Artists' books encompass a wide range of processes and materials and can be hard to define. Simply, artists' books are works of art that are in book form or inspired by the book. Artists' books may or may not have text; some artists' books have images, but not all do. As a fine art, artists' books are the vision and creation of an artist. There are exceptions to most limitations one could apply to the medium.
Most importantly, artists' books are interactive; they are intended to be read and handled by an individual. This makes them unique among many other fine arts in collections, which viewers are prohibited from touching. A core motivation of artists who turned to book making in the 1960s was to remove their work from the restrictive and elitist environments of museums and galleries. They wanted to make art more accessible and democratic by producing multiples and expanding the reach of their artwork to untapped audiences.
The Artists' Book Collection at Jen Library is a teaching collection. The library offers class visits, workshops, and individual appointments to engage with our current holdings of over 500 artists' books. Students, faculty, and the public can make appointments to visit the collection, gain inspiration for their own creative projects, and engage in hands on object-based research utilizing unique collections.
Finding Artists' Books at SCAD Jen Library
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Artists books are housed and handled in Special Collections on the 3rd floor in room 304.
Learning to make handmade and limited edition books is a great way to express your ideas or present your work in a unique format. Learn to make an artist's book of your own: