponsored by the University of Denver, this award is chosen by a bibliophile named by the University of Denver from among all of the exhibition submissions; the book will remain in the Special Collections and Archives at the University of Denver.