Printed Matter has a long history of working with artists to produce new artists books and publications. Conceived of as both a publisher and bookseller when it was founded, Printed Matter published a series of books by artists between 1976 and 1978 including Douglas Huebler, Ellen Lanyon, Martha Rosler, Michelle Stuart and the Guerrilla Art Action Group, among others. In the early 2000s, the publishing program was revived with a focus on emerging artists. Printed Matter has since published or co-published over 70 books. The support of innovative artists’ book projects remains the primary feature our current PM Publishing Program. We’re interested in artists’ publications that fall outside the interest of commercial publishing houses and that may not otherwise be produced. The program is generally organized under three themes that offer artists a range of approaches to work with:

The Emerging Artists Publication Series focuses on early career artists whose practice has already demonstrated a commitment to experimentation and critical inquiry in the visual arts. While the projects that fall under this category are wide-ranging, the artists selected show attention to content, process and technique, and explore the medium in new and compelling ways. In support of this series, Printed Matter periodically holds an open call for submissions from emerging artists.

Printed Matter provides a forum for critical engagement with works dealing with issues of social, economic, and political justice. The program recognizes that the widely distributable printed page is a powerful vehicle for the exchange of information. We seek out artists’ projects that advance the democratizing possibilities inherent in the book and critically address topical themes and issues.

Past works in this series have included GAAG: The Guerrilla Art Action Group, 1969-1976: A Selection, first published in 1978 (and reprinted in 2011), which collects the manifestos, letters and press communiqués issued by the activist artist group, and The Guerrilla Girls Art Museum Activity Book, which offers a satirizing take-down on high culture, endemic sexism, unethical behavior and conflicts of interest pervading the art world.

As part of our publishing program engaged with social activism, Printed Matter published the Artists and Activists Pamphlet Series between 2008 and 2012. Inspired by the legacy of the political pamphlet, these modest format publications offered artists and collectives a space to address a broad range of themes and issues, as well as critically examine the concept of art and activism. Twenty pamphlets were created in total, and issues 1-12 were made available as a box-set. Pamphlets were distributed for free at the Printed Matter storefront, and included in mail-order packages. The entire series is now available for free download here.

The PM Publishing Program also undertakes a series of ambitious projects that showcase the exciting possibilities of technical production in contemporary artists’ publications. This includes innovative ways of thinking about the parameters of the book as an editioned object, experimenting with design and printing processes, and bringing together form and content in innovative ways.

Past works in this series have included [2,3], a pop-up book with artist Tauba Auerbach, featuring 6 oversized geometric sculptures, and Blue Icons (Day Edition) by Dan Walsh, which is composed of small ‘halftone’ dots that shift across the blue color spectrum, with each page spread trimmed down to a reducing size.