Home to literary giants Mark Twain, T.S. Eliot, Marianne Moore, Maya Angelou, and John Keene (to name a few!), St. Louis is renowned for its literary roots. This history lives on in St. Louis’s thriving literary arts scene today. The Literary St. Louis exhibition traces WashU’s engagement in historical and contemporary reading series, print culture, and creative communities to celebrate the legacy of literary arts in St. Louis and the local cultural institutions bringing us literature today. Postdoctoral fellow with the WashU Center for the Literary Arts Ashley Colley organized this exhibition.

Join us for a panel discussion with five local publishers specializing in poetry, fiction, art, and essays. They will share insights into their work, explore the unconventional methods they use, and discuss the benefits and challenges of operating outside the major commercial publishing hubs. Martin Riker, Director of the Publishing Concentration at WashU, will moderate the conversation, with time for audience questions.