Chicago athletic association hotel
12 S Michigan ave
Friday

  ( Opening Reception )  

5–9pm,
saturday 11am–7pm,
sunday 12–6pm

The Chicago Art Book Fair is an experiment in showcasing emerging directions and diverse legacies within small press arts publishing. The fair features an international group of over 125 arts publishers, small presses, book artists, comics artists, zinemakers and printmakers, with satellite programming and after parties. Beginning in 2017, we drew over 6,000 guests, and each year we look forward to bringing even more of Chicago’s people together with another fantastic roster of artist vendors. In 2019, the Chicago Art Book Fair will once again convene at the historic Chicago Athletic Association, at 12 S. Michigan Avenue.

The Chicago Art Book Fair is a project of No Coast (Aay Preston-Myint and Alexander Valentine), a collaborative venture which is equal parts master printer for artists and an affordable, publicly accessible distributor for contemporary art. After our travels around the world to different art book fairs, collections, stores, galleries, and libraries, we hope to bring our experiences of many, varied arts publishing events to Chicago. While Chicago is and has been home to many yearly convenings of print enthusiasts, this is the first following the “Art Book Fair” model that has spread to so many communities in recent years.

ACCESSIBILITY

Our main venue, the Chicago Athletic Association, is ADA compliant. Consult a volunteer on arrival for any assistance with wayfinding. Specific accessibility questions for any of our satellite locations can be directed to us via email at chicagoabf@gmail.com.

Gender neutral restrooms are available on the second floor of CAA off the Game Room, and by the 4th Floor CABF vending area, Stagg Court.

Parents: please be aware aisles may get crowded especially in the later hours of the fair and it may be difficult to navigate with a stroller. Take note that we do not censor or label our exhibitors’ work or our programming, and you may not consider some content suitable for children - please use your best judgment.

WAYS TO PAY

Support our artists and small presses! CABF and all its programs are free to enter but it is a vendor-based event. We run on love but our artists live off sales ;)

It is up to individual exhibitors as to how they will accept payments, but most will be able to accept credit and debit cards via mobile payment technology. If paying cash, ATMs are plentiful in downtown Chicago, but please try to come prepared with small bills.