LA Art Book Fair

LA Art Book Fair
Wil540 art · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	LA Art Book Fair
Genre	Art fair, book fair, publishing
Location	Los Angeles, California
First	2013
Frequency	Annual
Organized	Printed Matter, Inc.

LA Art Book Fair The LA Art Book Fair is an annual gathering centered on artists' books, independent publishers, zines, and contemporary art publishing that brings together international artists, writers, curators, and collectors in Los Angeles at major cultural venues. Founded and produced by Printed Matter, Inc., the fair has become a focal point for networks linking Galleries, Museums, Biennials, and independent Institutions across the United States, Europe, and Asia.

History

The fair was launched by Printed Matter, Inc. in 2013 following precedents set by the NY Art Book Fair and longstanding book fairs such as the Frankfurt Book Fair and Mode d'emploi-style events; early editions featured contributions from participants associated with MOMA, Getty Center, Tate Modern, MoMA PS1, and prominent independent presses. Its evolution paralleled growth in artist publishing traced to figures like Ed Ruscha, Jenny Holzer, Sol LeWitt, and Fluxus practitioners, and engaged with movements represented by Duchamp, Conceptual Art, Feminist Art, and Situationist International. Over time the fair expanded programmatically in response to initiatives from curators linked to LA County Museum of Art, Hammer Museum, UCLA, CalArts, and international curators from SculptureCenter, Serpentine Gallery, and Whitechapel Gallery.

Organization and format

Organized by the nonprofit Printed Matter, Inc., the fair employs a model of vendor tables, curated booths, and project spaces that echoes the layout of major events like the Venice Biennale and Documenta. Management involves collaboration with municipal partners such as the City of Los Angeles cultural affairs offices, and institutional partners including Getty Research Institute and university programs at UCLA and CalArts. The fair's format typically mixes commercial sales with free programming funded through grants from foundations like the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, corporate sponsors, and membership drives modeled after Museum of Modern Art and Whitney Museum funding strategies.

Exhibitors and participants

Exhibitors range from established independent publishers such as Aperture, Taschen, D.A.P., and Phaidon to artist-run presses connected to Eastgate Systems, Primary Information, Siglio Press, and Ugly Duckling Presse. Participants include galleries with book programs like Metro Pictures, Gagosian, Hauser & Wirth, and artist initiatives tied to CalArts, Otis College of Art and Design, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and international programs from The Royal Academy, École des Beaux-Arts, and Goldsmiths. Notable artists and editors who have participated include practitioners associated with Cildo Meireles, Barbara Kruger, Christian Marclay, Ragnar Kjartansson, Nicolas Bourriaud, and publishers linked to Kramer's Books and Rizzoli.

Programs and events

The fair's public program features artist talks, panel discussions, readings, and performances with speakers drawn from institutions such as Museum of Contemporary Art (Los Angeles), LACMA, Getty Center, New Museum, Institute of Contemporary Art, and academic programs at Columbia University, NYU, and University of Chicago. Special projects often commission work from curators associated with Biennale of Sydney, São Paulo Biennial, Berlin Biennale, and guest curators from Tate Modern, Centre Pompidou, and Stedelijk Museum. Workshops and educational sessions have included collaborations with archives like The Archive of Modern Conflict, artist-run spaces like The Hammer, and publishing houses including Black Dog Publishing and Skira.

Impact and reception

Critics and cultural commentators from publications such as Artforum, ARTnews, Frieze, The New Yorker, and Los Angeles Times have debated the fair's role in reshaping contemporary publishing ecosystems, situating it alongside the influence of the Independent Presses movement and the resurgence of interest in print culture exemplified by historical precedents like The Little Magazine movement. The fair has been credited with amplifying the profiles of emerging presses like Inventory Press and Kaya Press and with fostering networks connecting regional initiatives including Espace and Non-Profit Art Spaces. International coverage in outlets such as The Guardian, Deutsche Welle, and Le Monde has underscored its position within global cultural circuits linking Los Angeles to hubs like New York City, London, Berlin, Tokyo, and Mexico City.

Venue and logistics

Traditionally held at large exhibition venues in Los Angeles—including partnerships with institutions on Fisherman’s Village-style piers, converted warehouses in Downtown Los Angeles, and campus facilities at UCLA and CalArts—the fair coordinates site logistics comparable to those of Art Basel and Frieze Los Angeles. Infrastructure planning involves transport and customs arrangements for international exhibitors from regions such as Europe, East Asia, Latin America, and Oceania, and requires curatorial oversight similar to practices at Venice Biennale and Documenta. Visitor services include ticketing systems, catalog distribution, and collaborations with local cultural institutions like The Broad, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and Los Angeles County Museum of Art to integrate the fair into the city's broader cultural programming.

Category:Art book fairs