Summer is approaching, and for us that means stocking up on some beach reads. For some, it may mean finding a cool and quiet corner in the back of a bookstore to avoid the heat. We thought we’d highlight four of our favorite artist bookstores. So grab your iced coffee and head to these spots for some literary paradises.
Founded in 1976, Printed Matter, Inc. is a leading non-profit organization dedicated to the dissemination, understanding and appreciation of artists’ books and related publications. Printed Matter works to distribute and promote artists’ books to bring an increased visibility and appreciation to the field. They also have an extensive database for information about artists’ books. Printed Matter also organizes the NY + LA Art Book Fair
Location: 231 11th Avenue, New York, NY
2. Ooga Booga
Ooga Booga started in 2004 as a tiny shop in Chinatown Los Angeles specializing in independent art, books, music, and clothing. Throughout the past decade, they have organized events, performances, film screenings, and readings at their space and in satellite projects elsewhere such as Swiss Institute NY, Kadist Foundation SF, and Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) Philadelphia. They also publish books, zines, records, tapes, and art editions. We also love that they have a free online database of art book printers for those who want more information on book publishing and art printing. Their online store is also pretty fantastic.
Location: 943 N. Broadway #203 (upstairs), Los Angeles, CA
You’re probably familiar with Hauser & Wirth as a gallery, but did you know that they have an arts and culture bookstore located inside their galleries in LA, NYC and Minneapolis? Artbook devotes a large portion of its retail space to spotlight selections that every few months, focusing on different movements and themes in contemporary and 20th-century art. Complementing current exhibitions as well as new developments in art practices and writing, their rotating thematic displays include new releases in addition to important backlist books, indie press titles, imported catalogues and out-of-print selections.
Locations: 917 East 3rd Street, Los Angeles, CA, 725 Vineland Place, Minneapolis, MN, 22-25 Jackson Ave (at 46th Ave.), Long Island City, NY.
Founded in 2011, Spaces Corners is an artist-run bookstore and project space based in Pittsburgh. The bookstore stocks a rotating selection of new photography books from some of the world’s leading independent and small press publishing houses. Spaces Corners also has it’s own imprint to further collaborate with artists, institutions and collections.
Location: 1721 Lowrie Street, Pittsburgh, PA
top image // courtesy of Printed Matter
