Artists' books
Books made or conceived by artists.
What are artists' books?
Artists' books are books made or conceived by artists.
Artists' books that maintain the traditional structure of a book are often known as book art or bookworks, while those that reference the shape of a book are known as book objects.
“Artists’ books are books or book-like objects, over the final appearance of which an artist has had a high degree of control; where the book is intended as a work of art in itself.” (Bury, 1995, p.1). Bury, S. (1995) Artists’ books : the book as a work of art, 1963-1995. Aldershot: Scholar Press.
Artist Book Collection at Bower Ashton Library (City Campus)
Find out more about the Artist Book Collection at Bower Ashton Library. Information about the history, content and location can be found in this video.
Find artists' books
UWE Bristol's collection of artists' books is located in filing cabinets in the main part of Bower Ashton Library (City Campus). The books can be looked at in the library only during library staffed hours (Monday – Friday 08:30 – 17:00).
A Series of Small Admissions by Hazel Grainger
For her work A Series of Small Admissions, Hazel Grainger took an unbroken roll of unused cinema admission tickets and printed a small admission on the reverse of each one.
Greetings from Norway by Imi Maufe
In Greetings From Norway, Imi Maufe presents a series of blue, black and white screen-printed images forming a concertina book documenting a ten day hut to hut ski tour in Norway. The colours and feel of the book reflect the colours of the mountains and 1930's graphics from the tour guides found in the huts.
A selection of artists' books by Otto
Otto’s distinctive, screen-printed books combine sparing use of colour with striking images. They are often a response to text that been commissioned from writers.