How to Publish an Art Book
Maybe you’re an artist working with photography, graphic design, collage, or printing and want to start a book project, but aren’t sure where to begin. That’s understandable — it can be challenging and expensive to find access to materials, resources, and equipment.
Likewise, perhaps you’re looking to have a catalogue of your work or a specific project published. A publication can increase your exposure, professionalise your practice, and maybe even bring in some income through sales. But again, production can be costly, and may take time to build support and get off the ground. So what options do you have?
We’ve gathered some tips and resources to help you out in this area — whether looking for publishers or going the self-publishing route.
Making a plan
Before publishing an art book, take time to define the project clearly. A strong plan will save time, reduce costs, and help you communicate your vision to publishers, collaborators, or funders. Here’s a quick initial checklist of things to consider as you start planning:
✔ Define the Project
Clarify the concept, narrative, or focus of the book
Identify the intended audience
Decide on format: size, page count, binding, paper, and cover type
✔ Collaborators
Consider who you will work with on the project. Will you need a designer? Will you commission a writer?
✔ Set a Budget and Timeline
Estimate costs for design, editing, printing, shipping, storage, and promotion
Include a contingency buffer for unexpected expenses
Work backward from a target release date to allow time for revisions and proofing
A clear plan connects creative intent with practical production decisions and sets a solid foundation for the rest of the publishing process.
Finding opportunities
Publishing an art book today involves navigating a mix of traditional publishers, independent presses, open calls, and artist-led platforms. While established publishers remain an important route, many artists now discover opportunities through book fairs, online communities, and collaborative publishing models.
Art Book Publishers & Independent Presses
Some art book publishers may have an open submission policy, making it possible for artists to submit book proposals at any time.
Wirklichkeit Books in Berlin, for example, takes an experimental approach to publishing works in the realm of art and language. They welcome those with publication proposals and potential collaborations to get in touch at any time. And, located in Montreal, Anteism is a publisher of artist monographs, artist books, exhibition catalogues, and more. They also operate a printing and binding studio, under the name of BookArt, fully equipped with resources and materials to facilitate both analogue and digital printing processes. Anteism accepts hardcopy and digital submission proposals on an ongoing basis for projects that bring art and publishing together in exciting new ways.
Look at art books to find potential publishers — and inspiration
Maybe there are artist books that you like and admire, or you come across some interesting ones while browsing your local bookshop. Who’s the publisher? Look them up and see what else they publish and whether they accept proposals. This could be a great way to start the research process, while enjoying some books!
Or maybe there’s an art book fair taking place in your area. Fairs for art books and independent publishers can be a great place to network, make connections and find inspiration.
But before submitting to a publisher, make sure to read through any guidelines they provide very carefully. And follow all instructions when formatting and submitting your proposal. You should also review all your material beforehand and make sure it is presented in a professional, clear and organized manner.
Open calls
In addition to publishers, some galleries and magazines also operate as publishing houses. And in some cases, they run open calls to support winning artists in the production of a book or catalogue. This usually means that the publisher bears all costs and handles or assists with all aspects of production.
Wildflower Meadow by Petuniart and Edd Carr
Open Submissions
There are a number of publishers that are open to receiving submissions on a rolling basis. Be careful to read all the directions they give as well as take a look at what they usually publish to make sure you’re a good fit.
BUMMBUMM BOOKS - invites artists working with photography, illustrations and/or texts
Hoxton Mini Press - an indie publisher from East London
HENI Publishing - specialise in producing unique art publications created in collaboration with the artist or author
Dewi Lewis Publishing - welcomes submissions from photographers worldwide
Kehere Verlag - based in Germany, Kehrer Verlag specializes in photography, fine art, and sound art
Radius Books - non-profit art book publisher focusing on photography and fine art
Mack - independent art and photography publishing house based in London, Mack works with both established and emerging artists
Distributed Art Publishers, Inc. - welcomes submissions for books in Art, Photography, Literature, Architecture and Design.
Self-publishing
Aside from looking for opportunities and publishers to submit to, another possible route is to self-publish. Of course, having a publisher or institutional support for your publication can bring more credibility to the project, but this doesn’t mean that self-published books can’t be successful.
Self-publishing also doesn’t necessarily have to mean that you’re on your own — financially or otherwise. There may be opportunities available to support the project, whether via material, resources, production, printing and/or financing. Working with collaborators or contributors can also be a way to reach a wider audience and gain more credibility.
