Hi Bea! Tell us about yourself and your work.

I'm an art historian and curator, and I've been running ISBN—books+gallery, a contemporary art bookstore and gallery space, since 2017. However, we recently rebranded our name to ISBN+ to reflect the changes that have taken place with our store.

How is ISBN+ different?

Originally, our store was located on Víg Street for six and a half years, and we expanded and evolved during that time. What began as an experimental venture eventually outgrew the space. Moving from our semi-basement to Baross Street, we restructured our profile to harmonize with our values, goals, and the new location.

ISBN+ now offers much more than 'just' books and a gallery. On the ground floor, besides the bookstore itself, we now have a project room for pop-up exhibitions, as well as a print section with affordable, reproducible graphic prints created by young artists. Downstairs, you’ll find our event room and a screening room, allowing us to host many more activities than before. This new setup lets us bring a diverse range of contemporary art and culture to a broader audience. Our name reflects this evolution, symbolizing the 'plus' we've added to our offerings.

What kind of audience do you cater to?

Essentially, our doors are open to anyone who loves beautiful publications, as all our materials are focused on contemporary visual culture, primarily contemporary fine arts. Artists create stunning books on fascinating topics, so it’s not just artists and art historians who will find something here. We also cater to anyone with a bibliophile inclination.

What criteria do you use to select the books you stock?

Our collection includes theoretical publications in the humanities, aesthetics, art theory, and art philosophy, which can be interesting to a broad audience. We also stock many foreign-language books, not just Hungarian ones. For example, we have books from Germany and England, many of which are in English. Even Hungarian artists often publish their books in English, so our selection also appeals to those who want to discover emerging Hungarian talents.

Can you share with us more about what it’s like running a business with your husband? How do you both manage the tasks and responsibilities?

Our collaborative work approach developed organically. My husband, Máté Lukács, graduated in photography from MOME (Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design) and is deeply connected to visual culture. It was only a matter of time before our work would cross paths, and it was an easy transition. Once our relationship became serious around two years ago, he started helping me build the business. His support, especially at events, has been invaluable, as running a business alone is tough.

When we moved to our new location, it became clear that this space would be much larger and more complex, so we renovated and moved in with the idea that both of us would essentially work here. Of course, we also have other commitments—I teach at MOME and the Hungarian University of Fine Arts, while Máté also works on film and advertising projects. But primarily, this is our workplace.

The best part is that I get to work with someone I enjoy spending every minute with.

What’s the selection process behind the books you offer?

Initially, I handled the book selection process myself. We primarily focus on publications from abroad, but our door is always open for Hungarian artists, and we gladly accept their publications if they agree with our consignment system.

For foreign books, the process is different. We review seasonal catalogs and newsletters, and I always seek out Máté’s opinion. As we know our customers and their tastes well, this makes the selection process a lot easier. It's not just about the content; price is also a factor, as foreign books are often more expensive than Hungarian ones. We review these aspects together and place regular orders, mainly with Western European distributors.

What does your typical day look like?

The store opens at noon and is open until 6 p.m. from Tuesday to Friday. On Saturdays, we're open from 2 to 6 p.m., so my workweek kicks off on Tuesdays.

My mornings are usually spent running errands—delivering books by bike, car, scooter, on foot, or even in a suitcase—as well as handling administrative tasks and attending meetings.

Anyhow, the real action starts once our customers arrive, generally from around 2 p.m. onwards, so before that I spend my time responding to emails and taking care of other tasks in the store. We close at 6 p.m., but if there’s an event, we’ll stay open until 8, 9, or even 10 p.m.

In our free time, Máté and I often head to exhibition openings, dine out, go for drinks, or take long walks. When the weather is nice, we like to play ping-pong in one of the squares, and although we haven’t played in a while, we also enjoy urban golf! We head to a park, set up a course using objects like benches or trees, use a sponge ball, and compete to see who finishes the course first.

On weekends, if we don’t have to work, we usually make time for family activities. We find serenity at our holiday home in Dunabogdány; it’s a family retreat, so we spend a lot of time in the Danube Bend. That’s roughly how life goes.

Let's see what's inside Bea’s YKRA bag!

Books - I’ve selected a number of different books, but they’re all connected to ISBN+. We offer a diverse range of publications, and we’ve curated this selection to reflect the variety we personally appreciate—from slim booklets with experimental graphics and pocket-sized reads ideal for travel to more academic works that require in-depth study.

Smooth City & Risograph Books - These are two theoretical books in English from Western European publishers, featuring texts on various art topics from the past five years. Cannibal Capitalism from the Base Books series is an excellent collection, translating theoretical texts into Hungarian, with the latest addition being Nancy Fraser's work.

Fanzine - This is by a Greek artist we know personally. He frequently visits Budapest fairs.

Chongqing Souvenir Photobook - This is a stunning visual photograph collection by an Austrian photographer; it’s perfect for those who appreciate a good browse of visuals.

Notebook - It’s essential for me to jot down my thoughts and tick off to-do lists—oh, the satisfaction of crossing items off!

Pocket Diary - This is another must-have item of mine for keeping tabs on events, both at the store and in life. Who doesn’t want a handwritten schedule alongside a mobile calendar?

Calculator & Stamp - These are my vital tools for business purposes when we're out with a stall at markets. Both get a good workout during busy periods of the year!

Instax Camera - I bought this for our small wedding this summer. It captured every little moment beautifully.

Hair Tie & Nail Polish - These are my girly must-haves to stay chic and on point.

Bike Light - A non-negotiable for my biking adventures from March to November. Theft-proof is the way to go!

How to Steal Books - A cheeky guide with hilarious tips for stealing books (not from us, of course). Distract the cashier with a steaming hot Hungarian ratatouille while you make off with the goods... This co-published book was initially proposed by a Dutch publisher for translation into Hungarian, and we tailored the Hungarian version to our local area, adding tips like buying fruit at Rákóczi Square Market.

How do you use your TOMCSANYI FIREBUG SIDE POUCH?

I was thrilled when I saw this bag because it's just the size I needed—larger than a fanny pack but smaller than a backpack. It's ideal for events requiring a bit more than the essentials, such as an all-day festival, where you can carry tissues, a wallet, and even a small bottle of water.

 photos by Botond Wertán