A new exhibit is up in the Decker Library's display cases!

This exhibition includes artists' books, zines, comics, photo books, magazines, catalogs, cards, fine press, and the like, which are new to the library's collections. Publication are both trade and independent, and printing formats include offset to letterpress, and risograph to photocopy. Bindings vary, including perfect bindings, lep0rello, staple bound, unbound, and hand bound. Publications were acquired from bookshops, book fairs, zine fairs, print and multiple fairs, and from artists, illustrators, designers, publishers, dealers, or by subscription.

This is but a sampling of the various publication types collected by Decker Library in support of research, scholarship and creative activities whether they be in the classrooms, offices or studios here at MICA.

Please note that most of the items in this exhibition have yet to be cataloged. Items that are cataloged include the call number on the exhibition label while all others are Available Soon, following the exhibition. Once cataloged the books will be available for view in the library by appointment.

For details about our artist book and zine collections, or to set up an appointment to view items, contact us at refer@mica.edu. If you have questions about the books on display please contact the curator, or library staff.

To view the library's existing collection of artist books, visit the Book Arts Catalog on our website, which includes photos and publication information for all items. One item on display,  Franziska Holstein's flipbook o.t. (136), also has a kinetic element, and can be viewed on the Decker Library Tumblr page.

We hope you take some time to browse the various and varied forms on display, and find inspiration from artists who work with the medium of the book.

Circulation Policy for Books on Exhibit

All books on display in this exhibit are from the Special Collections (Cage). To view these items, please see a reference librarian.

Image Information

Thumbnail: Why the Beef 4: Primavera by the MICA and RISD YTB Collaboration, (Available Soon)
This Page: Dream I Found by Chris George, 2000, edition of 300, (Available Soon)

Founded in 1826, Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) is the oldest continuously degree-granting college of art and design in the nation. The College enrolls nearly 3,500 undergraduate, graduate and continuing studies students from 49 states and 65 countries in fine arts, design, electronic media, art education, liberal arts, and professional studies degree and non-credit programs. With art and design programs ranked in the top ten by U.S. News and World Report, MICA is pioneering interdisciplinary approaches to innovation, research, and community and social engagement. Alumni and programming reach around the globe, even as MICA remains a cultural cornerstone in the Baltimore/Washington region, hosting hundreds of exhibitions and events annually by students, faculty and other established artists.