J.C. Gabel and Brian Roettinger founded Hat & Beard in Los Angeles in 2016.[1] This publisher and print production house focuses on nonfiction literary and artistic output. They are heavily interested in the visual arts and, alongside poetry and essays, publish artist monographs in collaboration with artists and museums. Their stated goal is to produce works of “pop-culture and historical significance” [2].
This House produces beautiful material objects as well as fascinating works of poetry. Interested in design, these books are works of art in and of themselves. Frequently hardback with high-quality materials, these volumes are as much about the object as about the content.
For more information about their titles and their activities, check out their website or Instagram page.
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Notes
[1] “About Us,” Hat & Beard Press, accessed May 19, 2026, https://hatandbeard.com/pages/about-us.
[2] Scott Timberg, “J.C. Gabel’s Indie Press Gamble, Hat & Beard,” Los Angeles Times, August 23, 2018, https://www.latimes.com/books/la-ca-jc-hat-and-beard-20180823-story.html.
[3] Dan Fox, “Is Art Publishing on the Rise?,” Frieze, September 23, 2016, http://www.frieze.com/article/art-publishing-rise.
