Equal Opportunity

When Matt Keegan ceased publishing his annual journal of experimental artists’ texts, North Drive Press, in 2010, he had no intention of returning to the world of print. But last spring, the New York–based conceptual artist—who founded NDP with childhood friend and graphic designer Lizzy Lee and produced several issues with Opening Ceremony art director Susan Barber—was enticed back to the page. MicheÌ?le Didier, the Belgian publisher of artists’ books and multiples, approached him and suggested “a book that would not be North Drive Press, but a publication of my own making,” Keegan explains. Like NDP, his new book, titled ==, features artists interviewing one another and comes with limited-edition multiples, including Kay Rosen’s small cardboard Occupy Wall Street sign (above), which is meant to be used, as well as works by James Richards, Liz Deschenes, Nikolas Gambaroff, and Erika Vogt. At the core of the project, however, are the artists’ evaluations of one another’s work. “I really enjoyed reading the writings,” says Keegan. “Each of the five artists is written about by two artists each. They approach the works from different vantage points that really complement one another.”