Jersey Art Book Fair, Feb 21–23, 2025

is pleased to announce that the third annual Jersey Art Book Fair is returning to Jersey City, February 21–23, 2025. As our main venue, Mana Contemporary and Monira Foundation will host over 200 independent publishers, small presses and university programs, filling 10,000 square feet of galleries, with works for sale that include art, photo and illustrated books, as well as zines, graphic novels, posters, chapbooks, ephemera and other print materials. Highlights from the roster of exhibitors include Kellie Anderson, Calipso Press, Aperture, KGP|MONOLITH, Unemployed, Conveyor Press, Center for International Photography, Forgotten Lands, Chang Yuchen and Women's Studio Workshop.

JAB Fair 2025 will also feature dozens of events at Mana Contemporary and our second venue, Project 14C, where on Friday, Feb 21, we kick off our schedule with back-to-back events. Starting at 4pm, artist and digital storyteller Lance Weiler presents an exclusive performance of “Where There’s Smoke,” which is immediately followed by our first edition of Eating Dangerously, our new dinner series to celebrate the culinary with the literary, as part of our residency with Project 14C. Chewing on Duke Ellington’s words that when art "ceases to be dangerous, you don't want it,” and Anthony Bourdain’s warning that “if you don’t risk the bad meal, you’ll never get the magical one,” each dinner gathers 6 artists, scholars, provocateurs and community visionaries to cook up radical ideas for New Jersey's future. Our first cohort includes Linda Harrison, Executive Director of Newark Museum of Art; Robinson Holloway, Director or Project 14C; Rebecca Jampol, Co-founder of Project for Empty Space; Jill Kearney, Founder of Artyard; and Kele McComsey, Director of Mana Contemporary, in conversation with Petia Morozov, Director of DENSE.

Other program highlights include an installation by Deep Space Gallery, a book signing/talk with Céline Semaan of Slow Factory, a workshop by Juan Villanueva of Type Electives, a vinyl-record collage demo by Olivia Bradley-Skill of WFMU, a mapping workshop by New York Times journalist Larry Buchanan, a walk with photographer Cole Caswell, and our after-hours party and cocktails menu curated by the art collective SPURSE. Rounding out the schedule are workshops, demos, panels, readings, installations and activities for all ages.

New to JAB Fair 2025 is our School Partnerships program that expands our mission to grow our community of transformative storytellers. Our new program bridges the gap between academic learning and real-world application for students in the fields of graphic communications, architecture, design, photography, illustration, typography, creative writing, book arts, literary arts, humanities and the sciences. JAB Fair is committed to removing barriers to access and elevating young voices. Our inaugural cohort of seven school programs includes Montclair State University’s Department of Art and Design, Pace University’s Department of Art, Rutgers-New Brunswick Department of Art & Design, Rutgers-Newark Department of Arts, Culture and Media, Rowan University’s College of Communication & Creative Arts, School of Visual Arts Department of Illustration and The College of New Jersey’s Department of Design and Creative Technology.

As New Jersey's largest cultural hub, Mana Contemporary and Monira Foundation are known for their innovative exhibitions and support for creative expression. During JAB Fair 2025, Mana and Monira will open several exhibits to the public, including works by Dan Flavin, Andy Warhol, John Chamberlain and Chuck Kelton.

Fair tickets are pay-as-you-wish, with VIP and reserved-seating options to featured events. All tickets include parking and access to Mana Contemporary exhibits. Proceeds support DENSE programs like JAB Fair that remove barriers to access and elevate underrepresented voices.

About DENSE

DENSE is a nonprofit publishing and public projects studio based in Newark, New Jersey. We are a participatory platform where overlooked histories and visionary narratives inform new ways of caring for our environments and each other. We begin by asking: What if America's most densely populated state is a sign of how we got here and where we're headed? We believe that New Jersey’s unique conditions offer unexpected lessons about our sense of place and how communities adapt, resist, and thrive in times of transformation. By tapping into these lessons, we can reconnect with our past to reimagine our collective futures.

Through our publishing, projects and public programs, we foreground artists, designers, archivists, historians and community leaders who operate at the forefront of making change – from advancements in labor practices, reparations, and biodiversity to resilient models of infrastructure, food security and human rights. We forge coalitions with changemakers and communities to build new worlds where radical belonging and collective care deepen our connections to place. We envision a future where overlooked histories inform radical possibilities; where place-making is understood as a collective, emergent act; where stories become tools for transformation; and where reimagining our relationship to place leads to more healing, resilient, and accountable ways of living together.

