Artist Books

Artist Books refers to a unique manifestation of the book as a medium. Unlike other books, like catalogs, that simply showcase art of another medium in a book, Artist Books are their own artistic medium. These books attempt to question the very nature of books. The book is a rather illusive technology to define, but through their work, Artist Books attempt to raise important questions regarding what makes a book "a book."

Overview

Artist books are rather loosely tied to books, and yet their connection to books is crucial to understanding this genre of art. A book made by an artist that reads and functions just as a standard book would is not an "Artist Book." What makes an Artist Book an Artist book, is an experimental piece of art that calls upon one's notions of what a "book" is, either in form or purpose.

At the heart of Artist Books as an artistic genre is not the specific practices involved or the connection to books (though that connection is fairly central), but rather the artist's intent. Whether it's an exploration of abandoned bookmaking techniques, unique organizations of a book's material, or a presentation of a book that is literally unreadable for one reason or another, the questions or ideas an artist sets out to express through their work is crucial to the Artist Books genre.

History

Origins

The origin of the Artist Book is typically attributed to the British artist and author, William Blake.

Recent Developments

Artist Books have a long history, dating back to the earliest iterations of the "book" in the 1400s when book makers experimented with various manufacturing practices. In the 1950s, book manufacturers experimented with various forms of binding and printing that included cuts and slits through various pages. Ed Ruscha made some notable innovations in this time, producing books that were entirely composed of images, bringing the gallery/museum experience to a broader audience.