Book Art Fair & Symposium
CODEX Book Art Fair & Symposium
The International Biennial CODEX Book Art Fair & Symposium focuses on serving practitioners, scholars, curators, collectors, students, and all those who are curious newcomers or avid enthusiasts of the art of the book. We bring together the international community to exhibit the work and to educate the public about the rich traditions and contemporary practices surrounding artists’ books and fine press publications — where craft and concept unite into exemplary works of art.
You will also find representatives working in the associated crafts, such as bookbinders / boxmakers, calligraphers / lettering artists, papermakers / paper decorators, type foundries, toolmakers, and book art suppliers. Exhibitors also include a variety of academic institutions representing student work, along with a variety of book art organizations that work to preserve and promote various aspects of the field.
About the Exhibitors
Fair exhibitors are limited to those working in the field of limited-edition fine press books and artists’ books, where craft and concept unite into an exemplary work of art. Our interpretation of craft is broad, encompassing both historic tools and techniques, as well as new practices that build upon these traditions.
Our focus is on work that engages all aspects of the book as a conceptual whole. We do not focus on general art book monographs or general photo books, although artists’ books and fine press books that include photographic processes are welcome. As an organization, we aim to preserve and promote craft traditions. However, we equally acknowledge that the end result of craft is not always ‘fine.’ There can be power and poetry behind a ‘roughly’ crafted work whose intention is clearly engaged with the material and the message being conveyed.
The book arts field is large and varied, and although we do not generally prioritize zines, sculptural bookwork, or one-of-a-kind books, you will find samplings of this work at our exhibitors’ tables. With that said, we do aim to push these boundaries, particularly if it helps add diversity and give voice to underrepresented individuals in the field.
Our book art fair is largely made up of the actual artists, printers, and craftspeople doing the work. There are a small number of organizations or galleries representing several book artists. They do the important work of bringing new artwork to the venue, and they also represent individuals who may not be able to afford to attend the event on their own.