Culture

Turning Pages: The Return of Tropic Bound Artist Book Biennial to Miami

The first international biennial fair dedicated to artists’ books in South Florida, the Tropic Bound artist book biennial, is set to return from February 6-9, 2025, at the Miami Design District.

Por: Rubén Carrillo
Book artists, publishers, curators, librarians, book lovers and the aesthetically curious will come together for an international event highlighting the art of books / Photo Tropic Bound
Book artists, publishers, curators, librarians, book lovers and the aesthetically curious will come together for an international event highlighting the art of books / Photo Tropic Bound

Tropic Bound, an international biennial fair dedicated to artists’ books in South Florida, will take place across two stunning rooftop venues in the Miami Design District: Paradise and Palm Court Plaza Event Spaces, from February 6-9, 2025.

 

This vibrant biennial showcases the fascinating world of artists’ books, a genre that blends fine art, craftsmanship, and literature. 

 

These pieces tell stories in unique ways, often without words, and reflect diverse cultural traditions.

 

Tropic Bound offers a space where hand-crafted or altered books are displayed, allowing visitors to interact directly with the creators of these intricate and unique works of art.

Tropic Bound’s mission is to promote and support the work of book artists while providing opportunities for dialogue and a platform for national and international artists and publishers to exhibit, sell and exchange artists’ books / Photo Tropic Bound
Tropic Bound’s mission is to promote and support the work of book artists / Photo Tropic Bound

An exciting opportunity for all the people

Visitors will have the opportunity to explore this historically rich genre, encountering books and exhibitors from around the globe. 

 

Attendees can also learn about specialized techniques.

 

Bookbinding, paper-making, marbling, and letterpress printing, which are integral to this art form. 

 

Visitors will be able to meet artists, printers, and collectors, and participate in talks and panel discussions that delve into the world of artists’ books.

The book arts field offers a wide range of pricing, with pieces available for under $100, while one-of-a-kind works can reach over $10,000. 

 

The event attracts a variety of collectors, from those with a personal passion for the medium, to institutional collectors like university libraries and museums.

 

Exhibitors from all over the world will take part in the fair, with a special focus on artists from South Florida, the Caribbean, and Central America.

The idea for Tropic Bound was years in the making. Beginning in the fall of 2019 with the support of the John S. and James L Knight Foundation through a Knight Arts Challenge Grant, Tropic Bound began to materialize in earnest / Photo Tropic Bound
The event comprises over 90 international exhibitors from 12 countries and over 725 artists’ works / Photo Tropic Bound

Tropic Bound 2025 Highlights

  • 90+ international exhibitors from 12 countries
  • More than 725 artists’ works on display
  • Keynote address by Stephanie Stillo from the US Library of Congress
  • 4 artists participating in panel discussions
  • 7 artists and publishers featured in conversations
  • Spread across two rooftop venues in the Miami Design District
  • Fair hours: Addendum: Thurs, 3-8pm; Sat & Sun, 10am-1pm; Main Fair: Fri & Sat, 12-6pm; Sun 12-4pm

A new addition this year, the Addendum section at Palm Court Plaza will spotlight independent publishers from around the world.

Officially formed in 2020 by Cristina Favretto, Sarah Michelle Rupert and Ingrid Schindall, Tropic Bound is the first international biennial artists’ book fair set in Miami to undertake the unique opportunity and focus of this historic and underrepresented medium / Photo Tropic Bound
Tropic Bound is the first international biennial artists’ book fair set in Miami / Photo Tropic Bound

This dynamic area will feature publishers of art magazines and books, expanding the conversation around books and art. 

 

The Addendum will be easily accessible, with a proximity to exciting programming, such as artist talks and symposia.

 

Tropic Bound is honored to welcome Stephanie Stillo, the newly appointed Chief of the Rare Book and Special Collections Division at the US Library of Congress, to deliver the keynote address at the 2025 symposium.

The inaugural edition of Tropic Bound launched February 16th-19th, 2023 in the Miami Design District with over 1600 visitors in 4 days / Photo Tropic Bound
The inaugural edition of Tropic Bound launched February 16th-19th, 2023 in the Miami Design District with over 1600 visitors in 4 days / Photo Tropic Bound

What Are Artists’ Books?

Artists’ books are works of art where the form and function of a book are used as a medium of expression. 

 

These art objects, intentionally created by artists, can take many different shapes and forms.

 

Artists’ books have been a part of human culture for centuries and have evolved in many ways throughout history.

 

Miami plays a vital role as a cultural and business hub for the Americas, connecting a wide range of communities, including LatinX, Afro-Caribbean, and Jewish diasporas. 

 

What is Tropic Bound?

Tropic Bound was established in 2020 by Cristina Favretto, Sarah Michelle Rupert, and Ingrid Schindall to promote and focus attention on artists’ books. 

 

The event aims to provide a platform for national and international book artists and publishers to exhibit, sell, and exchange their works.

 

Tropic Bound strives to elevate the recognition of hand-crafted artists’ books as a contemporary art form where the worlds of art and literature meet. 

 

By working with artists, galleries, universities, institutions, and publishers from around the world, Tropic Bound creates an accessible platform for those involved in the creation of books as art.

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