POINT PLEASANT PUBLISHING
International Call for Artists - Experimental Visual Art for Hardcover Book Editions & Online (Art Reviews)
Point Pleasant Publishing was founded in 2014 in Jersey City, New Jersey (currently based in the New Jersey Shore as well as beyond) and is an international contemporary art publisher specializing in writing critical essays.
Selected artists are featured with detailed curatorial review essays in the catalogue and receive a generous six-page spread dedicated to them.
The writing by Point Pleasant Publishing is 100% human-created content, absolutely no artificial intelligence used.
What is 'the catalogue'?
The Artist Feature Catalogue is not a magazine but rather a collection of scholarly essays published in a hardcover art book format as well as presented digitally in a manner similar to an exhibition catalogue. With distinction, the catalogue includes artists who have works in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art, Whitney Museum of American Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and multiple Smithsonian Institution museums. Artists included in the catalogue have also been critically published by The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, National Geographic, The Boston Globe, Financial Times, Newsweek, and The Guardian. There are also quite a few artists in the catalogue who are represented by some of the most respected galleries in the world. Point Pleasant Publishing editions include notable award achievers such as National Endowment for the Arts and Pollock-Krasner Foundation grant recipients as well as International Photography Awards (IPA) winners.
What are the contributions of Point Pleasant Publishing?
Point Pleasant Publishing is a leading voice in international contemporary discourse and experimental visual art. We highlight artworks, moving-images, and performances which incorporate integrative and interdisciplinary practices as well as provide unique or provocative conceptual approaches. Point Pleasant Publishing has a curatorial vision and standard to advance contemporary art beyond design principles and technique. We actively push the boundaries of contemporary art by featuring artists whose works are socially relevant, hallucinogenic, provocatively sensual, mesmerizingly enchanted, conceptually ironic, arthouse documentative, and / or engage in institutional criticism. Through detailed yet direct written commentary, Point Pleasant Publishing applies a deeper dialogue to the visual arts beyond presentation and image-sharing.
Eligibility Criteria:
Point Pleasant Publishing accepts alternative and experimental forms of visual art including photography, performance, moving-image (video / film), installation, fiber / textiles, assemblage, collage, jewelry, light design, printmaking, fashion / costume design, text-based fragments, and analogue digital (no AI).
Artists are selected based on a variety of factors including originality, conceptual impact, overall cohesiveness of portfolio, and aesthetic qualities of the art. We especially encourage alternative / experimental and underrepresented artists to apply.
Modest Selection Requirements:
There is no application fee. Point Pleasant Publishing has modest selection requirements for artists to become published online and in print with a curatorial review essay.
Option # 1: Selected artists need to make a $35 donation at the following Donation Link or purchase of any current paperback edition from our Bookstore.
Option # 2: Selected artists who donate $100 (instead of $35) will also receive a premium linen wrap hardcover book of the edition they are published in, which includes free expedited shipping.
If selected, we recommend choosing the second option, as having a physical record of your critical essay is vitally important for documentation and sharing with others in real-time.
Rules:
Point Pleasant Publishing does not accept Instagram links as portfolios or works made with artificial intelligence.
How to apply:
*Read all guidelines before sending an application.
We recommend reading a couple of essays within our various publications before applying in order to understand our writing style, format, and ability.
Email your CV, 3 image samples, and artist website or online portfolio to editor@pointpleasantpublishing.net
Terms & Conditions: By applying or agreeing to participate in the publication the participating artist agrees to allow permission for Michael Athanasius Hanna and Point Pleasant Publishing representatives to use images from your online portfolio and art for inclusion in publications and promotions, both digitally and in print. Michael Athanasius Hanna and Point Pleasant Publishing representatives will not under any circumstances pay any participating artist royalty fees or any other form of financial compensation for usage of their art in publications and promotions. Artists retain the copyright to their artworks. If you do not agree to these terms, you need to notify us through email that you wish to not participate with Point Pleasant Publishing.
video stills by Jaina Cipriano
LinkedIn Recommendations from Notable Established Artists who have Worked with the Editor:
Contemporary Multimedia Artist (video, photography, installation, printmaking, collage, and graphics)
Michael is an attentive and thoughtful curator and critic. He writes with rare depth and a genuine respect for an artist’s work, articulating meaning precisely and never turning art into empty rhetoric. You can always feel that he is genuinely invested in the quality of the result and never indifferent to what the work is actually saying. At the same time, Michael is a productive and talented artist himself, which makes him highly sensitive both to the creative process and to the ways we can speak about it. I sincerely recommend working with him.
------------------------------------------
Performance and Video Artist
Michael is an excellent writer and very dedicated to his work. He dives deep into each artist’s body of work with genuine curiosity. He is very passionate, sensitive and empathetic to the artist’s vision.
Having collaborated with him on three published essays about my work, I can definitely say that his insights have enriched the understanding of my practice and even helped me see my own creations from new angles.
If you are an artist with a unique and experimental style, I highly recommend working with Michael.
