Artists’ Books at St. Olaf

Curated by Breanna Teynor ’24

This virtual exhibit captures some of this variety by showcasing some of the artists’ books we have in our own collection. To begin viewing the virtual exhibit, click the “Enter the Artists’ Books at St. Olaf Exhibit” gold button on the photo above.

Artists’ books come in all shapes and sizes and resist an easy definition. At the most basic level, an artist book is a work of art in the form of a book or inspired by the idea of a book. Some book artists create small handcrafted editions that employ bookbinding, paper cutting and folding techniques to create a canvas on which they can then print, draw, write, or paint, while others make books that are mass-produced in larger editions. – Pratt Institute

Each book was chosen because it doesn’t follow a traditional storytelling method. They may contain unique items like paper cranes, rose-colored glasses, or postcards. Maybe they are a subversion of traditional book-binding methods, while others follow a more conventional reading experience. Maybe they seek to be an extension of activism, or capture feelings of nostalgia. These books are made similar by their dramatic differences and remind us that there is not one way that a story can be told, and perhaps some of the best stories demand a complete and artistic experience.