Printed Matter

What Printed Matter does

Printed Matter, Inc. is a New York-based 501(c)-equivalent non-profit arts organization founded in 1976 by Sol LeWitt and Lucy Lippard, specializing in the distribution of artists' books, zines, limited editions, periodicals, and related printed matter. The organization runs an e-commerce catalog of approximately 45,000 titles (12,619 active items from ~4,765 publishers and ~8,985 artists) supported by two physical retail locations in NYC (Chelsea at 231 11th Ave and St Marks) and international shipping to at least nine countries. It also hosts the NY Art Book Fair and LA Art Book Fair, and operates a Walker Art Center retail partnership in Minneapolis. Underlying technology is a catalog e-commerce platform with advanced faceted search (category, format, binding, process, theme, publisher) plus a digital downloads section; no proprietary AI, API, or SDK capabilities are disclosed.

The business model combines four revenue streams: (1) transactional product sales at unit prices ranging from under $10 (postcards, zines) to $1,000–$3,500 (PM Artist Editions), with roughly 10% member discount; (2) a tiered annual membership program (Friend $60, Contributor $100, Supporter $250, Advocate $500, Book Circle $1,000, Benefactor $2,000, plus Institutional $250); (3) donations from supporters; and (4) art book fair event revenue. B2B revenue comes from library and institutional standing-order arrangements with named customers including the New York Public Library, MoMA Library, Whitney Museum Library, Brooklyn Museum, ArtCenter College of Design, and SAIC Flaxman Library. Distribution services for independent publishers and education services round out the commercial surface. Leadership rests with Acting Executive Director Max Schumann, a long-tenured staff member; no parent company, subsidiaries, or external equity backing is reported.

Name

Printed Matter

Legal name

Printed Matter, Inc.

Website

https://printedmatter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Printed Matter is a 1976-founded New York non-profit that distributes artists' books, zines, and editions through a ~45,000-title online catalog, two NYC stores, and the NY and LA Art Book Fairs, serving artists, libraries, and collectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artists' Books Distribution

NAICS

Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Art, Photography & Illustrated Books Publishing (MPAJAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Specialty & Niche Channel Distribution (Religious, Comic Shops, Specialty Retail) (MPAJAKAH)

Keywords

• Artists book distribution
• Art book retail
• Contemporary art publishing
• Art book fairs
• Independent publishing platform

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: Sale of artists' books, zines, editions, periodicals, audio/video, apparel and ephemera through online catalog and physical stores. Transaction-based sales with individual purchase prices ranging from under $10 to over $1,000 for special editions.
2. Membership Program: Annual membership tiers ranging from $60 (Friend) to $2,000 (Benefactor), plus $250 Institutional Membership. Provides member discounts on purchases (approximately 10% off).
3. Donations: Nonprofit organization accepting donations from supporters. Regular giving programs and gift certificates available.
4. Art Book Fair Events: Hosts NY Art Book Fair and LA Art Book Fair, featuring exhibitions, events, and vendor participation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Printed Matter operates as a nonprofit arts organization that distributes artists' books, zines, editions, periodicals, audio/video publications, apparel, and ephemera through its e-commerce catalog of approximately 45,000 titles and two physical retail stores in New York City. The organization produces its own PM Artist Editions, PM Publications, and PM Ticket Editions, and provides distribution services, library and institutional collection-building support, education services, and member-based programming. Annual NY Art Book Fair and LA Art Book Fair anchor its role as the preeminent community hub for the artists' book field.

Product overview

Printed Matter operates as a nonprofit arts organization and online catalog/marketplace for artists' books and independent publications. The core offering consists of PM Artist Editions (limited edition prints and artworks), PM Publications (organization's own publications), and PM Ticket Editions, supported by an extensive catalog of approximately 45,000 titles spanning Artists' Books, Periodicals, Audio & Video, Digital Downloads, and related printed matter. The company offers membership tiers (Friend through Benefactor/Institutional) providing member discounts, and provides services including Distribution Services for publishers, Library and Institutional Services for collection building, and Education Services. Programming includes Art Book Fairs (NY and LA), Window Installations, and Archive Exhibition programs. Founded in 1976, the organization maintains physical locations in Chelsea and St Marks, NYC.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NY Art Book Fair: Annual art book fair organized by Printed Matter in New York.
• LA Art Book Fair
• PM Artist Editions
• PM Publications
• PM Ticket Editions
• The Bulletin

