More About Printed Matter

Since its founding, Printed Matter Inc. has helped to define the category of "artists’ books", and we are committed to keeping the field – and all of its categories and definitions – vital and evolving. Printed Matter provides a context for the focused study of artists’ books and a center from which artists can distribute their work throughout the world.

In many cases, Printed Matter is the only outlet for artists whose work is not commercially viable, and oftentimes the first outlet for emerging artists who are just beginning to explore the medium. Printed Matter has always sought to provide a forum for critical engagement with the issues and discussions unique to the field of artists’ books and to forge a connection between this field and other contemporary art practices as well as with the social and political world that contains and affects all art production. Printed Matter''s programming supports the mission of the organization by deepening and broadening the public’s understanding of artists'' publications and by offering individual artists, or groups of artists, greater public exposure.

Distribution of Artists’ Books

Printed Matter currently represents and distributes approximately 15,000 titles by 5,500 artists. The selection process of titles is carried out weekly by a review committee made up of AA Bronson (Director), and Catherine Krudy (Acting Associate Director).

The criteria for selection is exceptionally broad, with the principal condition being that the work must be artwork conceived for the page. As well, each publication must be produced in an edition of 100 or greater and be relevant within the history of artists’ publications.

Printed Matter''s mail-order service offers people throughout the United States and around the world the opportunity to buy and collect artists'' publications. Until 2003, Printed Matter produced an annual catalogue highlighting new books accepted during the year and offering a selection from the back stock as well. These days, mail order is carried out through our website, which catalogues Printed Matter''s entire inventory.

Exhibitions

Printed Matter organizes exhibitions that contextualize artists'' publications historically, aesthetically, and culturally. These exhibitions fall into two categories: works by individual artists and artists' groups who are instrumental to the development of the medium of artists’ books, and group exhibitions that address particular issues or approaches or histories within the field.

Printed Matter’s exhibitions showcase both emerging and established artists and seek to emphasize the connections and the differences between generations of artists working in the field—and at its edges. Recent exhibitions have featured the work of Angelblood, Fiona Banner, Ian Hamilton Finlay, The Fugs, En/Of, General Idea, Guerilla Girls, Jenny Holzer, the Reverend Jen, Allan Kaprow, Sol LeWitt, Micah Lexier, Ligorano/Reese, Justin Lowe, LTTR, Ryan McGinness, Money for Food Press, Olaf Nicolai, NSCAD Press, Yoko Ono, Paper Rad, Michalis Pichler, Ed Ruscha, Dieter Roth, David Sandlin, Tom Sachs, Temporary Services, Sonic Youth, David Tremlett, and Peter Wegner, among many others. (A complete list of exhibitions from 1995 to the present can be found below.)

Book Launches/Lectures/Performances/Readings

Printed Matter organizes book launches, lectures, performances, and readings throughout the year. Recent artists to launch their publications at Printed Matter, include Vito Acconci, Brian Belott, Black Dice, Barbara Bloom, Gregg Bordowitz, Paul Chan, Devon Costello, Jen DeNike, Barbara Ess, Jason Fulford, Liam Gillick, Matthias Herrmann, Katie Holten, Chris Johanson, Eduardo Kac, Martin Kippenberger, Terence Koh, Lovett/Codagnone, John Lurie, Barry McGee, Ryan McGinley, Ryan McGinness, Slava McGutin, Linda Montano, Eileen Myles, Warren Neidich, Esta Partagas, Michalis Pichler, Jack Pierson, Richard Prince, Martha Rosler, Sam Samore, David Sandlin, Laurie Simmons, Amy Sillman, Mike Slack, Buzz Spector, Annie Sprinkle, Peter Sutherland, Nick Thurston, Richard Tuttle, John Waters, Lawrence Weiner, and Peter Wegner.

Publishing

Printed Matter has revitalized its publishing efforts through its Emerging Artist Publication Series, which gives young artists the opportunity to produce a new publication.

Since its inception, this series has distinguished itself through innovative and forward-looking publications by artists such as Angelblood, Reverend Jen, Terence Koh, J. Meejin Yoon, LTTR, Adam Shecter, John Simon, and Scott Treleaven.

In 2007, we have published new work by Kim Beck and Temporary Services, with new titles by Charles Beronio, Matt Keegan, and Josh Smith on their way.

Printed Matter also occasionally publishes prints, multiples, and photographic portfolios as fundraising editions. In November 2004, we published Untitled/Nudes, a portfolio curated by Larry Clark that features the work of Donald Baechler, Cecily Brown, Larry Clark, Ralph Gibson, Terence Koh, Zoe Leonard, Paul McCarthy, Albert Oehlen, Thomas Ruff, and Betty Tompkins.

