One of the few art forms that are meant to be touched, artists’ books allow the user to interact with the object at their own pace. Our collection ranges from the 1960s through to contemporary works, and offers a variety of titles that can be illustrative, photographic, textual, sculptural, or a mix of elements that will challenge your views about what the concept of the book means.
Interested in seeing our artists' books? Although searchable in the Library catalogue, the collection is housed in the University Archives and can only be viewed by appointment. We welcome individuals, small groups and classes. Email your request to archives@macewan.ca and we will arrange a date and time for your visit. Please include areas of interest such as titles, themes, or formats you would like to see.
To find titles, go to the search bar and enter your search terms such as artist's name, art movement, or theme (example: Edward Ruscha). Next, look at the Refine your search options on the left side menu. Under Collection, look for Artists' Books in the dropdown menu and put a checkmark in the box beside it. You can add keywords or subjects to narrow your search. Each item on the brief results list should show Artists' Books as the location. If Artists' Books doesn't show as a collection, it means there are no results for your search.
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