Featured Curated Collection: Altered Books

A recent gallery addition, James Allen, and his remarkable book excavations inspired this curated collection and I was surprised to discover that we have nearly 40 altered books in inventory. Altered books are a hot topic of with many artists who alter, sculpt and carve books. Using found books, these artists transform vintage or modern, mundane or extraordinary and especially everyday books into fascinating works of art.

One of my favorites is San Francisco artist Alexis Arnold, as shown above, her crystallized book titled The Phantom Tollbooth was a children's adventure novel and modern fairy tale by Norton Juster. It was first published in 1961 with illustrations by Jules Feiffer and in Alexis' hands is now a gorgeous sculpture. You may remember Alexis' work from our Infinite Possibilities exhibition last fall. Both of her titles in that show were crowd favorites.

Enjoy!