Previously featured at Art Walk Cambridge, New England Zine Fest and the Griffin Museum of Photography, the Nomadic Bookshelf pops up again this weekend at the South End Open Studios Art Walk. The concept is a relatively new initiative from Pittsburgh-born artist, writer and curator Caitie Moore, whose mission is to promote local contemporary photographers and their self-published photo books — a seriously limited niche in the Boston community.

“The bookstore really spurred from a disappointment in the lack of locally run art bookstores that feature local photographic books,” says Moore. “There is a lot of talented work coming out of the city’s numerous universities and not very many places scrambling to show it.”

Bookshelf aims to change this, or at least help by offering up a space for emerging photographers to showcase their independently published photo books. The volumes come from small publishers and independent artists alike: Houseboat Press, Ice Plant, Empty Stretch, Joshua Edwards, Andrew Hammerand, Matthew Gamber and others.

Each work is hand-selected by Moore, who develops a rapport with every publisher featured in her travelling bookstore. “Many of the works on display are only available through the artists’ websites,” admits Moore, making them near impossible to find in stores. To leaf through one in person is to be captivated by its lush images, unique design and clever binding techniques.

So check them out before they’re gone, and be sure to catch the Nomadic Bookshelf before it pulls up stakes and heads off to Cleveland, Ohio come October!

Gallery Kayafas
Saturday, 9/20 + Sunday, 9/21  |  11 am – 5:30 pm
Free