On the occasion of the NY Art Book Fair in 2006, 2007, and 2008, Printed Matter published editions with Mathew Brannon, Chris Johannson, Josephine Meckseper, Richard Prince, Ed Ruscha, David Shrigley, Paul Chan, Anne Collier with Matthw Higgs, and Johnathan Monk.

Other artists who have produced editions with Printed Matter in the past include Richard Artschwager, John Baldessari, Matthew Barney, Barbara Bloom, Sophie Calle, Francesco Clemente, Gregory Crewdson, Stan Douglas, Eric Fischl, René Green, Robert Gober, Nan Goldin, Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Dan Graham, Mona Hatoum, Jenny Holzer, Roni Horn, Martin Kippenberger, Barbara Kruger, Louise Lawler, David Levinthal, The Estate of Gordon Matta-Clark, Jonas Mekas, Yasumasa Morimura, Claes Oldenburg, Gabriel Orozco, Jack Pierson, Richard Prince, Jason Rhoades, Faith Ringgold, Andres Serrano, Cindy Sherman, Lorna Simpson, Laurie Simmons, Nancy Spero, Kiki Smith, Diana Thater, Richard Tuttle, John Waters, Carrie Mae Weems, Lawrence Weiner, and Christopher Wool.

The NY Art Book Fair

The NY Art Book Fair was initiated in 2006 by Printed Matter in an effort to re-establish New York City as a global center for artists’ books. The first annual fair, held November 17 – 19, 2006, was a runaway success that presented some 70 international exhibitors to over 6,000 people and inspired The New York Times’ Holland Cotter to declare “the NY Art Book Fair…is evidence that alternative is still vital, sexy, and free.” The Fair also featured three days of events including book launches and performances organized by Creative Time and Performa, as well as daily book signings that included Tom Sachs and John Lurie, a bookmaking workshop, and the panel discussion Can you trust an organization over 30? in relation to Printed Matter’s 30th Anniversary. In addition, the Fair featured the retrospective exhibition Replication: The Books of Sol LeWitt.

The second annual NY Art Book Fair took place from September 28 – 30, 2007, bringing in over 8,000 guests and featuring 123 exhibitors with the return of the popular Friendly Fire zone. Artists Ed Ruscha, Josephine Meckseper, and David Shrigley created new limited editions to benefit Printed Matter on the opening night. The full schedule of events—book signings, readings, bookmaking workshops, and performances throughout the Fair’s three days—included a signing by Marilyn Minter, and music performances hosted by ANP Quarterly and Lovely Daze in conjunction with new issue releases. The retrospective exhibition Re-title, Release: the Books of Martin Kippenberger, curated by Phil Aarons and AA Bronson, presented over 150 books by the artist.

The NY Art Book Fair remains the only fair of its size in New York that offers free admission to the public.

www.printedmatter.org

Printed Matter’s website features a fully searchable catalogue of our entire inventory as well as diverse resources on the history of artists’ publications. Archived press releases document the history of Printed Matter''s exhibitions and public programs, and commissioned essays and curated on-line exhibitions of artists'' books present ideas and opinions about trends in the field. The website currently receives two million visits a year, and Printed Matter distributes publications to over 40 countries throughout the world.

Since its launch in 2002, www.printedmattter.org has come to be valued as a vital educational tool and is required reading for university courses on artists’ publications and contemporary art. Any publication Printed Matter has ever carried or currently carries is accessible on the site, complete with bibliographic documentation, content description, and a color image. Printed Matter’s online catalogue now details over 10,000 titles and enables us to promote a huge range of artists to audiences who might not otherwise have the opportunity to study their work.

In February of 2007, Printed Matter added the Research Room to our website to aid students and scholars who utilize www.printedmatter.org differently than a customer visiting the site to purchase a title. The Research Room allows users to search a database of some 10,000 titles within four primary categories (Artist, Title, Publisher, and Keyword) according to 22 sub-categories, such as Book, Periodical, Posters, Emphemera, DVD, PM Edition, etc. Search results include optional images and a bibliographic overview, which can be elaborated by clicking on “more information.” Search results can also be stored and added to so that the user can create a master research document to be viewed or printed later in a session.

Printed Matter has always included essays by artists and scholars on the medium of artists’ publications in our catalogues. The website now features many of these essays in the "Critical Essays" section. Likewise, we began publishing curated lists of artists’ publications on the website. These lists bring together thematically related books and present them along with short explanatory essays.

