If you missed Athens’ recent book fair, don’t worry—this weekend, from October 4-6, you can discover the exciting world of artist publications at the Athens Art Book Fair, held at Stoa Tristato (Tristrato Gallery, Dragatsaniou 6).
Now in its 5th edition, this is the first time the fair is being hosted in a public space in the heart of the city. Featuring 150 artists and publishers from Greece and 35 other countries, the fair offers a unique opportunity to explore a diverse array of creative printed works.
Whether you’re new to artist publications or already a fan, the Athens Art Book Fair offers a diverse range of creative works. These include photo books, zines, independent magazines, poetry collections, artistic monographs, and experimental publications. These works are often self-published or created with small presses, showcasing how artists use publishing as a unique medium for artistic expression.
@ Lila Efremidou
In addition to the vast array of publications, an interactive program of talks, exhibitions, performances, poetry readings, and live music will further enrich the festival.
Don’t miss out on:
“OUT OF THE GRID. Italian Zines 1978–2006”: This exhibition features 100 Italian zines from 1978 to 2006, reflecting social, political, and aesthetic changes in self-publishing, particularly within youth culture. Organized in collaboration with the Italian Institute of Education in Athens.
Talks Program: On Saturday (2-3 p.m., 4-5 p.m., 6-7 p.m.) and Sunday (2-4 p.m., 4:30-5:30 p.m.), panel discussions will cover topics such as social transformation, identity, feminism, politics, and cross-disciplinary practices in artistic publishing.
International Network of Art Book Fairs: Athens Art Book Fair will host fairs such as SPRINT Art Book Fair (Italy), MIGRA Art Book Fair (Argentina), Sit and Read Art Book Fair (Romania), and Pagemasters (England).
Annual Collective Display: Discover over 70 art publications from around the globe and take a first look at the growing archive of the Athens Art Book Library.
“Bad Sandwich” Live Concert: Join the festival’s opening event on Friday, October 4, at 7:30 p.m.
Spotlight on Asian Publications: Featured publishers include JOJO (India), Jiazazhi (China), and NOS BOOKS from Taiwan, marking the fair’s first collaboration with Taiwan, supported by the Taipei Representative Office in Athens.
Can’t make it in person? Tune in to Fade Radio, the festival’s online radio partner, which will broadcast shows about independent publishing practices. You can also catch up on previous years’ broadcasts here .
About Athens Art Book Fair: Founded in 2019 by Margarita Athanasiou and Michalis Pichler, the Athens Art Book Fair is an artist-run initiative aimed at showcasing Greek and international artist publications while fostering connections between print and digital publishing practices.
Event Info:
- Location: Stoa Tristrato (Entrances: Stadiou 29, Aristidou 6, and Dragatsaniou 6)
- Metro: Panepistimio
- Opening Hours: Friday 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., Saturday 1:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
- Public Program: Saturday 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
- Entry: Free (donations welcome to support the event, with raffle tickets for unique publications)
- Accessibility: Partially wheelchair accessible (ground floor entrance, but no accessible toilets)
For updates, visit the Athens Art Book Fair Facebook page here.
