Challenge Book—re:book

As we meet to re:engage with our book arts community, let’s re:start the conversations we have through our artist’s books by taking part in the FOBA 2026 Challenge Book event. Show us how you re:book as you…

• re:visit a work and/or unfinished object
• re:engage with a favorite structure to expand it in a new and playful way
• re:imagine a book to seamlessly marry content to structure
• re:configure a book originally meant for another purpose so that it becomes a new work of art
• re:cycle materials to create a sustainable book
• re:combine techniques or forms to re:invigorate traditional book structures
• re:think the nature of a book
  

You may interpret the theme however you wish, just keep in mind the following conditions:

• The submission should have been completed no more than three years preceding the conference.
• It must be created by a 2026 conference participant (student, instructor, staff, or trade representative).
• Participants may enter up to two books. A series may count as a single entry.

To participate in the Challenge Book exhibit, please complete the online participation form and bring your book(s) to the check-in desk when you arrive, where you will complete an entry form. At that time, Challenge Book participants will receive two complimentary raffle tickets for each entry!

Conference participants and a chosen judge will vote on the entries without knowing who made them. The Challenge Books’ creators’ names will not be posted in the exhibit but revealed during the Conference Showcase & Social on Saturday night. In addition to the approbation of your peers, you could also win an award and prize or increase your chance of winning a raffle prize!

We can’t wait to see how you choose to re:book.

Questions:
Denise Stephenson challengebook@focusonbookarts.org