World Biennials of Art Bookbinding

Art Bookbinding international contest

Art bookbinding international contest has been existing for 30 years. It clearly is the oldest international bookbinding contest. This event is a must for professionals and a challenge for binding schools and amateur bookbinders.

For the 16th biennial, we have chosen to lead you into the wonderful world of an African reservation ; so you can share this incredible affectionate bond between a 10 year old girl and a lion she took in and cared for when he was a baby. It’s a Joseph Kessel novel, written in 1958, at the age of 60. We contacted Carol Richard, illustrator, to illustrate this superb publication with 6 original etchings and one frontpage. These will bring added value to the book.

All 2022 bindings are part of the exhibition from sept 22nd to 25th, in Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse (France). See all 2022 bindings

Informations about 2024 contest will be available soon.

News

4-day art bookbinding exhibition September 2022

4 jours d’exposition pour découvrir les 300 reliures participantes !

Conférence JOSEPH KESSEL, par Serge Linkès

Conférence Joseph Kessel jeudi 22 septembre à 20h30 – sur inscription

Cérémonie de remise des prix du concours international 2022

Remise des prix aux lauréats samedi 24 septembre

Salon des Fournisseurs de matériel pour reliure

cuirs, peaux, parchemins, papiers marbrés et outillage pour reliure d’art

Inauguration of the exhibition

September 2022 : Mrs Michèle Douaze, President of the World Biennials of Art bookbinding association, with the Mayor representants of St-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse : Mr Jacques Caous and Mrs Myriam Schwartz, during the inauguration of international Art bookbinding 16th exhibition.

at the Espace Jean Racine, in Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse (France)

Cérémonie de remise des prix. Au total, 17 prix ont été remis aux lauréats.

Revoir la cérémonie en images

See 2022 winners

230 bindings presented to the public

On every Bienniale all participating bindings are exposed. In 2022, 230 bindings were exposed from 22nd to 25th of September.

on the theme of The Lion, a novel of Joseph Kessel

In 2022 candidates were proposed to bind LE LION by Joseph Kessel.

Conference Joseph Kessel

Conference by Mr Serge Linkès : « Joseph Kessel and his connection to Africa »

See pictures of the conference

World Biennials of Art Bookbinding - in short

A unique international contest

This cultural artistic contest is a unique one. It is a not-to-be-missed event for professionals , binding schools and amateur bookbinders in the world.

30 years of existence

Culture patronage, the Biennials Art bookbinding are organized since 2005 in St Rémy-lès-Chevreuse,Yvelines county (78) in France. The 17th edition will take place in 2024.

More than 20 participating countries

Participating countries from all continents : Germany, Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, South Korea, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, USA, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Morocco, Mexico, Netherlands, Portugal, United Kingdom, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland …

French literature in the spotlight

Joseph Kessel, Albert Camus, Victor Hugo, Michel Tournier, Maurice Leblanc, Jean de la Fontaine, Charles Perrault, Beaumarchais, Jules Verne, …

Exceptional savoir-faire

Traditional, full skin leather, inlays, Bradel, Italian binding, Japanese binding, object book….

600 numbered prints

Each book is unique and has a typographical printing of high quality on 160 g Velin d’Arches 100% chiffon, work carried out by Cheyne printing-works which is awarded a Living Heritage Company label.