Educational Outreach

Printed Matter provides lectures and presentations for visiting classes by appointment. These lectures are carried out by Printed Matter’s Catherine Krudy and are focused both on the history of artists’ publications as well as Printed Matter’s role in the field of contemporary art. Typically, Printed Matter is visited by 30 classes per year (approximately 600 students), mostly from universities and colleges located in and around New York City.

The staff of Printed Matter offers a consultation and information service to artists who produce artists'' books, individual members of the public, archives, collections, curators, libraries, and educators. In the last year, Printed Matter has consulted for such institutions as The Museum of Modern Art, New York; The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; Arcadia University; The Brooklyn Museum; The Banff Center for the Arts; as well as numerous other national and international museums, galleries and libraries. Printed Matter also provides a subscription service for major collections, including The Museum of Modern Art, the New York Public Library, and The Brooklyn Museum.

Exhibition History 1995-2008


Since 1978 Printed Matter has had a full schedule of public programs designed to educate the public about various aspects of artists'' publications and related artistic practices.

Following is a recent history:

Artists'' Books by African Americans, February 1995
Children''s Books by Artists, July 8 - August 26, 1995
Selected Titles by Dick Higgins, August 1995
Ian Hamilton Finlay, September 21 - November 11, 1995
A Selection of French Artists'' Books, October 1995
Wedge - A Publication from the Early 1980''s, October 1995
New Books from London: Coracle and Bookworks, November 14 - November 30, 1995
Counter-Cultural Documents: Selected Publications from Alternative, Activist, Political and Public Art Movements, March - April 1996
Books by Artists from Central and South America and the Caribbean, April 1996
We Both Belong: Archive and Distribution by Ben Kinmont, April 12 - May 11, 1996
Heresies: A Feminist Publication on Art and Politics, May - June 1996
Books by Edward Ruscha, June 7 - July 1996
Confrontations: The Guerrilla Art Action Group, 1969-1976, March 15 - May 17, 1997
Some More Books by Dieter Roth, May 29 - July 3, 1997
Through by Magali Claude, March 21 - April 30, 1998
Fidget by Kenneth Goldsmith with Sydney Maresca and Theo Bleckmann, June 4 - September 10, 1998
Up to Now, A Blur by Jocelyn Taylor, September 10 - 20, 1998
The Next Word: Text as Image and / as Design and / as Meaning; Curated by Johanna Drucker, September 20, 1998 - January 31, 1999
VITRINES: A Proposal by Mauriel Colin-Barrand and Arnaud Fremaux, September 20 - October 31, 1998
100 German Men, An Installation and New Book by Mary Ellen Carroll, November 3 - November 21, 1998
The Bay Area Dadaists, January 15 - March 6, 1999
Rirkrit Tiravanija''s Supermarket, March - April 1999
Bücher der Künstler: Thirty Years of Artists'' Book Publishing in Germany, July 9 - September 18, 1999
Larry Clark''s Tulsa and Artists'' Books by Larry Clark, July 22 - September 12, 1999
Artists for Mumia 911, September 11 - 26, 1999
On a Clear Day You Can See Forever: A Book by Jan Rothuizen, September 1999
Fiona Banner''s The Nam and Related Works, September 25 - October 23, 1999
David Sandlin: A Show of Drawings, Prints, Books and Puritanical Novelties, September 18 - October 23, 1999
Meg Cranston''s Artist for President & Good Morning Evil Genius, October 30 - November 30, 1999 Other Rooms, Other Voices, December 1999
Masterbox, April - May 2000
Sonic Matters, Sonic Kollaborations, June 10 - September 6, 2000
Highlights: Contemporary Scottish Artists'' Books, September 23 - October 14, 2000
Sol LeWitt: A Retrospective of Artists'' Books, Posters and Ephemera, December 1, 2000 - December 23, 2000
Telus: A Complete History - August/September, 2001
The Story of Gordon Pym Continued... - September/October, 2001
Giftland Art 01: Cheap Art, December 1, 2001 – February 15, 2002
Bibliomania, February 16 – March 1, 2002
Reflux, March 3 – May 20, 2002
Five Years / Five Books by Peter Wegner, May 30 – June 20, 2002
PROTECT ME FROM WHAT I WANT: The Multiples and Editioned Works of Jenny Holzer, July 18 – September 30, 2002
PRODUCTS ARE THE NEW ART: An Exhibition of the Work of Ryan McGinness, November 22 – December 23, 2002
Erin Cosgrove : The Baader Meinhof Affair Timeline, March 8 – April 18, 2003
General Idea Editions : A Selection, May 17 – June 21, 2003
Reverend Jen’s Lower East Side Troll Museum at Printed Matter Inc., July 24 – September 6, 2003
Allan Kaprow: Posters, Activity Booklets, and Ephemera 1957 – 1979, October 30 – November 15, 2003
Holiday Spectacular: An Exhibition of the works of Tom Sachs, November 22 – December 23, 2003
Angelblood Tour Works, January 17, 2004 – February 29, 2004
David Tremlett: Showcases, May 1 - 31, 2004
Yoko Ono: Editions Ephemera and Printed Works, July 21 - September 30, 2004
Ryan McGinness: Bucky Balls, October 9 – 30, 2004
Guerrilla Girls: The Art World and Beyond, November 11 – December 23, 2004
EN/OF: Collaborations by Visual Artists and Musicians February 5 - March 5, 2005
Olaf Nicolai: 30 Farben at Printed Matter, March 12 - April 30, 2005
Young, Sleek, and Full of Hell: Ten Years of New York''s Notorious Alleged Gallery, May 7 - 28, 2005
LTTR in Residence at Printed Matter Summer 2005, July 23 - September 24, 2005
Justin Lowe in the Back Room, July 23 - September 24, 2005
Paper Rad Exhibition, September 30 - October 30, 2005
Artists'' Books, Revisited [curated by Matthias Herrmann], December 10 – January 7, 2005
i fell in love, i fell out of love, 100$, potato chips, airplanes, clouds & sky: an exhibition of the work of Michalis Pichler, January 21 – February 4, 2006
Fiona Banner: All the World''s Fighter Planes, March 11 – April 15, 2006
Money For Food Press: Books Since 1977, April 22 – May 13, 2006
I WILL NOT MAKE ANY MORE BORING ART: Lithographs, Publications and Ephemera from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, June 3 - September 23, 2006
30 Years: Printed Matter Editions 1976 - 2006, October 21-November 25, 2006
REPLICATION: The Books of Sol LeWitt, at The NY Art Book Fair, November 17-19, 2006
Ligorano/Reese: Pure Products of America 1992 - 2006, December 2, 2006 – December 23, 2006
Micah Lexier at Printed Matter, Inc., February 13 - March 24, 2007
Group Work: An Exhibition and Book Launch by Temporary Services, March 30 - May 3, 2007
Leaderless: Underground Cassette Culture Now, May 12-26, 2007
Fuck for Peace: A History of the Fugs, June 2 - September 8, 2007
Aleskandra Mir: A Retrospective of Printed Matter, September 20 - November 3, 2007
Giftland VIII: The Return of Giftland, December 1 - December 22, 2007
More Collections of Barbara Bloom, February 2 - March 29, 2008
fierce pussy, April 5 - May 24, 2008
The Collected Multiples of Cary S. Leibowitz, May 28th - September 6, 2008
Lisa Anne Auerbach: If Nothing Changes, It Changes Nothing, September 12 - November 1, 2008
Giftlant IX: Black Friday (Curated by Olivia Shao and Jay Sanders): November 28 - December 23rd

