July 1 – September 28, 2025
Handmade photography books transcend the digital realm, offering a tangible and deeply personal experience. They are more than mere collections of images; they are crafted narratives. The unique quality of a handmade photobook lies in its tactile nature, where texture, style, and craft converge. The selection of paper, the binding technique, and the attention to detail all contribute to a sensory tangible object of beauty. Each page invites the viewer to not only see, but also to feel the story within. This dedication to craftsmanship elevates the photobook from a simple album to a cherished artifact, a testament to the photographer’s vision and the enduring power of physical media.
This year is the first year we have a unique exhibition for handmade photobooks. Unlike our self published works, this call for entry requires the hand of the artist in the manufacture and production of the book and its contents.
We are thrilled to have Sangyon Joo, founder of Datz Press as our juror for this call. Datz Press produces high quality monographs that are beautiful objects themselves. We are excited to see your works submitted for her review.
The call for entry will open March 21 and close April 20, 2025. Submissions will be held on CaFE.
The Handmade Photobook Exhibition will be held this summer, opening July 1 through September 28, 2025. There will be associated receptions and artist talks all dates to be determined.
START YOUR SUBMISSION HERE
Eligibility and Details:
Entrants may submit up to three different titles that are handmade photobooks of any size, format, or style. Handmade books are not published by any online, commercial publisher, but are uniquely built by the artist.
Photobooks will be juried by their overall quality. They will be judged on the basis of: book design including page layouts, text, cover; strength of the photography; and emotional impact of the overall book. All judging is at the complete discretion of the gallery/museum and all decisions of the gallery/museum are final. Please include a page with a biography and artist statement with your entry. You will be able to submit up to three books for consideration.
All Submissions must be original works of authorship created by the photographer who submits the Submission
By entering, Contestant warrants that your Submission does not infringe any third party’s rights, and that you have obtained any necessary permissions from any third party to submit the Submission.
Once entered, all Submissions are final; no changes or edits may be made to your book.
The fee for submission of up to three books is $35. All submissions are through the CaFE portal. Link HERE to get started.
Once selections are made, the winners will send one physical copy of the photobook to the Griffin Museum, to be displayed in the Griffin Gallery from July to September of 2025. Winners will be given the option to donate the copy to the Griffin Library Collection to remain on the shelves for posterity.
We look forward to seeing your work!
About Sangyon Joo
Sangyon Joo was born in Seoul, Korea. She earned her BFA from Seoul National University in 1994 and her MFA from Hongik University in 1999. She studied with Linda Connor and received a second MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute. In 2010, she founded Datz Press and Datz Museum, focusing on photography and book. Since beginning her career as an artist, she has continues to exhibit her work in book form and present it at numerous international art book fairs. Recently, she published Other Ways of Being and held a solo exhibition at Datz Frame. Her works have been featured internationally and are included in numerous private and public collections. She has been deeply engaged in international cross-cultural art exchanges as both an artist and a creative director.
About Datz Press
Founded in 2010, Datz Press is an art book publisher based in Seoul, Korea, specializing in creating, publishing, and exhibiting photography-centered books.
Datz Press publications preserve and share artists’ work by carefully adapting each book to best represent the artist’s vision. They also serve as an alternative exhibition space for artists, fostering artistic exchange that enriches life through photography and books. Over the past fifteen years, Datz Press has published more than 90 titles, which are included in numerous private and public collections.
Datz Press also operates the Datz Museum of Art in Gwangju, Gyeonggi-do, and D’Ark Room in Seoul.
To see more about Datz Press, please visit their website.
