ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Beau Geste Press: 1970s DIY Publishing Collective Founded by Mexican Émigrés in Rural England

publication · 2026-04-20

In 1971, Felipe Ehrenberg and Martha Hellion, Mexican artists who escaped to Britain after the tragic Tlatelolco massacre in 1968, teamed up with art historian David Mayor to launch Beau Geste Press. They set up shop in a rented farmhouse in Devon, aiming to break down the usual barriers in publishing. Ehrenberg explained their mission in a letter to Transgravity magazine in 1972, saying they wanted to eliminate the annoying process of having to submit work for approval. Though they initially published their own Fluxus-inspired pieces, they later worked with artists like Carolee Schneemann. The press faced challenges when the British Council withdrew support for Cecilia Vicuña's 1973 book, leading to its closure in 1976 as its founders gained fame. A book titled 'Beau Geste Press' (2020, edited by Alice Motard) chronicles this fascinating story, which began with a retrospective at CAPC in Bordeaux.

Key facts

  • Beau Geste Press was founded in 1971 by Felipe Ehrenberg, Martha Hellion, and David Mayor in rural England.
  • The founders were Mexican émigrés who fled to Britain after escaping the 1968 Tlatelolco massacre in Mexico.
  • The press operated from a rented farmhouse in Devon, England.
  • In a 1972 letter, Ehrenberg stated the press aimed to 'cut out the grievous bullshit' of traditional submission processes.
  • The press published Carolee Schneemann's book in 1972, including essays, a comic strip, and a game for couples.
  • Chilean artist Cecilia Vicuña's 1973 book with the press lost British Council funding due to political content, reinstated after staff protests.
  • The press disbanded in 1976 as the founders focused on individual work.
  • A catalogue raisonné, 'Beau Geste Press' (2020, edited by Alice Motard), documents the press's history and output.

Entities

Artists

  • Felipe Ehrenberg
  • Martha Hellion
  • David Mayor
  • Carolee Schneemann
  • Cecilia Vicuña
  • Alice Motard

Institutions

  • Beau Geste Press
  • CAPC
  • Transgravity magazine
  • British Council
  • Bom Dia Boa Tarde Boa Noite
  • Fluxus Fluxorum Festival

Locations

  • England
  • Devon
  • London
  • Britain
  • Mexico
  • Bordeaux
  • France
  • Chile

Sources