CIA Library: Artists' Books: Learning More

Recommended books to start

The following books are useful introductions.

Artists' Books by Joan Lyons (Editor); Dick Higgins (Preface by)
Call Number: N 7433.3 .L37 1998

The first major book on artists’ books, this remains a solid introduction with plenty of black and white photographs of artists' books (many of which are in the CIA collection).
The Century of Artists' Books by Johanna Drucker
Call Number: N 7433.3 .D78 1995

Artist and art theorist Drucker has been making artists’ books since the early 1970s and brings an important voice to the history of artists’ books. She places books made by artists within the range of twentieth century art movements and discusses over 200 artists’ books, with many black and white photographs
The Cutting Edge of Reading by Renee R. Hubbert; Judd D. Hubbert
Call Number: N 7433.3 .H83 1999

This is a well-written and critical discussion of the range of issues related to the history, styles, and role of artists' books in Europe and North America, illustrated with color as well as black and white photographs.

Finding more books

The library is constantly adding more books on and exhibitions catalogs of artists’ books as well as books about specific artists’ books presses and artists. To find more information about the genre of artists’ books and its history, look up the following SUBJECT in the library’s online catalog:

ARTISTS’ BOOKS—STUDY AND TEACHING

If browsing is your preference, then you will want to look at books in call number section N 7433.3 - N 7433.4. In this section of the library, you will find books about artists’ books and their history, exhibition catalogs, criticism and theory, as well as books on specific presses.

Books about and exhibition catalogs of artists’ books have great photos, and looking at these photos can help you identify which books in the library’s artists' books collection or types of books you want to see.

Finding periodical articles

Use Art & Architecture Source to find articles on artists' books and bookmakers. If you are off campus, you will need to log-in through a proxy server using the same username and password you use to log-on to a computer on campus.

Art & Architecture Source
Articles, ebooks, and images covering antiques, architecture, art and art history, interior and landscape design, and much more.

In first dialog box, type in “artists books” and change the type of search to a SUBJECT search by changing the “select a field (optional)” drop down box to SU subject.
If desired, you can limit your search -- by type of material, to full text only, and by time period of the publication.
If you are interested in articles on books by specific artists, enter their name into the second dialog box.

Want to Make an Artists' Book?

Please see the library’s guide on Making a Book.