About Monira Foundation

Monira Foundation, an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit institution, functions as a radical experimental laboratory, working in close collaboration with artists, curators, musicians, dancers, producers, and writers to conceive, realize, and present innovative projects in all media. Its aim is to spark, intensify, and promote an evolving cultural and social dialogue between creators, audiences, and institutions. Focusing on the unique potential of interdisciplinary work in a context distinct from the distracting pressures of academia and the market, Monira Foundation advances the practices and products of today’s foremost artists, amplifying their contributions to communities both local and distant. Monira’s mission is to expand the reach and quality of art available to the public through residencies, exhibitions, and educational programs that address urgent and ongoing community needs, particularly as these needs evolve and change. For more information, visit www.monirafoundation.org.

About Mana Contemporary

Mana Contemporary is dedicated to celebrating the creative process, supporting artists, and bridging creative hubs worldwide. It offers world class exhibitions, residencies, career development, and conversation, in person and online. Practitioners specializing in a variety of disciplines work alongside each other in forward-thinking environments that foster experimentation, collaboration, and mutual inspiration, building a profound and personal approach to contemporary art. For more information, visit www.manacontemporary.com. Mana Contemporary is located at 888 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306. Please visit us for details on scheduling a tour. https://www.manacontemporary.com/visit/jersey-city/

Info: In Where There’s Smoke, project creator Lance Weiler unravels the secrets of his enigmatic father — a volunteer firefighter and amateur fire scene photographer — and two devastating fires that struck the Weiler family in the early 1980s. In the final months of his battle with colon cancer, his father invites Lance to interview him, and these conversations reignite 30 years of wondering… were those fires more than tragic accidents?

Join Lance Weiler live as he pulls back the curtain on an immersive storytelling experience about life, loss, and memory that reveals itself to be both deeply personal and universally resonant. He will be making art in real time.

Info: Eating Dangerously, our new dinner series to celebrate the culinary with the literary, as part of our residency with Project 14C. Chewing on Duke Ellington’s words that when art "ceases to be dangerous, you don't want it,” and Anthony Bourdain’s warning that “if you don’t risk the bad meal, you’ll never get the magical one,” each dinner gathers 6 artists, scholars, provocateurs and community visionaries to cook up radical ideas for New Jersey's future. Our first cohort includes Linda Harrison, Executive Director of Newark Museum of Art, Robinson Holloway, Director or Project 14C, Rebecca Jampol, Co-founder of Project for Empty Space, Jill Kearney, Founder of Artyard and Kele McComsey, Director of Mana Contemporary, in conversation with Petia Morozov, Director of DENSE.

Info: What does it mean to transform struggle into strength? This work universally captures the essence of the lives, labor, and struggles of both the migrant and the American working class. It emphasizes the significance of their journeys, both in the workplace and beyond. Moreover, the narrative provides precious and heartfelt glimpses into the world of the female writer, whose efforts symbolize a quest for social metamorphosis and a deeper understanding.
She passionately asserts that, as tenacious and fervent souls, we can achieve not only personal victories but also inspire profound and far-reaching change. Through our words. Through our actions.

Info: Journey through space and time in this unique immersive experience where cosmic particles meet human existence. Beginning with an exploration of micrometeorites—celestial dust from distant comets and asteroids—discover how these ancient space travelers connect to our own terrestrial story of dust and human impact.
Each participant receives a special augmented reality postcard featuring a real micrometeorite, allowing you to observe these magical particles as they journey through space. The experience culminates in "Eyes Wide Open," a guided meditation tracing meteorite falls across all seven continents. Starting from New Jersey, this mindful journey invites you to find your center while exploring our profound connections to both global and cosmic phenomena.
Join us for this transformative blend of science, art, and mindfulness that illuminates our place in the vast cosmic web.

Info: What makes the Hackensack River the Hackensack? Come slow down and encounter the river on new terms. We invite you to engage with artifacts of the river collected over the course of a week. This workshop is produced in tandem with a book-making project by University of Pennsylvania landscape architecture students researching nine dimensions of the Hackensack River.

Info: Unpack the mysteries of your dreams, déjà vus, and symbols while learning the art and craft of zine-making. In this hands-on workshop, dive into the basics—materials, design, and storytelling—while using creative exercises to bring your subconscious to life on paper. Share stories, reflect on identity, and turn the intangible into something meaningful to share.

Info: Join Aperture at the 2025 Jersey Art Book Fair for a special presentation by artist Susan Meiselas in celebration of the new edition of Nicaragua: June 1978–July 1979. Originally published in 1981 and a seminal contribution to the literature of concerned photography, Susan Meiselas’s Nicaragua forms an extraordinary narrative of a nation in turmoil.

