It’s a book, it’s a work of art … it’s an artist’s book!

Early examples were created by artists in the Futurist, Dadaist, and Fluxus movements in the 20th century, and by such artists as Barbara Kruger, Sol LeWitt, Yoko Ono, and Ed Ruscha. Today, artists’ books can be found in museums, libraries, and in private collections.

Dandelions

by Erin McCluskey ’01
National Monument Press, 2024

This book documents the artist’s experience as caregiver for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease. The text, which recounts Erin’s journey caring for her mother, is paired with images that capture the whimsical moments that occur alongside even the most difficult ones. This 40-page 5” x 7” artist’s book, a risograph printed in six colors (Kelly Green, Light Lime, Sunflower, Sky Blue, Flo Pink, & Midnight), was published in an edition of 200, including 20 copies featuring a handsewn collage cover. National Monument Press is an Oakland-based publishing project focused on the documentation of uniquely American stories in collaboration with other artists through small edition artists’ books and other printed matter.

All is Chosen

by Laura Basha ’73

This handmade leather-bound letterpress-printed artist’s book was inspired by The Book of Kells. The book’s text correlates with eight of the author’s paintings, each representing an archetypal image of what it means to be human. The painting and writing took 10 years, and the creation of the book involved the work of many extraordinary craftspeople.

John DeMerritt Print Studio in Emeryville, California where the handcrafted copy of All is Chosen by Laura Basha ’73 was made.

The paintings were digitally photographed and printed on goat-vellum, a fine, white parchment made from untanned goatskin. Haikus were then letterpress printed on handmade paper and chemises (portfolios) were created to hold each of the images and their haikus. Each chemise is covered in Japanese linen and edged in Italian leather corresponding to the color symbolic of the archetype it houses. A box was created to house the eight chemises. The book of text itself is covered in a russet red leather, with the title embossed on the cover in gold leaf using handmade dyes.

A paperback version was published in 2024 by Olympia Publishers.