Art books can take many forms from being a collection of literal art to works that analyze art styles and works. Even comic books and some chapter books can qualify under the “art book” umbrella.
With that said, let’s take a look at some of the best art book publishers around and the types of books they prefer to publish.
Laurence King Publishing
An international publisher specializing in art-related books, Laurance King Publishing accepts submissions in a number of categories including fashion, design, photography, and music, among others. The publishing house is willing to take on the risk of new and emerging authors which makes it ideal for those just starting out. Established writers are also welcome to submit their works.
Heritage House
A Canadian publisher, Heritage House publishes books on photography and art, along with other subjects such as local history and tourism. Submissions are welcome; however, due to the volume of submissions received each year, it can take up to six months. The publishing house recommends reviewing their published catalog first to ensure that your work fits well with what they have already published.
Mörel Books
Mörel Books is a Londen-based publisher that specializes in art and photography books that break from the norm and embrace idiosyncrasies. The publishing house accepts works from established and emerging artists and will take submissions. However, submissions should be sample-sized in nature.
Phaidon
One of the larger publishers, Phaidon publishes books on art, design, photography, fashion, and illustrated children’s books, among others. Submissions are welcomed if they are in proposal form.
The publishing house has three different categories to submit to: Phaidon Adult Books (for books on art, architecture, design, film, etc.), Phaidon Children’s Books (for children ages zero to fourteen), and The Monacelli Press (for books on landscape architecture, fine arts, design, photography, etc.).
Ugly Duckling Presse
The Ugly Duckling Presse is a nonprofit publisher that specializes in publishing poetry, experimental nonfiction, performance text, art books, translation, and forgotten works. The publishing house will be a little difficult to get published in as it’s small and very selective. However, by engaging in some of their workshops, programs, and seminars, the right connections could be made.
Perimeter Editions
Perimeter Editions is an imprint of an Australian bookstore, Perimeter Books, and distributor—Perimeter Distribution. The publishing houses accept submissions from curators, artists, writers, and photographers. However, due to the large volume of submissions they receive, they will only respond to submissions they’re interested in.
Tate Publishing
Associated with London’s Tate Museum, Tate Publishing specializes in art and exhibition-related books for both children and adults. While submission periods are not always open, when they are, the publisher will accept proposal-based submissions as long as they are concise and to the point. Authors should have a clear idea of who their intended audience is as well as have a defined category their books fit into.
Abram Books
Abram Books is a US publishing house that was established in 1949 with the aim to publish art and illustrated books.
The publisher accepts a wide range of art-related works including comics, fashion books, and photography books, among others. Kids’ books are also accepted. As far as submissions go, unsolicited submissions are not accepted. This means that to get your book considered by the publisher, you will have to go through a literary agent.
Prestel Publishing
Prestel Publishing was founded in Germany but has since become a part of Random House and publishes internationally. The publishers specialize in design, art, photography, and architecture. Submissions are welcomed in the form of a book proposal, but due to a high volume of submissions, only those that the publishing house is interested in can be guaranteed a reply.
Art / Books
Art / Books is one of the more popular independent art book publishers based in London. The publisher specializes in books related to design, photography, art, and architecture but also publishes other books such as memoirs and even scholarly books. Proposals are welcomed and if the publishing house is interested in your work, then they may ask for further information such as an outline.
ACC Art Books
An England-based publisher, ACC Art Books specializes in works from architects, artists, photographers, and fashion designers. Submissions are accepted and involve submitting two sample chapters, a summary of the rest of the chapters, a synopsis of the book, some sample illustrations, and ideally the number of images that will be included.
Smallworks Press
Smallworks Press is located in Las Vegas and specializes in culture-related pieces in the categories of art, photography, literature, design, and architecture. Submissions are only accepted once a year. The publisher will announce when that submission period takes place each year.
Final Thoughts
The best art book publishers are always interested in beautiful, unique, and impactful pieces. There are plenty to choose from and, while often competitive, many are open to submissions from emerging artists and writers.
If you’re also interested in exploring other genres, be sure to check out independent comic book publishers, Christian book publishers, children’s book publishers, and poetry book publishers for a wider range of creative works.
