Past Exhibitions
Exhibitions in the Austin/Burch Gallery
The Center has mounted numerous exhibitions, ranging from group works to individual retrospectives and featuring local, national and international book artists. For more information, contact us at 415-565-0545 x15
2009:
Once Upon a Book
Second in a series of children's book exhibitions, this show explores the creative process in the work of six critically acclaimed illustrators. You can see the exhibit online by clicking here
Wings for Words: New Bookworks from Korea and Japan
Bookworks from fourteen professional artists working in South Korea and Japan today.
2008:
Livros do Cordel: Books on a String
Celebrating the famous livros do cordel, the printed folk literature of northeastern Brazil You can see the exhibit online by clicking here
New West Coast Design: Books
This exhibition presents some of the best book artists on the west coast, with a high level of craft being the common denominator. You can see the exhibit online by clicking here
2007:
Mutanabbi Street: An Exhibition of Broadsides
Broadsides protesting the March 5th, 2007 car bombing of Mutanabbi Street, an old and established street for bookselling in the heart of Baghdad's literary and intellectual community.
Black/White [and Read]
Black/White [and Read] seeks to advance an artistic challenge - to deliver a powerful graphic statement, eschewing color, and utilizing solely black and white imagery.
Art of the Book 2007
Recent student works
Eileen Hogan's Poetry Box
Investigating the relationship between words and images
Bartkowiak's Best
Book Art from the Hamburg Archives You can see the exhibit online by clicking here
2006:
The Calendar
PCBA Member Show
50 Books/50 Covers
Winners from the AIGA's 73th annual competition in 2006.
X Libris
Our 10th year anniversary exhibition. You can see the exhibit online by clicking here
Found In Translation
A touring exhibition of multi-lingual artists books, prints, and digital and video documentation. You can see the exhibit online by clicking here
Photo Books Now
Photo artists imagine myriad new possibilities for the book You can see the exhibit online by clicking here
2005:
The Calendar
PCBA Member Show
50 Books/50 Covers
Winners from the AIGA's 72th annual competition in 2005.
Multiplicity for Millions: the Art and History of Rubber Stamps
Featuring dozens of rubber stamp sets, both vintage and contemporary, from the collections of L. Scott Helmes and Picasso Gaglione.
Swiss Impressions: Romano Hänni and the Art of Metal Type
The stunning technique and design mastery of Basel designer/printer Romano Hänni. You can see the exhibit online by clicking here
Journey to the Source: Handmade Books from Cuba
A look at Cuba's Ediciones Vigía fascinating handmade books.
The Calendar
PCBA Member Show
2004:
50 Books/50 Covers
Winners from the AIGA's 71th annual competition in 2004.
Show Me a Story: Children's Books & the Technology of Enchantment
This show explores the intangible workings of children's books, with a focus on design and structure. You can see the exhibit online by clicking here
Reading the Future: Experimental Books from Yale
Works from from the students in Yale University's MFA Graduate Design Program
Fateful Attractions: Fine Printing and Bookmkaing in Santa Cruz
Works from the vibrant community of Santa Cruz fine-press printers and bookmakers.
Convergences: Works by the Teaching Assistants from the Mills College Book Arts Program
Exhibition of work done by TAs in the Mills College Book Arts Program
2003:
Paper, Ink, Fresh Perspectives: Letterpress at SFCB
Exhibition of original work printed at the San Francisco Center for the Book.
50 Books/50 Covers
Winners from the AIGA's 70th annual competition in 2003. You can see the exhibit online by clicking here
Massin in Continuo: A Dictionary
A touring exhibition devoted to the French graphic design artist Robert Massin. You can see the exhibit online by clicking here
Site and Passage: Inside Artists' Books
This exhibition marks the culmination of the Center's second yearlong course on the artist's book.
Inside Cover
An exuberant and witty exhibition of international artist's books. You can see the exhibit online by clicking here
XOXOX: Heart Art, Valentines and Love-letters
Celebrating the art of romance.
2002:
Revealing the Mysteries: The Development of the Artist's Book in the Bay Area
This exhibition pays homage to the development of book arts in the Bay Area over the past half century. You can see the exhibit online by clicking here
Zines!
This exhibition showcases an international collection of eye-popping zines, ranging from black-and-white photocopied editions to elaborate letterpress productions.
The Relevant Structure
An exhibition that showcases relevant structures, in which form genuinely supports the text (a portion of Through the Looking-Glass).
The Artist's Book:Unlimited Engagement
This exhibit marks the culmination of a year-long class dedicated to sustained inquiry into the nature of the artist's book. You can see the exhibit online by clicking here
Celebrating Teachers as Artists
An exhibit of works by our local instructors. You can see the exhibit online by clicking here
XFR: eXperiments in the Future of the Book
In the summer of 1999, the Research in Experimental Documents (RED) group at PARC asked San Francisco Center for the Book for help recruiting book artists to work in the parc Artist-in-Residence program.
2001:
Jack Stauffacher, the Years Away: 1955-1963
The show encompassed the discoveries, friendships and projects of Jack Stauffacher when he left the San Francisco-based The Greenwood Press.
Reading the Cards
Many book artists and printers have found inspiration from the symbols and structure of cards
Convergence: three fine bookbinders
Historical, Traditional and Experimental Bindings of Michael Burke, Dominic Riley, and Joanne Sonnichsen
Books from S.F. Waldorf High School
book arts 2001: a student odyssey
Celebrating a spectrum of booksworks inspired by teachers + classes at the San Francisco Center for the Book. You can see the exhibit online by clicking here
2000:
Learning Curve/s
20 Years of Book Arts at Mills College
What Is Reading?
A Pacific Center for the Book Arts exhibit
Back East
Artist's Books from the North Eastern States
XFR: Experiments in the Future of Reading
Volumes (of vulnerability)
An International Artist's Book Project
FLT 2000, RT: CHI - SFO
Works by the members of Hand Bookbinders of Chicago come to San Francisco
Wolfgang Lederer Retrospective
Bridging Many Worlds Of Book Design
1999:
So-CALled Books
Diversity in Artist's Books from Southern California You can see the exhibit online by clicking here
Breaking Type: The Art of Karl Kasten
Faux Post
Artists' postage stamps from the collection of John Held, Jr.
Purgatory Pie Press Works on View
RSVP: Invitations for All Reasons
A lovely look at other people's favorite mail
1998:
Art Making Book Making Art
Boundless: Liberating the Book Form
West Coast Book Artists of the 1970s
Hand Bookbinders of California presents: Greatest Hits
Form / Spirit: Anna & Arne Wolf
1998 Distinguished Book Artists
Makeready: Finding Art in the Unexpected
1997:
CCAC: 25 Years of Book Arts
Flashback: Graphic and Book Art of the Psychedelic Era
You call THAT a Book? Artists Books from Local Collections
Design Bindings: Hand Bookbinders of California
Introductions: The Art of the Business Card
Pages of Sin: Beat Era Book Arts
1996:
A Girl, a Guy, a Landscape: a Novel on the Wall