Jersey Art Book Fair 2024

The 2nd edition of Jersey Art Book Fair is coming back to Jersey City, February 3–4, 2024!

Presented by Dense Magazine, Jersey Art Book (JAB) Fair will feature over 100 exhibitors with art books, zines, posters and other print ephemera for purchase. Meet book artists, independent publishers and small presses from the US and Europe, representing emerging and established practices across genres.

JAB Fair will also feature a full Schedule of Programs over both days – from workshops, demos and readings to panels, Q&A's and presentations PLUS much more! Guest curated by Christopher and Kathleen Sleboda, publishers of award-winning Draw Down Books, highlights of the weekend include Kim's Office, hosted by legendary Paper Magazine cofounder (and Jersey native!) Kim Hastreiter, a Q&A hosted by award-winning photographer Kris Graves, a climate healing session with Nocturnal Medicine and a pop-up paper-making residency hosted by Newark artist Amanda Thackray. 

Attendees will also enjoy book readings and signings in the Listening Room, our decked-out Reading Room with views along the Hudson, coffee by local roasters Modcup, and a bounty of food trucks (El Chilango Taqueria 2, Empenadas by Lady G, Gigi Halal, Jerkin Chicken, Ms. Fu’s Yummy Food) throughout the day.

Don't let the fun end! Come to the JAB Fair After Hours Party to chill, dance and hang out with fellow print lovers, art book collectors and zinesters. The vibe of the night is curated by DARK.LOUD, Jersey City's own mood makers. You know it'll be a great time! Must be 21 or older to attend the party.

In addition, JAB Fair is extending the love of print at three off-site locations all weekend, accessible by our Shuttle: 

"Old School, New Worlds" Art Exhibition, Jan 21–Feb 15, 2024

Curated by Dense and presented in partnership with  SMUSH Gallery 

340 Summit Avenue, Jersey City, NJ

Paper Trail Art Market & Documentary Screening, Feb 3–4, 2024

Curated by Deep Space Gallery

77 Cornelison Avenue, Jersey City, NJ

"The Politics of Eternity" Exhibit by Dustin Yellin

In partnership with Liberty Science Center*

*Get $5 off with JAB Fair ticket, through Feb 28, 2024

222 Jersey City Boulevard, Jersey City, NJ

JAIR FAIR TICKETS

We offer three admission tiers to enjoy and support Jersey Art Book Fair: 

• Free Admission. Free, Sunday, Feb 4 only. Free Admission includes same-day programs on a first-come,first-served basis, shuttle access and free parking in Lot 8 during fair hours. Tickets are for timed entry. Choose from 3 entry times to help ensure crowd capacities, 11AM, 1PM or 3PM. Please arrive within 15 minutes of your selected entry time. Once checked in, you can stay as long as you'd like.
• General Admission. $5 per person, Saturday, Feb 3 only. General Admission includes same-day programs on a first-come,first-served basis, shuttle access and free parking in Lot 8 during fair hours.  Tickets are for timed entry. Choose from 3 entry times to help ensure crowd capacities, 11AM, 1PM or 3PM. Please arrive within 15 minutes of your selected entry time. Once checked in, you can stay as long as you'd like.
• VIP Admission. $75 per person, Saturday and Sunday, Feb 3–4, VIP Admission includes unrestricted access to the fair (no timed entry), entry to After-Hours Party (with 3-drink tab), reserved seating at up to 6 events (at check-in), priority shuttle access, free parking in Lot 9 (during fair hours), JAB Fair tote ($15 retail), latest issue of Dense ($27 retail) and collectible Scratch n Sniff Turnpike Map ($15 retail). Limited ticket quantities available. Must be 21 or older.

Children aged 12 and under get in free under adult supervision. Purchase limit of 4 tickets per person on any ticket. Tickets are NON-REFUNDABLE. Show ticket for $5 off Liberty Science Center entry, through Feb 28, 2024. Ticket holders MUST present their tickets for fair entry, access to shuttle and discount to Liberty Science Center entry. Ticket must include the full names of all attending in order to access JAB Fair Shuttle. You can either print your ticket or present this digital version. 