Residencies
It may be possible to produce your art book through a residency program, where you have the possibility to receive funding, support, and access to tools and equipment. There are even some programs that are specifically focused on independent publishing practices. Independent Publishing Resource Center (IPRC) in Portland, Oregon, for example, provides affordable access to space, tools, and resources for creating independently published works. In addition, they also run a program including workshops and a BI/POC Artist & Writer Residency. Through the residency, artists and writers are provided time, resources, support, and a stipend to create their projects.
Studios and Workshops
To manage the printing, production, and binding yourself, there may also be workshop and studio facilities available for use by artists at reduced rates.
As mentioned above, Independent Publishing Resource Center (IPRC) in Portland, Oregon, for example, also operates affordable studio spaces for projects in print. Their facilities include digital design software and equipment, as well as paper cutting, finishing and binding tools, in addition to studios for printing processes like risograph and screenprinting. The Center’s studios and equipment are made available via monthly and yearly membership packages, as well as hourly, daily, weekly and monthly rates for non-members.
There’s also the BBK Berlin Printmakers’ Workshop at Kunstquartier Bethanien in Berlin-Kreuzberg. “The printmaker workshop” of the berufsverband bildender künstler*innen (bbk) is open to all artists and can be accessed for a daily rate. It offers extensive resources and equipment for producing work in all printing techniques, as well as papermaking, bookbinding, and catalogue and book printing.
Book Design and Printing Services
As an alternative to doing it yourself, print-on-demand services may be a cost-effective way to produce your book.
There are businesses that facilitate book printing and/or design, such as BookArt. Such services range in price and quality, so do your research, ask around, and price out different options. Always ask questions and look at samples before deciding to go with a printer. Poor paper, printing, and binding quality means poor overall presentation — even with high quality images of great artworks.
Also keep in mind that, even if you use a book printing service, you may still need to take care of the design and layout yourself — either on your own or working with a graphic designer. Always make sure to use high quality images when submitting materials for print!
Grants
Applying for grants can be a way to partially or fully fund your book project.
Something to note is that just because you find a publisher that is interested in your book, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they will have the resources to fund it. This means you might have to find outside funding sources for the project — even if you are not self-publishing. But having a publisher on board is certainly a plus for funding applications!
There are grant programs that fund the production of artist catalogues and books — either specifically, or under the umbrella of artistic projects and presentations. A good place to look for these might be your local art council or government funding agency for arts and culture. In Berlin, for example, the Senate Department of Culture and Europe offers support for artist catalogues via the presentations of contemporary visual art funding program.
Or, if you’re a US art writer with a focus in contemporary art, the Arts Writers Grant Program may be a possibility for you. Supported by the Andy Warhol Foundation, this program by Creative Capital runs an open call each spring and has a funding category for books.
Applying for a grant can be a lengthy process. Only apply to those that you are eligible for and are well suited to your project aims and requirements. This also means having a concrete project idea and goal in mind. And, of course, make sure to leave yourself enough time for the application. Prepare your materials in a professional manner, create an accurate budget, follow all instructions and review everything carefully.
AlgoRhythmanalysis No. 1: Blanca by Benjamin Busch. With: Elena Azzedin, Maurin Donneaud, Ajin Lee, Rocio Marano, Thomas Proksch, María del Carmen Sanchez, Tracey Tomtene and Pauline Vierne.
Distribution
Once your art book is published — congratulations! The next step is getting it into the world. If you worked with a publisher or were selected through an open call, promotion and distribution are often handled, at least in part, by the publishing organization. Even then, artists are usually expected to support visibility through their own networks.
For self-published projects, distribution becomes a key part of the process. Many artists sell directly through their own websites or online marketplaces, using social media, newsletters, and preorders to drive sales. Direct-to-collector sales offer more control over pricing and presentation, and can be especially effective for limited editions.
Art book fairs remain an important distribution channel, offering opportunities to sell books, connect with audiences, and build relationships with publishers and booksellers. Local and independent bookshops are another valuable option. Before approaching a shop, research their focus and submission policies, then get in touch or submit a copy for consideration. Most bookshops work on a consignment basis and typically take around 40% of the retail price.
Some artists also work with distributors or small press networks to reach a wider audience, particularly for international sales. While distribution can require time and coordination, combining online sales, in-person events, and retail partnerships can significantly extend the life and reach of an art book.
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