Critical Art Ensemble: January 19 - February 28

Institutional Details

Organization name, address and phone numbers
Printed Matter, Inc.
195 Tenth Avenue
New York, NY 10011
212 925 0325 tel
212 925 0464 fax

Type of Organization / Incorporation Date

501 (c)(3) non-profit tax exempt, July 1976

Mission Statement

To foster the appreciation, dissemination, and understanding of publications made by artists.

Board of Directors

Philip Aarons - Board President
David Kiehl - Vice President
Robert Rainwater - Vice President
Susan Harris - Board Secretary
Tim Peterson - Treasurer
Mickey Cartin
Jon Hendricks
Bethany Johns
David Leiber
Mary Lum
Carolina Nitsch
John Waters
* AA Bronson - Executive Director, Printed Matter
* Max Schumann - Associate Director, Printed Matter

* Ex Officio

Printed Matter Founders

Carl Andre
Edit DeAk
Sol LeWitt
Lucy Lippard
Walter Robinson
Pat Steir
Mimi Wheeler
Robin White
Irena von Zahn

Former Board Members

Tomie Arai
Roland Augustine
Julie Ault
AA Bronson
Eileen Cohen
Paul Daitz
Joost Elfers
Gabriella De Ferrari
Raymond Foy
Barbara Gladstone
Mike Glier
Miani Johnson
Carol Androccio LeWitt
Nancy Linn
Clive Phillpot
Howardena Pindell
David Platzker
Richard Prince
Mera Rubell
Amy Baker Sandback
Ingrid Sischy
Clarissa Sligh
Kiki Smith
Michael Steinberg
Pat Steir
Brian Wallis
Mimi Wheeler
Jennifer Wells
Reese Williams
Terry Winters
Christopher Wool
Phillip Zimmermann