Archive Fever at the 13th LA Art Book Fair
On May 7, 2026, the Los Angeles Art Book Fair, organized by Printed Matter, commenced at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. The event hosted over 250 exhibitors, a decrease from last year's 300, with approximately 20% being newcomers. A prominent focus was on the archive, showcasing publications that reinterpreted appropriated media. David Senior from SFMOMA pointed out "Inside SINA: The Society for Indecency to Naked Animals," edited by Andrew Lampert. RVB Books presented "MAN" (2025) by Erik Kessels and Karel de Mulder, while VOID publications, including "Fishworm" (2025), were highlighted by This Days. Sabri Sundos introduced "Hand to Hand" (Aventures LTD), and Caroline Partamian's "Khaz Poems" (2024) along with Taller California's "Covers 1 & 2" and "Insurgent Archives" (2025) were also on display. Additionally, Coloured Publishing revealed plans for a bookstore.
Key facts
- Printed Matter's LA Art Book Fair returned to Art Center College of Design in Pasadena on May 7, 2026.
- Over 250 exhibitors participated, down from 300 last year; about a fifth were first-timers.
- David Senior of SFMOMA wore a sign for 'Inside SINA: The Society for Indecency to Naked Animals' by Andrew Lampert (J&L Books).
- RVB Books showed 'MAN' (2025) by Erik Kessels and Karel de Mulder.
- These Days featured 'Fishworm' (2025) by Pia Paulina Guilmoth and Jesse Bull Saffire (VOID).
- Sabri Sundos presented cassette mixtape 'Hand to Hand' (Aventures LTD) with music from Lebanon, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.
- Caroline Partamian's 'Khaz Poems' (2024, Weird Babes Press) uses ancient Armenian musical notation.
- Taller California published Melinda Guillén's 'Covers 1 & 2' and Evan Apodaca's 'Insurgent Archives from the Secret City' (2025).
- Coloured Publishing plans to open a brick-and-mortar bookstore.
- The fair runs through the weekend of May 9-10, 2026.
Entities
Artists
- David Senior
- Andrew Lampert
- Alan Abel
- Jason Fulford
- Erik Kessels
- Karel de Mulder
- Pia Paulina Guilmoth
- Jesse Bull Saffire
- Sabri Sundos
- Caroline Partamian
- Melinda Guillén
- Evan Apodaca
- Devin Troy Strother
- Kahim Smith
- Jodi Zeigler
- Stephen Zeigler
- Katie Giritlian
- Lauren Halsey
- Tim Biskup
- Estevan Oriol
Institutions
- Printed Matter
- Art Center College of Design
- San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)
- J&L Books
- RVB Books
- VOID
- These Days
- Aventures LTD
- Armenian Creatives
- Weird Babes Press
- Taller California
- Coloured Publishing
- Bread & Puppet Press
- Secret Riso Club
- F.A.G. Archive
- Hyperallergic
Locations
- Pasadena
- United States
- Los Angeles
- California
- San Francisco
- New York
- France
- Athens
- Greece
- Maine
- San Diego
- Lebanon
- Egypt
- Saudi Arabia
- Middle East
- Tijuana
- Mexico
- Vermont
- South LA