What is an artist's book?
An artist's book is a work of art in the form of a book, or a work inspired by a book or other text.
Artists' books are different from illustrated books in that their design and material form convey their creators' vision and artistic intent. They are cross-disciplinary, taking inspiration from art, printing, graphic design, calligraphy, photography, and many other fields.
Artists' books employ a wide variety of artistic media and techniques. Some are recognizable as traditional "books;" others are much more experimental. Some are published in editions of many copies; others exist in only a few examples or as unique works of art. What they have in common is their ability to let us think in new ways about the intersection between art and text.
Examples of Artists' Books from ZSR Special Collections
- Freedom : a fable. A curious interpretation of the wit of a negress in troubled times, with illustrations byCall Number: PS3573.A425345 F74 1997Publication Date: 1997
- Family : (fam'e le fam'le) : a book byCall Number: Z232 .W8935 1990Publication Date: Rosendale, N.Y. : Women's Studio Workshop, 1990
- Sometimes a poet will hijack the moon byCall Number: PS3573 .A42 S66 1972Publication Date: Providence R.I. : Printed by Keith Waldrop, 1972
- A prototype for Maya Angelou, Phenomenal Woman poem byCall Number: PS3551.N464 P481 2016Publication Date: Winston-Salem, N.C. Joyce Teta, Calligraphy Centre, 2016
- In the Library byCall Number: PS3569 .I4725 I58 1997Publication Date: Concord, N.H. : William B. Ewert, 1997
- Bliss byCall Number: PS3537 .A832 B65 1993Publication Date: Concord, N.H. : William B. Ewert, Publisher, 1993
- The real world of Manuel CoĢrdova byCall Number: PS3563.E75 T72 1995Publication Date: Sherman Oaks, Calif. : Ninja Press, 1995
- Retrospect: In Los Angeles byCall Number: PS1397 .C5 R476 1925Publication Date: Los Angeles : E. Dawson, 1925
- An afternoon with Hugh MacDiarmid byCall Number: PR6013.R735 Z524 1969Publication Date: Great Britain : Privately printed, 1969
- The house the poet built byCall Number: PS3537.N32 H6 1985Publication Date: San Diego, Calif. : Brighton Press, 1985
Further Reading
- Journal of artists' books (Online)Publication Date: 1994-2020
- Artists' books : the book as a work of art, 1963-1995 byCall Number: N7433.3 B87 1995Publication Date: 1995
