The Focus on Book Arts Conference is delighted to welcome renowned artist, curator, and educator Jennie Hinchcliff as the keynote speaker for its 2026 conference.
The New Art of Making Books: An Homage and a Call to Action
In 1975, Ulises Carrión’s seminal essay The New Art of Making Books offered a radical framework for understanding artists’ books as conceptual and deeply communicative works of art. Fifty years later, how does Carrión’s vision hold up against the backdrop of today’s vibrant, decentralized book arts landscape? This presentation revisits Carrión’s original manifesto, reflecting on its relevance for contemporary artists and curators. Anchored by two sets of guiding tenets—one representing the perspectives of artists who create bookworks, the other of those who exhibit and champion them—it examines how artists’ books serve as both personal expressions and tools for community-building.
Today, the practice of making artists’ books calls for trusting in one’s artistic voice, a willingness to share knowledge with emerging creators, and a sustained curiosity about the work of others. Meanwhile, exhibiting these works demands attention to the integrity of the work’s intended message, meaningful engagement with audiences, and active support for artists—as makers, curators, and members of a wider creative ecosystem.
This presentation seeks to inspire deeper engagement and a continued evolution of book arts that is boldly experimental and grounded in authentic connection. Through an exploration of practical, community-centered tenets for both making and exhibiting artists’ books, audience members will be invited to reflect on their own roles as artists, curators, and cultural stewards within the wider book arts community.
Jennie Hinchcliff (she/her) is an artist, curator, and educator whose work explores the connective power of paper, print, and the post. As Director of Exhibitions and Artist Programs at the San Francisco Center for the Book, she is dedicated to creating meaningful opportunities for dialogue between artists, curators, and the communities they serve. Her curatorial focus centers on exhibiting works that challenge conventions of the book form while amplifying a diverse range of artistic voices.
Active in the book and correspondence art worlds since 1996, Jennie has organized exhibitions, produced zines and artist books, and facilitated projects that highlight exchange and collaboration as artistic practice. Her work appears in the collections of the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum, New York MoMA’s Franklin Furnace Collection, and the Stadtbibliothek zu Berlin. She has contributed writing to Kolaj Magazine, Book Art Review, The Artist’s Book Yearbook, and The Blue Notebook Journal.
Date & Time
| Day | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Friday | June 26 | 7 pm – 9 pm |
Location
Richard Woodcock Education Center, Room ???
Questions
Tammy Andrade events@focusonbookarts.org