-------------------------------------------
3-D Assemblage Artist
I had the pleasure of collaborating with Michael Hanna when he featured my work in The Artist Feature Catalogue by Point Pleasant Publishing. His curatorial essay offered a deeply perceptive and rigorous interpretation of my practice, thoughtful, precise, and free from superficial language. Michael combines exceptional editorial clarity with genuine respect for the artist’s voice. He listens carefully, analyzes deeply, and writes with integrity. His work as Editor & Curator at Point Pleasant Publishing is a vital contribution to contemporary art discourse.
I highly recommend Michael to any artist or institution seeking a curator and writer capable of elevating work with intelligence, sensitivity, and vision.
------------------------------------------
Burak Bulut Yildirim
Photographer and Photography Mentor since 2005. SONY EU Imaging Ambassador 2018-Present
It has been a privilege to work with Michael. As an editor, he combines professionalism with a genuine passion for highlighting creative talent. Throughout the process of my feature in Volume 11 and 13, his communication was excellent and supportive. He puts great effort into ensuring that the artist's voice is heard and represented accurately. I strongly recommend connecting and collaborating with him.
-------------------------------------------
Anastasiia Marinich
Photographer | Art Direction | Fashion & Cinematic Portraiture
I had the pleasure of working with Michael as part of a curated publication. His deep sensitivity to visual storytelling and intuitive understanding of artistic language truly impressed me. The curatorial text he wrote about my work showed not only insight, but genuine attention to the emotional layers behind each image. I’m grateful for his thoughtful approach and clear communication throughout the process.
---------------------------------------------
Point Pleasant Publishing
New Jersey Shore - United States
formerly located in Jersey City, New Jersey and Paterson, New Jersey.
Administration:
Editor & Curator: Michael Hanna
email: editor@pointpleasantpublishing.net
https://www.michaelhanna.net
Writer & Contributor: Joas Nebe
https://www.joasnebe.de
unedited photography by Jaina Cipriano.
Unedited photography by Michael Hanna
.png)
.jpg)
performance by Fina Ferrara. Echoes of Perception.
Unedited photography by Michael Hanna
About:
Point Pleasant Publishing was founded in 2014 in Jersey City, New Jersey and initially started as an artist community and curatorial organization hosting exhibitions and artistic events across New Jersey as well as writing exhibition catalogues. Point Pleasant evolved its focus on publishing an international catalogue with curatorial reviews on some of the finest conceptual and experimental artists in the world. The Artist Feature Catalogue is published in three formats consisting of the Point Pleasant website, Substack, and linen wrap hardcover books.
In addition, the Point Pleasant Journal also publishes articles but with a focus on philosophical interpretations of concepts and presenting other information regarding contemporary discourse in the visual arts. Point Pleasant Journal essays are published inside the linen wrap hardcover book editions of the Artist Feature Catalogue in addition to the Point Pleasant Publishing website. Also, Shoreline Voice is a monthly newsletter and spotlight which focuses on just one artist who has been previously published in the Artist Feature Catalogue. Shoreline Voice newsletter articles, like the Point Pleasant Journal, are also published inside the hardcover editions of the Artist Feature Catalogue along with the Point Pleasant Publishing website.
With notable and international recognition, Point Pleasant Publishing has been featured in the press by The London Group, which is the oldest arts organization in the United Kingdom, as well as multiple articles by The Jersey Journal and NJ.com. Additionally, Point Pleasant Publishing is presented on a regular basis in opportunity newsletters posted by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and listed by the Arts Council of Princeton. Point Pleasant Publishing was formerly known as Aedra Fine Arts Publishing, Titan Contemporary Publishing, and the Jersey City Artist Initiative. An international art publisher, Point Pleasant offers the public insight and analysis through scholarly essays on groundbreaking, innovative contemporary art.
History:
Founded in 2014, Point Pleasant Publishing was formerly known as the Jersey City Artist Initiative which was initially a membership-based artist community which engaged in bi-weekly artistic gatherings, projects, networking, visual art exhibits and writing / publishing exhibition catalogues. During this time, the organization built a solid & large network of connections and a reputation as being efficient in its goals & achievements.
In April of 2015, the membership was disbanded in favor of developing a more dynamic art scene through an improved organic process. The organization was then restructured into specializing in acting as a curatorial entity which hosts & organizes fine art exhibits & the Artist House series.
On June 16th 2015, the Jersey City Artist Initiative changed its name to Aedra Fine Arts and had a residency at the Art Factory in Paterson, New Jersey then in turn relocating back to Jersey City.
From 2016 - 2018 AFA was focused on publishing printed exhibition catalogues.
August 19th, 2023, AFA was revived into an art publisher.
March 25th, 2025, AFA founded an additional publication titled Point Pleasant Journal. The journal contains philosophical essays discussing concepts in contemporary art, news articles about international exhibitions, biographies on notable figures in the art scene, gallery profiles, and book reviews. Point Pleasant Journal is published in addition to the Artist Feature Catalogue, which has been in circulation since 2014.
