A Reading List of Artists’ Books published by Printed Matter by Charisma Christal

by Anonymous on 2019-11-28T12:35:00-08:00 in Artists' Books, Illustration, Print Media | 0 Comments

Image courtesy of https://www.printedmatter.org/about

Printed Matter, Inc is “the world’s leading non-profit organization dedicated to the dissemination, understanding and appreciation of artists’ books and related publications.” (printedmatter.org)

Established in 1976 by a group working in the arts, Printed Matter was a response to a rapidly growing public desire for artist made publications. This was namely due to the efforts of interdisciplinary conceptual artists who pioneered book experimentation as an artistic medium.

The Smithsonian Libraries defines artists’ books as “a medium of artistic expression that uses the form or function of “book” as inspiration” (blog.library.si.edu). This “book” takes on many forms, as artists continuously push the limits of this cultural production. Cited to have began around the 1950s in Europe, the art form spread globally, with Ed Rushcha from the United States said to have made some of the first artists’ books out of a complication of photographs. Stemming out of a post-war period, artists’ books were a radical form of artistic production that resisted against conventional and institutionalized artistic practices. These books were economic and mass produced, allowing it to reach a wider audience, ones that were outside the established gallery goers. The medium also aided distribution to multiple locations at a single time, “reach[ing] a larger audience that lends the book its social qualities and increases it’s political possibilities”(printedmatter.org).

After 13 years in its Tribeca location, Printed Matter moved to SoHo in 1989, then again to Chelsea, NY and now it is currently located on 11th Avenue. The moves were all in response to their ever growing success and their influence left a lasting impact on the cultural pulse of each district. Printed Matter has now grown to be a hub for public engagement in the arts and continues to support artists in their productions. In 2004 and 2013 respectively, they founded the NY and LA art fairs, currently the world's largest venues for art book distribution and publishing. Printed Matter now serves as a platform that successfully fosters an environment for the dissemination, understanding and appreciation of artists’ books across the world.

Below are 6 Artists’ Books published by Printed Matter that are a part of Emily Carr Library’s Artists’ Books Collection. The list showcases the quality and diversity of the publication as they produce works that influence the social, political and cultural climate of society.