Artists’ books come in all shapes and sizes and resist an easy definition. At the most basic level, an artist book is a work of art in the form of a book or inspired by the idea of a book. Some book artists create small handcrafted editions that employ bookbinding, paper cutting and folding techniques to create a canvas on which they can then print, draw, write, or paint. Others make books that are mass-produced in larger editions.
The Artists' Books collection encompasses books crafted, published, produced, or altered by an artist, including works resulting from an artist's collaboration with artist-run organizations, colleges, universities, galleries, and museums. The collection also includes non-book works that represent a conceptual renegotiation of the traditional book form. In general, the artists' books in the collection have been conceived as artworks in their own right and produced in open or limited editions, as well as democratic multiples.
This collection is developed in close cooperation with faculty members teaching courses related to the Book Minor, and is particularly geared toward serving as documentation of a variety of Artist Book practices and formats that can serve as examples and inspiration to students engaged in creating their own book-based works.
Don't see an artists' book you think the Libraries should have? Use our Suggest a Purchase Form, and your suggestion will be taken into consideration collection decisions are made.
Video of How Books Work (Flying Fish Press, 2010) used with permission of Julie Chen and Clifton Meador. Flying Fish Press, 2010.
The collection is housed in the Brooklyn campus library and the items do not circulate but you may view them by requesting them at the reference desk on the first floor of the Brooklyn campus library Monday-Friday from 9-5. All you need to do is:
If you are a faculty member and would like to schedule a time to have your class come in and look at materials, please submit an Instruction Request and include information about the materials you would like to use and whether or not you need a Librarian to provide any additional instruction.