June 21st, 2025, Aedra Fine Arts Publishing changed its name to Titan Contemporary Publishing.
July 9th, 2025, Titan Contemporary Publishing founded an additional publication titled Shoreline Voice. The Shoreline Voice is a monthly spotlight on a notable artist. This periodical publishes all articles ever written about the artist on one page as well as images of their best and latest works. Only artists who have been previously published in the Artist Feature Catalogue are eligible to be selected for Shoreline Voice.
November 12th, 2025. Titan Contemporary Publishing changed its name to Point Pleasant Publishing
April 20th, 2026. Point Pleasant Publishing established an online gallery on Saatchi Art. Every published artist is entitled to one work of art on display within the gallery. The artist's artwork remains on permanent display within our Saatchi Art exhibition and works are organized by publishing date from the catalogue or journal.
Press Links:
The London Group. Newsletter. 5/7/2025
The Jersey Journal & NJ.com News Article 4/3/2015 & The Jersey Journal & NJ.com News Article 4/1/2015
The Jersey Journal & NJ.com News Article 8/13/2014
How to Support Point Pleasant Publishing:
The best way to support Point Pleasant is to purchase the Artist Feature Catalogue book volumes in either linen wrap hardcover or paperback editions. Point Pleasant Publishing remains mostly concerned about archiving the catalogue. We encourage readers to donate a copy of the paperback or hardcover catalogue to your local library, for sharing with others, in order to preserve the essays and art for many years to come. You can also support the operational endeavors of Point Pleasant by purchasing copies not only for yourself, but also for your professional and personal contacts. The catalogues also make for great gifts or reading material during long commutes for work or as a travel companion. Ideally, the Artist Feature Catalogue would be best served as archived in a professional or personal collection so as to be safeguarded to stand the test of time.
Why is Print Publishing So Important?
Websites come and go. You never know when someone will pass away or a publishing service will cease to exist (such as Substack). However, a good quality book made with fine archival materials can easily last hundreds of years, maybe even thousands, if properly archived. A book also serves as physical evidence of a publishing, simply telling someone about a critical essay on a URL in person doesn't have the same impact as pulling out a book and showing them the article in front of their very eyes. For an art book, the published content can even be brought to an opening reception of a gallery to serve as a testament to the artist's vision and prestige.
Point Pleasant Publishing books are 100% made from the finest materials. Not only to look good, but also to be archived. The books are made from premium linen wrap bindings, the highest grade photo book ink as well as archival coated paper. There may be a time when all digital records of writing by Point Pleasant Publishing might cease to exist (say 150 years from now). However, because we have sold books literally all over the world, many of them will survive long after we are gone, especially the linen wrap hardcovers. Many or some readers will pass down these quality books to loved ones, libraries, and archived collections in the decades to follow. These books are not just books, they are historical documents of notable artists and crucial critical analysis.
Point Pleasant Publishing has 3 different publications. What's the difference between them?
1. The Artist Feature Catalogue is the primary publication and straightforward. The catalogue contains critical essays on conceptual and experimental artists from around the world. These articles give an unbiased analysis on the artist's works, their accomplishments, and potential audience interpretations.
2. Point Pleasant Journal is the most complex publication. Although the journal focuses on philosophical discourse on contemporary art, the publication also features book reviews and news articles about current exhibitions as well as biographies on notable figures in the art scene and profiles on galleries. Point Pleasant Journal is 'all contemporary art discourse'. We only discuss attributes, profiles, and news related solely to contemporary art.
3. Shoreline Voice is our most prestigious and exclusive publication. Only artists who have been previously published in the Artist Feature Catalogue are eligible to be published in Shoreline Voice. Only one artist a month is featured at a time on Shoreline Voice and the artist's profile article is archived on the website permanently as well as included inside the linen wrap hardcover editions of the Artist Feature Catalogue. Shoreline Voice showcases the best and latest works by the artist as well as featuring all catalogue articles ever published about them in one format.
What is the difference between an alternative publisher like Point Pleasant Publishing versus a traditional publisher? And why is print-on-demand the future of publishing?
Quality over quantity. Print-on-demand publishing, although much more expensive than traditional publishing, produces higher quality books. Because the editions are not mass-produced, each individual one is manufactured with more care. There are also premium material options available to print-on-demand manufacturing which would not normally be available in mass-produced books. Such as linen wrap bindings, premium color inks, and archival coated paper.
If you are wondering why your traditionally-printed book is so cheap, the answer would be because they are made from the most basic, cheap materials and mass-produced at once, then stored in warehouses to save costs. They are printed as cheaply as possible in as large a quantity as possible.
Print-on-demand is quality over quantity. Although this type of printing can cost multiple times more than a mass-produced traditional book, the quality of the books and materials which make them up are second to none.
So don't equate big name publishers with quality, what you are essentially purchasing is a name brand and mass distribution, not a refined book made of fine archival materials.
Unedited photography by Michael Hanna
photography by Olga S. Ortiz
Unedited photography by Michael Hanna