MORE NOT-TO-MISS EVENTS!

Expressing your love of print doesn't have to stop at the fair! Party After Fair Hours with DARK.LOUD or immerse yourself in a very special night of making BOOKS and breaking BREAD with artist and chef Leon Johnson. These events will sell out.

• After Hours Party. $25 per person, Saturday, Feb 3, 7p–11p. Admission includes a 2-drink tab, live DJ sets by DARK.LOUD, and nibbles buffet all night. Hosted at The Terminal Building. Must be 21 or older to attend the party.
• FUNDRAISING EVENT: "Book & Bread x JAB Fair". $350 per person, Saturday, March 23, 6p–10p. Presented by artist and chef Leon Johnson of LODGER, this special fundraising edition of Leon's "Book & Bread" series features a three-course, locally-sourced meal made in house-produced dinnerware, and bookbinding demonstrations and instruction where each guest binds a blank 16th C Monastery Journal using archival papers and Irish linen tapes. Natural wine pairings by Grape Collective Wine Director Brittney Abell. Limited to 10 guests. Must be 21 or older to attend.

All ticket proceeds support Dense Fellowship programs that cultivate and amplify New Jersey's emerging, underrepresented voices for locally-grounded change.

MAIN VENUE

JAB Fair will be held at the historic Railroad Terminal Building in Jersey City's Liberty State Park This striking landmark has witnessed hope, violence and renewal, so it's a fitting setting for elevating stories that empower new futures. The Terminal Building is accessible by our shuttle service to/from two mass transit nodes, bike lanes and easy car access from Holland Tunnel and NJ Turnpike. 

The venue is fully ADA accessible, including bathrooms and parking. If you require additional assistance, please email us with your request three business days BEFORE your attendance.

SHUTTLE SERVICE

JAB Fair ticketholders have free access to our JAB Fair Shuttle when they display a same-day ticket to JAB fair staff upon boarding. Ticket must display the full names of attendees. JAB Fair Shuttle times are approximately every 10 minutes, with the first departing at 10:45am and last departing 6:00pm. Shuttle buses accommodate 54 ticketholders and are ADA compliant. Shuttle will include two loops:

LOOP 1:

• Stop A: NJ Transit Light Rail, Liberty State Park Station
• Stop B: JAB Fair, in front of the Terminal Building
• Stop C: Liberty Science Center, side turnaround on Phillip Street
• Stop D: NJ Transit Light Rail, Liberty State Park Station

LOOP 2:

• Stop A: Journal Square PATH Station 
• Stop B: JAB Fair, in front of the Terminal Building
• Stop C: Deep Space Gallery
• Stop D: SMUSH Gallery
• Stop E: Journal Square PATH Station

Interactive JAB Fair Shuttle maps for both loops can be found by clicking HERE. Check website for updates before traveling.

OUR SUPPORTERS

We wish to thank the many individuals and institutions for their commitment to our mission and who have supported the return of JAB Fair in Jersey City. Our deep gratitude goes to: Christine Goodman, Director, and Migdalia Pagan Milano, Program Coordinator of Special Events, of Office of Cultural Affairs for welcoming us back to Jersey City; Mark Ferrer, Philip Arrigo and Ray Baylon, State Park Service officials, of Liberty State Park for welcoming our community; Craig Guy, Hudson County Executive, Gina Gulings, Director of Hudson County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs/Tourism Development and Scott Winter, Chief Dispatcher, Hudson County Schools of Technology for making the arts accessible to everyone with Shuttle Service to all our venues; and Melissa Cuccinello, Supervisor Visual Arts (K-12) of Jersey City Public Schools for championing youth-led arts initiatives and providing portable walls to our Exhibitors. 

Additionally, DesignShed received public funds from the Jersey City Arts and Culture Trust Fund. With their support, we’re able to expand this community of book artists by removing barriers to access and elevating underrepresented voices.