The 17th edition of Editions/Artists’ Books Fair (EAB Fair) was in full swing shortly after opening doors to visitors on the evening of November 5. The new venue at the Tunnel space in far West Chelsea seems to have infused new vigor into this year’s edition. Exhibitors showed a dynamic mix of traditional print making alongside cutting-edge experimental work. The fair continues through Sunday, November 8.

EAB is timed to coincide with New York’s Print Week, and the IFPDA Print fair at the Park Avenue Armory; the book fair features a mix of 50 exhibitors from the US and Europe curated by Jeffrey Bergman, a director at Pace Prints.

“They pulled it off,” Tony Fitzpatrick, artist and founder of Black Shamrock Etchings, told artnet News. “I’m very happy with how last night went. There were a lot of museum curators, we sold material. I think the location is infinitely easier to read than the one [the former Eyebeam space in Chelsea] last year.”

Fitzpatrick mentioned his dislike for art fairs, saying, “I’m not a fan of them. But this is the one place where, yes, it’s a business, but it’s also about the substance of the art.”

Organizers said attendance was up 30 percent as compared with last year’s opening night. Collectors Micky & Katie Cartin, as well as former REM frontman and art world regular Michael Stipe were among notable names in attendance, along with museum curators including Roberta Waddell (International Print Center New York), David Platzker (MoMA), and Shelley Landgale (Philadelphia Museum of Art).

Kiki Smith Esperanza (2015).
Image: Courtesy of LeRoy Neiman Center for Print Studies, Columbia University, New York.

LeRoy Neiman Center for Print Studies at Columbia University had some of the most intriguing work on offer in its booth, including mixed-media prints by Kiki Smith (above), as well as works by Sarah Sze and David Altmejd, that latter of whose 21-print series “Ringers” managed to capture and translate elements in the artist’s fantastical sculptures via intaglio with pigmented inkjet, collage, and additions by hand.

Kara Walker African American (1998) Linoleum cut, edition of 40
Image: Courtesy of Lax and Associates, Brooklyn, New York.

Rebecca Lax, of Brooklyn-based Lax and Associates focused on prints by female artists at her booth, including eye-catching works on view by Kara Walker, Lynda Benglis as well as a store that included a fabulous Elizabeth Peyton and several Louise Bourgeois prints.

Emilie Clarke Untitled (Bird) aquatint with spit bite and dry point.
Image: Courtesy of Burnet Editions, New York.

With a booth situated squarely at the entrance, Greg Burnet of Burnet Editions showed eye-catching suites of works by Josh Smith—Wild Palms—aquatint with sugar lift,  drypoint and scraper and this aquatint with spit bite and dry point by Emilie Clark Untitled (Bird).

And Weng Fine Art, of Krefeld Germany organized a striking booth that showcased several of Alex Katz’s full-length prints of women in black dresses against a striking yellow background (below).

The fair continues through Sunday, November 8.

Alex Katz, Women, 2014. Prints on paper.
Image: Courtesy Weng Contemporary, Krefeld, Germany.