About the Event
On view from August 25, 2026 to November 13, 2026
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sarofim Hall, Gallery
What is a livre d’artiste?
A livre d’artiste (French for “artist’s book” or “book of the artist”) is a deluxe, limited-edition book that combines literature or poetry with original, handmade prints by a visual artist. They are interactive works of art in which the book’s typography, paper, and physical structure are integral to the artwork.
Fondren’s collection of livres d’artistes was developed from 2004 to 2019 by Jet Prendeville, a retired Art & Architecture Librarian, and Karin Broker, a Professor Emerita in Printmaking and Drawing. In building the collection, they made an important distinction between two categories: livres d’artistes and artists’ books.
The artists’ books tradition refers to books created from the early 20th century to the 1970s that were designed and produced affordably in large quantities. This approach enabled widespread distribution, making the works more accessible and increasing artists’ visibility.
In contrast, the livres d’artistes are characterized by finely crafted, limited editions and unique book structures that go beyond traditional bound books. These creations emerged in the latter part of the 20th century and continue to the present day, often emphasizing artistic expression and unique design.
A NEW Collection:
In 2015, associate professor Christopher Sperandio founded the Comic Art Teaching and Study Workshop within the Department of Art. CATS is a research and production facility dedicated to producing a wide range of artist books, including comics and Zines. Built on donated works valued at more than $1 million dollars, the CATS Collection at Fondren Library houses thousands of pages of ink drawings produced for comic books and newspapers, as well as important early comic books and books on the subject. This exhibition foregrounds just a few of these works, most of which were widely distributed via offset printing and books.
A special exhibition format:
To help fulfill the gallery’s mission as an educational space, the exhibition is presented in two stages. Stage one is a partial installation of the exhibition in half the space, which will open to the public on August 24. Stage two of the presentation will be a gradual installation. Students interested in the subject of exhibition design will be invited to participate in a special workshop to assist as the remaining parts of the exhibition are installed. The public is welcome to view the exhibition as it transforms.
Special thanks:
Organized and designed by Associate Professor Christopher Sperandio in consultation with the Exhibition Committee of the Department of Art and in collaboration with Amanda Focke, Head of Special Collections, Fondren Library, and K. Sarah Ostrach, Art and Architecture Librarian. Thanks to Carlos Garcia and the Art Department staff.
Free and open to the public.
