The Vancouver Art Book Fair (VABF) returns from May 15 to 17 at the Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre, offering a vibrant bazaar for art books, zines, comics, and more. This year, attendees can explore a diverse range of works, from risograph prints to T-shirt designs, celebrating the book as an art object.
Cole Pauls Returns with New Creations
Tahltan comics artist Cole Pauls, known for his series Dakwäkãda Warriors, will be at the fair with new T-shirt and sticker designs, as well as risograph prints. Although the first print run of his 2025 comic We See Stars Only at Night is temporarily out of print, Pauls is eager to participate. He credits the VABF with jump-starting his career after debuting the first issue of Dakwäkãda Warriors at the fair in 2016. The series, written in English and Southern Tutchone, features two Earth protectors battling evil pioneers and cyborg sasquatches.
"I worked my butt off to publish the first issue just in time for the fair," Pauls said. "It was my first big show after graduating Emily Carr."
From Panel to Opportunities
Pauls also participated in a panel on Indigenous comics at the fair, which led to research projects and a literacy tour in the Yukon, where he visited seven communities. "I'm planning more collaborations to continue bringing Indigenous comics into the classroom," he added.
A Broad Spectrum of Publishing
Fair co-manager Jonathan Middleton emphasized that the VABF covers a wide range of publishing, from self-published zines to institutional publishers like the Burnaby Art Gallery and Vancouver Art Gallery. "We see comics and zines as part of a larger publishing ecosystem," he said. Notable examples include the Polygon Gallery's recent book of photographs by Diane Evans.
The fair takes place at the Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre, 181 Roundhouse Mews, Vancouver. For more information, visit vancouverartbookfair.com.
