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| Printed Matter, Inc. | |
|---|---|
| Name | Printed Matter, Inc. |
| Founded | 1976 |
| Founders | Lucy Lippard, Sol LeWitt, Lucy R. Lippard |
| Location | New York City |
| Type | Nonprofit arts organization |
Printed Matter, Inc. is a nonprofit arts organization and bookstore specializing in artist books, independent publications, and artists' multiples. Founded in 1970s New York City art scene contexts, it has operated as a nexus for experimental publishing and distribution linked to Conceptual art, Fluxus, Minimalism, and Feminist art practices. The organization has influenced artists, curators, collectors, and institutions including Museum of Modern Art (New York), Whitney Museum of American Art, and Guggenheim Museum through archival projects, exhibitions, and collaborative programs.
Printed Matter emerged during a period shaped by the activism of figures such as Lucy Lippard, the studio practices of Sol LeWitt, and the curatorial innovations of Hans Haacke, within neighborhoods like SoHo, Manhattan and later Chelsea, Manhattan. Its founding intersected with movements including Fluxus, Conceptual art, and the experimental publishing initiatives seen at Artists Space and A.I.R. Gallery. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s Printed Matter navigated cultural shifts influenced by institutions such as the New Museum and patrons associated with Dia Art Foundation and P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center. Relocations trace ties to real estate developments in Tribeca, Manhattan and Chelsea, aligning with citywide arts policy debates involving New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and community organizations like Lower Manhattan Cultural Council.
The organization’s mission aligns with goals championed by advocates such as Rosalind Krauss and Benjamin H. D. Buchloh: to advance accessibility to artist-made publications and to preserve ephemeral practices associated with Performance art and Mail art. Core activities mirror programs found at Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles and Tate Modern satellite initiatives, including acquisition, cataloging, and public education. Printed Matter engages with curatorial partners like Independent Curators International and research entities such as Rijksmuseum Research to situate artist books within broader collections and scholarship.
Printed Matter operates a bookstore and distribution network that distributes artist books akin to projects by Edition Schellmann, Taschen, and small presses like Primary Information and Semina Culture Center. Its inventory spans works by artists linked to On Kawara, Ed Ruscha, Yoko Ono, John Baldessari, Jenny Holzer, Barbara Kruger, and collectives such as General Idea. Distribution partnerships have included retail collaborations with institutions like the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Walker Art Center, and independent venues such as MoMA PS1. The organization’s publishing activities reference histories documented in archives like Getty Research Institute and libraries such as the New York Public Library.
Printed Matter has hosted fairs, fundraisers, and programming comparable to New York Art Book Fair, LA Art Book Fair, and events organized by Frieze and Art Basel satellite fairs. Its public programs have featured talks and performances by figures including Rachel Harrison, Wendy Carlos, Kara Walker, and scholars from Columbia University and Pratt Institute. Workshops and community initiatives reflect models practiced at Centre Pompidou and Haus der Kunst, while outreach partnerships have tied to local groups like Brooklyn Arts Council and national organizations such as Americans for the Arts.
Governance has involved boards and leadership practices comparable to nonprofit arts institutions including Creative Time and Artforum-linked initiatives. Funding streams parallel those of similar organizations, deriving from grants by agencies such as the National Endowment for the Arts, support from foundations like the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts and Guggenheim Foundation, and revenue from sales and memberships. Administrative collaborations and legal frameworks engage firms and advisors connected with New York Foundation for the Arts and philanthropic entities like Open Society Foundations.
Printed Matter’s collaborations have included exhibitions and projects with artists and institutions such as Sol LeWitt wall drawings, publications by Ed Ruscha, artist book projects with Yoko Ono, and curated shows in partnership with Museum of Modern Art (New York), Whitney Museum of American Art, Serpentine Galleries, and Hammer Museum. The organization participated in landmark events alongside the Venice Biennale and satellite programming during Documenta cycles, and has worked with galleries like Gagosian and David Zwirner for special projects and benefit auctions.
Printed Matter’s influence is reflected in citations and acquisitions by major collections at Museum of Modern Art (New York), British Library, Library of Congress, and university libraries including Yale University Library and Smithsonian Institution Research Libraries. Critical reception appears in periodicals and scholarship such as Artforum, October (journal), The New York Times, and monographs from Thames & Hudson. Its role in legitimizing artist publications has been discussed by critics and historians including Hal Foster, Claire Bishop, and curators affiliated with New Museum and Tate Modern, informing pedagogies at institutions like Cooper Union and Rhode Island School of Design.
Category:Artist books Category:Non-profit organizations based in New York City