Products and services

• PM Artist Editions Limited edition prints, artworks, and multiples produced in collaboration with contemporary artists, including Huma Bhabha, Richard Tuttle, Paul Pfeiffer, and others. Priced from $1,000 to $3,500 for special editions.
• PM Publications Books and publications published by Printed Matter, including titles by various artists and writers, designated with a PM Publication badge in the catalog.
• PM Ticket Editions Ticketed editions and event-associated publications linked to Printed Matter's programming activities.
• Books Catalog (Artists' Books) Extensive catalog of approximately 45,000 titles of artists' publications, including Artists' Books, Artists' Writings, Catalogs, Flip Books, Monographs, Small Books, Source Books, Zines, and other printed matter. Contains in-stock inventory and archive of previously stocked titles.
• Audio & Video Publications
• Periodicals Magazines, journals, and serial publications focused on contemporary art and artists' books.
• Digital Downloads Free and paid digital downloads including PDFs and other digital content from artists and publishers in the Printed Matter catalog.
• Membership Program Tiered annual membership program with seven levels (Friend $60, Contributor $100, Supporter $250, Advocate $500, Book Circle $1,000, Benefactor $2,000, and Institutional Member $250) offering approximately 10% discount on catalog purchases and supporting the nonprofit's mission.
• Distribution Services Distribution services enabling independent publishers and artists to reach wider audiences through Printed Matter's catalog, retail network, and institutional channels.
• Library and Institutional Services Consultation services for libraries and cultural institutions to build contemporary artists' book collections, including collaboratively crafted standing orders, curated title selections, and dedicated account support. Engagements with NYPL, MoMA Library, Whitney Museum Library, Brooklyn Museum, SFMOMA, and Met Watson Library.
• Education Services Educational programming and resources for students, educators, and institutions interested in artists' books and publishing, including The Bulletin resource covering artist opportunities, printing resources, and bookstores.
• Art Book Fairs (NY and LA) Annual art book fairs hosted by Printed Matter in New York (NY Art Book Fair) and Los Angeles (LA Art Book Fair), featuring thousands of publishers, artists, and exhibitors. One of the premier events in the artists' book field, providing vendor participation and direct community engagement.

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record.

• NY Art Book FairOthersAnnual art book fair hosted by Printed Matter in New York, featuring thousands of publishers, artists, and exhibitors. One of the premier events in the artists' book field.
• LA Art Book FairOthersLos Angeles edition of the art book fair, expanding PM's reach to the West Coast. Features exhibitions, events, and vendor participation.
• Walker Art CenterOthersPM available at Walker Center location, extending distribution to Minneapolis audiences.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Phaidon Press: Large global publisher of visual arts, architecture, design, and photography books. Overlaps with PM on art monographs but at much wider scope, scale, and commercial breadth.
• Verlag der Buchhandlung Walther König: International publisher and bookseller specializing in contemporary art, photography, architecture, and design books through stores in Cologne, Berlin, and other cities. Comparable as a high-volume art-book publisher/retailer with broad title depth.

Direct peers

• D.A.P. (Distributed Art Publishers / Artbook): Largest US art-book distributor, selling and distributing thousands of museum, gallery, and contemporary art titles to retailers, libraries, and consumers. Closest commercial analog to Printed Matter's artist-book distribution model, but operating as a for-profit.
• Aperture Foundation: Non-profit publisher and distributor of photography and fine-art books, including a printed-edition catalog, limited editions, and bookshop. Comparable to PM in publishing scope, nonprofit model, and artist-driven catalog.
• Inventory Press: Independent publisher of contemporary art books and editions, frequently working with artists and institutions. Highly comparable to PM in its artist-first publishing and distribution of limited-edition art books.
• David Zwirner Books: Gallery-affiliated art-book imprint producing high-quality monographs and artist editions distributed to collectors and institutions. Comparable in commissioning artist books and selling special editions at premium price points.
• Hauser & Wirth Publications: Gallery publisher producing artist monographs, catalogues, and limited editions distributed through bookshops, fairs, and its own galleries. Comparable producer of exclusive, artist-focused art publications.
• Edition Patrick Frey: Independent Zurich-based publisher of artist books and editions by contemporary artists. Comparable in catalog breadth, openness to experimental formats, and zine/artist-book focus.

Emerging players

• Karma Bookstore: Independent New York bookstore stocking an artist-curated selection of rare, out-of-print, and limited-edition artist publications, with ties to a contemporary gallery. Comparable as a curator-led artist-book retail destination.

Regional players

• Whitechapel Gallery (Bookshop): London gallery with a renowned bookshop carrying artists' books, exhibition catalogues, and independent art publishing. Comparable retailer and distributor of artist publications, but focused on the UK market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/printed_matter
• Facebookfacebook.com/printedmatter
• Instagraminstagram.com/printedmatterinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/printedmatter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Printed Matter