Starting with a powerful and chilling evocation of the Somoza regime during its decline in the late 1970s, the images trace the evolution of the popular resistance that led to the triumph of the Sandinista revolution in 1979. The book includes interviews with various participants in the revolution, along with letters, poems, and statistics. Through powerful imagery, firsthand accounts, and archival materials, Meiselas captures the spirit of resistance and the hope for a new future. By bridging the past and present, the images invite us to reflect on the enduring power of photography and the complex nature of historical memory.

Info: How do some animals develop superpowers that seem almost magical?
Join us to draw extraordinary animal brains and discover nature's superpowers! In this hands-on workshop, kids and adults will create colorful scientific illustrations of remarkable sensory systems, guided by professional artists. While drawing, we'll meet the lightning-fast star-nosed mole and the globe-trotting monarch butterfly, exploring microscope images of the incredible brain structures behind their abilities. All materials provided for this creative journey into animal neuroscience.

Info: A walk through Jersey City's landscape, exploring natural ingredients hidden in plain sight. Our daily foraging has gathered diverse materials—both edible and visual—to be woven into an immersive experience featuring SPURSE's cocktail menu at the Jersey Art Book Fair's After-Hours Party.
Join us as we explore the city's wild spaces in search of final ingredients for our collaborative creation. There's no set route—we'll follow what the moment offers, finding overlooked elements in urban corners. Come ready for open wandering and gathering along the way.

Info: Explore Wyoming through photographer Andrew Fedynak's intertwined works: the Carbon County Project, captured in vivid 8x10 large format color, and The Grove, a collection of black and white photographs paired with poetry. Join the conversation as Fedynak answers questions about both projects, sharing how documenting the landscape led to an unexpected spiritual encounter on a remote hilltop, where ancient trees and weathered rocks inspired a series of 25 quatrains. Experience both a lively Q&A and an intimate poetry reading as Fedynak brings The Grove's verses to life alongside their inspiring images.

Info: Using traditional bookbinding techniques, participants will bind a small sketchbook, notebook, or journal using materials from everyday recycling. All those who want to learn the very basics of bookbinding are welcome. Attendees will listen to a demonstration and work independently with 2-3 helpers floating to answer questions/provide guidance. Participants leave the program with a small hardbound book and knowledge of how to bookbind using materials they likely have at home. Giving people the tools to bookbind encourage self-publishing and the creation of hardbound art books, two things JAB is all about!

Info: Anime Is Art: Accepting All Forms of Cartooning is a talk and discussion panel for Anime Enthusiasts, Art Educators, and Students. We'll be discussing the influence of Anime in our current Pop Culture, Art School as a Whole, and how often Anime and stylized art is unfairly frowned upon.

Info: Join us for a thought-provoking conversation exploring the intersection of street art and political activism across different eras. Distinguished panelists will examine how street artists have shaped political discourse, influenced social movements, and continue to impact contemporary political expression.
TK Mills of UP Magazine moderates this dynamic discussion featuring Carlo McCormick, renowned art critic and cultural theorist; Vittoria Benzine, arts journalist; and Emann Odufu, artist and researcher. The panel will delve into pivotal moments in street art history, analyze current trends, and discuss how this vibrant art form continues to evolve as a tool for social change and political commentary.

Info: [7pm–9pm] We invite you to imbibe the entangled landscape of Jersey City through a series of custom cocktails and other beverages. Using foraged elements from the area, SPURSE will craft experimental drinks that explore the sensory spectrum. Honey, salt, minerals and other materials combine with select liquors to create flavors that evoke our industrial past and resilient urban plants. Join us as we explore new ways of experiencing our immediate environment through taste! [9pm–12am] Party on the DENSE Floor!

Info: Introduce Brooklyn Fables by telling a short story from our debut fable series "The Jungle of Claws & Teeth." Listeners will see original illustrations as the artist himself tells the fable, "The Strawberry Elephant," while interacting with his daughter. Audience members will have an opportunity to engage and ask questions about the fables.

Info: Language shapes us. So what do you do when someone doesn’t speak your language?

Some experiences might be untranslatable, but that doesn’t mean we can’t try! Visual mediums like illustration provide another way for us to share a language beyond the use of words. These mediums not only serve as a link between cultures, but can also help us explain abstract ideas in a way we can all relate to.

In this workshop, you will illustrate a word or phrase that has a special meaning for you. This can be something in your first or second (or third or fourth!) language. A feeling, an idea, a funny idiom or turn of speech, anything you resonate with or find interesting.

Each participant will collaborate on and receive a copy of a deck of chosen words or phrases.

