Printed Matter’s NY and LA Art Book Fairs are the leading international gathering for the distribution of artists’ books, celebrating the full breadth of the art publishing community. The NY Art Book Fair (NYABF) was initiated in 2006 and the LA Art Book Fair (LAABF) in 2013.
Both Fairs provide an opportunity for artists’ book publishers to distribute their work, connect to a broad audience, and nurture new and longstanding relationships. NYABF and LAABF feature a wide range of artists and collectives, small presses, institutions, galleries, antiquarian booksellers, and distributors, as well as a full calendar of book launches, discussions, performances, and special projects that highlight interdisciplinary artists’ publishing practices.
An archive of each Fair’s participating exhibitors, programs including Classroom audio and video recordings, and more can be found at pmabf.org.
NY Art Book Fair
LA Art Book Fair
From August 10–13, Printed Matter returned to Los Angeles — the first time back since 2019 — to present the 2023 LA Art Book Fair, which took place at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA.
We have yet to confirm dates for the next edition of the LA Art Book Fair. Please be sure to sign up for Printed Matter’s newsletter, where we will first announce an update.
Printed Matter’s Virtual Art Book Fair (PMVABF) took place online from February 25–28, 2021, Opening, Wednesday, February 24.
Since 2005, Printed Matter’s Art Book Fairs have hosted international exhibitors featuring a wide variety of works—from zines and artists’ books to rare and out of print publications, and contemporary art editions. This new Fair expanded upon the rich tradition of our long running and beloved NY and LA Art Book Fairs, including over 400 exhibitors from 43 countries, with online programs, performances, games, and more.
During the Fair, each PMVABF exhibitor presented a dedicated website to feature their projects. On these sites, visitors encountered artists’ books for purchase, book trailers and artist-made videos, panels and talks, music, as well as the chance to interact with exhibitors. While the past year has been challenging for the field of independent and artists’ publishing, we’re grateful and excited for the chance to bring this community together to uplift the important work of new and longstanding publishers. PMVABF was our largest international gathering yet in celebration of artists’ books and art related publishing.