Visit Arnhem: Werkplaats Typografie presents installation at LA Art Book Fair 2026

A city built from billboards

Students from the master’s programme Werkplaats Typografie at ArtEZ Academy of Art & Design Arnhem created 25 billboards, changing every 45 minutes. Gradually, an ever-shifting image of Arnhem emerged: both indecisive and outspoken at the same time.

The installation explored how a city presents itself and how visual language shapes the way we perceive a place. The billboards functioned not only as a graphic medium, but also as a conceptual gesture that generated meaning.

The concept for the installation was developed by students Inez de Rijke and Augustinas Milkus, based on their shared interest in billboards and urban identity.

Collective project

Within Werkplaats Typografie, international projects like this are offered to second-year students. Students then form a core team that develops both the concept and working method from scratch. Collaboration plays a central role throughout the process. The final presentation is designed to create space for contributions from all students and to engage directly with the audience.

That interaction also played an important role at Printed Matter’s Art Book Fair. Each year, the fair attracts thousands of visitors from the international art, design and publishing worlds. For Werkplaats Typografie, the context of the fair therefore became an important starting point in developing the project.

Lecturers guided the process conceptually and provided feedback during the development and production phases, but the form and outcome were very much led by the students themselves.

About Printed Matter’s LA Art Book Fair

Printed Matter’s LA Art Book Fair is considered one of the largest international fairs for artists’ books and independent publications. Publishers, artists, designers and art academies from around the world presented new work, installations and experimental publications.

Visit Arnhem was on view from 7 to 10 May 2026.