Art books

Su Blackwell does exquisite book-cut artwork, crafting woods of words, making a tea party spring from the pages of Alice, growing gardens of paper flowers, and other such magical transmutations.
Via Highlight of my day.






Thomas Allen does similar work, using pulp-fiction covers in place of the pages of children's tales. The excellent limited-focus photography gives these layered paper scenes a striking three-dimensional quality. (Be sure to click the arrows at the bottom to see the rest of the thumbnails.)







Daniel Essig does sculptural books, book sculptures, and intricate, Ethiopian-style Coptic bookbinding. Incorporating bones, shells, and fossils as well as awls, rusted nails, chains, and Gothic architectural elements, his work shares the aesthetics of a cathedral library and a cabinet of wonders.
Via The Endicott Studio.






Georgia Russell is a Scottish artist who shreds books meticulously with a scalpel, enhancing their meaning by giving them a new form. She also has other scalpel-cut works besides her books, like carved maps and portraits.
Via Highlight of my day.





Tara Bryan creates art books in unusual materials, bindings, and formats, with flaps, folds, tabs, ties, accordions, and other whimsical architecture. I especially like the drop-down "Down the Rabbit Hole", which progresses through a series of tunnels as you read.
Via hydrocephalicbunny.





Zybooks is a nice website devoted to artist books, with event listings, ongoing projects, and mail art in addition to galleries of excellent works. Here's a sample of the artists featured there:



Nicola Dale


Leah Oates


Steve McPherson