Artists’ books are artworks in book form, or artworks which explore the concept of the book. Some of the more sculptural works from State Library’s collection of almost 1,900 artists’ books are featured on the billboard. They stand up and take on shapes, like a tree trunk or a tower. Some, like Tennis ball or Shopping for excitement, push playfully at the boundaries of ‘bookishness’.
Others are folded in intricate ways. Explore A Roman alphabet in 3D to see how Brisbane artist Helen Malone has used paper cutting and hand embossing to create an effect reminiscent of the stone carvings of Ancient Rome.
State Library of Queensland's Artists’ Books Collection is diverse, ranging from conceptual artists’ books to photobooks, to the deluxe creations of master printmakers. Some are digitised and can be viewed online.
Discover artists' books
Visit the Australian Library of Art Showcase on level 4, browse our online catalogue of artists’ books to find books to view in the level 4 reading room, or if you prefer a curated selection, ask to see the Artists’ Books Education Kit.
Watch as pages unfold, textures catch the light, and stories take shape.
Explore this sculptural concertina book celebrating the classical Roman alphabet.
Explores the expressive possibilities of linocut, combining bold physicality with spontaneous, immediate visual impact.
A playful exploration of what defines a book, challenging form, function, and the idea of “bookishness.”
Transforms everyday shopping bags into a playful artist book reflecting contemporary shopping culture and creativity.
An interactive folding book inviting exploration through Brazil’s iconic blue, yellow, and green.
A collaborative wooden artist book where form, text, and material celebrate the story of worm-eaten timber.
Celebrates Roman letterforms through sculptural embossing, exploring language, history, and the art of the book.
An experiential book exploring traumatic memory, inviting readers into fragmented recall and personal reconstruction.
A sculptural book shaped like a boat, reflecting refugee journeys and contested borders.
Star-like folded pages and textured covers create a sculptural book celebrating form, craft, and material detail.
A flowing concertina form tracing the 2011 Brisbane floods through imagery, structure, and shifting tones.
A playful handmade book shaped like iced cupcakes, featuring a stitched concertina spine.
Architecture and multilingual storytelling combine to reinterpret the Tower of Babel in book form.
Explore gallery displays, browse collection highlights and learn about this unique space at State Library.
