Such is the prominence of US comic book artist Chris Ware, that for the launch of his new book, Building Stories, he's staging two exhibitions of his work concurrently: one in Chicago and one in New York...

Opening this Friday at the Carl Hammer Gallery in Chicago, and then on Saturday at the Adam Baumgold Gallery in New York, Ware's shows will both display original comic art from his latest, and long-awaited project, Building Stories. In his new work Ware depicts the lives of several of inhabitants of a Chicago apartment building, over 14 separate books and booklets, which come housed in a printed box.

And, shown here, both exhibitions also have great posters to go with them, complete with an explanation as to why Ware requires his two shows. On the New York poster, a boxed text reads: "PLEASE NOTE: that because Mr. Ware was raised as an only child and always 'got his way' a corresponding exhibit analogous in form and content to this one will run simultaneously at the Carl Hammer Gallery in Chicago." The posters can be seen at a slightly larger size than displayed here, at the Drawn and Quarterly blog.

Both shows run until October 27. Building Stories is published by Jonathan Cape in the UK (their blog has some great shots of it unpacked) and Pantheon Books in the US. More Ware work at Drawn & Quarterly, including the accompanying self-assembly Multi-Story Building Model (currently out of stock).