Info: This demo and workshop explore abstract turntablism, treating turntables and vinyl as instruments. We’ll listen to examples, break records, and experiment with taping them back together to discover new sounds. The records for breaking will come from Olivia’s own collection of dollar-bin finds, but participants are welcome to bring their own.

Info: From new indie games to variable fonts, pixel letterforms are having their renaissance moment. As artists and designers, we're drawn to their minimal, blocky aesthetics. If you’ve ever wanted to try making pixel letters, this is the workshop for you.

Join us to learn about pixel type and have fun making your own pixel letterforms. We’ll kick off the event with a brief presentation on the history and significance of these modular patterns across time and space, which will set the stage for drawing your own pixel letterforms and joining in the

Info: We will draw New Jersey, the United States, and the world from memory, put up all the drawings and compare them. These mental maps live inside us, and it’s fun to see them put down on paper.

Info: In this workshop, I’ll guide attendees through the cosmic lens of Venus in astrology, helping them understand how their unique Venus placement points out their artistic preferences, style, and creative approach. We’ll explore Venus’s role in astrology and art history, examining the connections between the planet and renowned artists’ works. This event offers a chance to discover how astrology can deepen people's relationship with art. My audience ranges from seasoned artists and hobbyists to anyone drawn to put into practice their creative ideas. Attendees will gain valuable insights into their artistic tendencies through Venus and leave a fresh perspective on their artistic potential. I will present a keynote, and they can ask questions, opening up for an individual or group discussion.

Info: A Woman is a School is is the first memoir and cultural anthropological book by Slow Factory founder, Céline Semaan. As a war-survivor and child refugee sharing endangered and discredited ancestral knowledge of the Global South, particularly tales from Lebanon from 1948 to 2023—the book follows the tradition of the hakawati, the storytellers of the Levant, holding Indigenous knowledge and wisdom, Céline Semaan, a hakawati herself, documents what she has witnessed throughout her life and the lives of her family members, sharing her upbringing and cultures of resistance, and how we might apply these frameworks to our own resistance and liberation.

Info: Create a one-of-a-kind collaged swatch book! Each participant will receive a blank swatch book (similar to a swatch book used to pick paint colors) held together with a brad pin. After collecting their materials, they will then be able to cut and paste magazine clippings to their blank book pages with a specific color, pattern, or chosen category. For kids 3 to 5 who don't have the dexterity for scissors, I will have markers and/or crayons available.

My swatch book workshop would be accessible to all ages. However, it's structured to accommodate families with teens and kids. In most cases, families need a flexible drop-in activity that can be completed in short time frames or that can be taken home to work on independently.

Info: Step into a world where art and life intertwine: "Democracy in Flux" is an immersive event inspired by the Fluxus art movement of the 60s. Just as Fluxus artists blurred the lines between creator and audience, we're inviting you to become an active participant in reimagining our democratic systems.

In an era where technology and bureaucracy tend to make democracy feel cold and labyrinthian, you'll engage in interactive scenarios that take the inhumane qualities of modern governance and transform them into playful, absurd rituals. By working with the form of FluxKits—portable collections of artistic experiments—you'll delve into the heart of these issues. This hands-on experience encourages critical reflection and channels collective frustration into a catalyst for change.

Info: As part of my ongoing project Dignidad, I present a 20 minute performance featuring a movable metal book and an original record composition. This work explores the history of Colonia Dignidad, a controversial community in southern Chile. Founded in 1961 by a former Nazi soldier, the colony was intended as a self-sustaining society but became notorious for its dark legacy during and after Chile's dictatorship.

Through a combination of physical and symbolic actions, the performance examines the hidden power structures of the colony and their lasting effects. The audience is invited to reflect on how these forgotten histories continue to shape our understanding of power and memory, as they interact with the metal artist book.

Info: Lu Zhang's site-specific installation series "Sleep Date" is closely connected to the artist's latest publication, Lu Zhang ≈ HuaiErDeMan (Wildman) Clab (New York: Gong Press, 2024).
The series has been presented in two previous iterations: at Creative Time HQ (July 31, 2024) and Accent Sisters (opened January 19, 2025, at 4:58 pm, timed to sunset).
Inspired by the traditional Chinese proverb, “It Takes Hundreds of Years to Sleep on the Same Pillow,” which evokes yuánfèn—the belief that past lives create the possibility for encounters, friendships, and love—the installation invites reflection on the poetic interplay of resting, reading, and wording. Lu weaves together themes from her artist book with the embodied act of being together.

Info: The Light Garden is a site-specific immersive installation, curated as a rest & read space lit by glass pendant lamps, floor lamps and sconces. A prismatic and impermanent light experience will accompany the installation.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Mana Contemporary, 888 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, United States