Mr. Richard Leon Press, original owner
ABOUT US
Amatoria Fine Art Books was founded in November 2020, and is owned and operated by Miranda Culp and Laurelin Gilmore.
DISCOVER AMATORIA
For 35 years in Sacramento, Mr. Richard Leon Press amassed an exceptional collection of art books, exhibition catalogs, prints, originals, and doodles on napkins. Some are from the distant past, some from halfway around the world, many from right here in Northern California. His keen eye, open mind, and unwavering dedication to the safekeeping of these treasures was widely known, and the shop, while under his ownership was always impeccably beautiful.
Amatoria Fine Art Books is owned by Miranda Culp and Laurelin Gilmore. Miranda is a published author who has written extensively on the arts, and Laurelin is a working artist with a minor degree in Library Science.
In early 2020, Mr. Press sold his entire collection to an out-of-towner, who hired Laurelin and Miranda to help him sell down and box up. However, it quickly became clear the store had no intention of closing, so later that same year a generous deal was made and Laurelin and Miranda became the proprietors of this legacy enterprise during a global pandemic.
Mr. Press, the original owner, left this earthly plane on November 13, 2020.
Amatoria Fine Art Books draws its name from the satirical epic poem written by Ovid in IBCE, Ars Amatoria, which means "Art of Love," or "book of Love."
ABOUT US
MIRANDA CULP
Miranda Culp grew up in Los Angeles where she spent lots of time around artists, booksellers, actors, and teachers.
She got her B.A in Liberal Arts from Goddard College, and enjoyed her salad days in the Bay Area singing in dive bars and working in bookstores. Since 2013, Sacramento has been her home as a professional writer, editor, and trauma-informed yoga teacher. Miranda has contributed to Submerge Art + Music Magazine and Dame Magazine.
She is the author of a short story collection entitled The Brunt, a local history book called, Becoming the City of Citrus Heights, and the fine press collection of erotic short fiction titled, The Canon of Aphrodesia, produced by First Bite Press, co-authored by Jef Delman and illustrated by Laurelin Gilmore.
LAURELIN GILMORE
Laurelin is a painter, writer, mixed media artist, and sculptor, holding degrees in Fine Arts and Library Science from Sacramento City College.
After interning with the California State Library and the Sacramento County Library, Laurelin went on to earn awards from the Sacramento Fine Art Center, the California State Fair and University Art for her artwork.
Her work has been featured in many publications including the Sacramento News & Review, Inside, Submerge, Dream Broad, Comstock, and Epiphany. Her work has also been featured on Showtime's The L Word, Generation Q. She keeps a working studio at Sacramento’s Verge Center for the Arts and is represented by Artize Gallery in La Quinta, California.
"Really incredible store- I never knew so many art books existed. They have everything and the owners are super knowledgeable."
"It's a great little store for art books of any kind. I have ordered from them and have stopped in to buy books. They are always friendly and treat everybody like friends."
"FINALLY... a real bookstore that is focused on the Arts!! The owners are 2 wonderful women! Very nice and welcoming. I ended up buying a taschen book I didn't expect to find. Check them out!!"