In a family filled with publishing experience, starting their own publishing company seemed to be the logical next step. Mia Benenate and her mother, Becky, melded their love of literature, modern art and their experience in the publishing industry to create Vivant Books. Not your typical coffee table book publisher, Vivant Books publishes luxuriously made books filled with incredible art by contemporary artists. The books, which feature both established and up-and-coming artists, give collectors a way to appreciate art for years to come. A select number of Deluxe Editions contain original artwork by the artist that is featured. Not only does this component differentiate Vivant Books from other publishing companies, it also allows collectors who can’t afford top-dollar prices, to buy original works of art. 

How did Vivant Books start?

I started Vivant Books with my mom, Becky Benenate, in 2009. Her background is in publishing; she spent many years as editor in chief with New World Library, one of the preeminent new age/self-help publishers. I've worked with Amber-Allen publishing, also a well-known self-help publisher. We decided that we wanted to work together and were approached about doing a book on Miami-born artist David "LEBO" LeBatard. From there we went on to work with hyper-realist Eric Zener and then Blek le Rat, known as the godfather of the street art movement.

Why did you decide to focus on art-oriented books?

We both have an abiding love for books, and also both had an interest in contemporary art. It seemed like the perfect marriage for our skill sets. Ultimately what was and continues to be important to us is that we create beautiful, high quality, lasting products. I think that the choice to focus on contemporary art was a good business decision for us because we're working with artists who have already established large followings.

 

How many books have you published?

We've published four books to date; "Inspired By The Beat" by David LeBatard, "Blek le Rat," "Zener," featuring the work of Eric Zener, and our soon to be released book on Brett Amory. 

What differentiates you from other publishers in this space?

We're different in that quality is our first and foremost priority. We are making beautiful books, but it's also important to us that they function as objets d'art in their own right. All of our books are limited edition, high-value pieces that are collectable and will appreciate in value over time. We also do a small amount of deluxe Artist Editions, which are packaged with original artwork by the artists featured in the monographs.

How do you feel the Internet has changed the way publishers work?

It definitely has, and e-readers have also changed the space quite a bit as well. We don't fall into the traditional publishers category though, we're more of a luxury goods proprietor and that market tends to be more stable even in times of economic downturn.

 

Your new book is on the works of Brett Amory. Tell me a bit about that.

The book titled, Brett Amory: The Complete Works and Selected Essays, will be the definitive title to date on the works of Brett Amory and chronicles his critically acclaimed Waiting series, which spans more than 15 years.

Working primarily in oil, Amory created Waiting and the offshoot Twenty-Four, the prolific body of work that have garnered him international attention with a haunting and often stark depiction of Americana — and later urban environments in Europe — with a focus on buildings and human figures as they transition from one place to another. Structurally elegant and architecturally precise in its execution, the compositions in this series seek to develop a deeper understanding of movement through time and space using careful and detailed investigations of physical locales and the solitary figures that inhabit them.

With a foreword by Gwynn Vitello, publisher of Juxtapoz Magazine and a special note from famed gallerist Steve Lazarides, this 248-page book will feature full-color reproductions of Brett Amory’s works to date. Four-color images are augmented by the writing of celebrated scholars, art critics, experts in relevant fields, fellow artists, journalists, collectors, and gallerists. Lavishly illustrated with more than 200 images, this monograph on Brett Amory will offer the first full history of the artist’s development, tradition, and legacy.

· Four-color reproductions of Brett Amory’s fine art

· Deluxe artist’s edition with original oil painting on wood by Brett Amory

· Never before seen images from photographs of the artist at work in his studio

· Essays from celebrated artists, scholars, critics and gallerists from around the world

 

You also offer Deluxe Editions of your books. What do they include?

We do; each of our limited editions has a select number of books set aside and packaged with original artwork by the artist featured in the book. The Brett Amory book for example, will include an original oil painting by the artist from his most recent Anonymous series, which is another offshoot of the Waiting series. To see other examples of the original works we've included with deluxe Artist Editions, check out our website which has detailed descriptions and photographs: http://www.vivantbooks.com/shop/

How do you decide to work with an artist?

First we have to believe that we can see the book. There's a lot of research that goes into the decision — how many galleries are they represented by? What does their fan base look like? Much in the same way that a traditional trade publisher wants to see an unpublished author have a large following on social sites and also present on fan fiction sites, etc., we are also looking at things like that. It's important for us to know that there is an existing audience that is invested in a particular artist's work — invested enough to purchase a product with a high price point.

We also really want to love the work, even if not aesthetically we want to feel like it's important in its message and the history of art.