Vico's Spiral: Half Century of Artists' Books

Vico’s Spiral: Half Century of Artists’ Books celebrates the 50th anniversary of Center for Book Arts (1974–2024) with a landmark exhibition and publication that reflect on the institution’s own exhibition history. The project highlights the innovation, range, and diversity of artists’ book practices over five decades, framed through Vico’s Spiral: a nonlinear view of history that helps reveal recurring ideas, evolving methodologies, and the continuous reinvention that has defined the field. The accompanying publication features a foreword by Corina Reynolds, a curatorial statement by Robbin Ami Silverberg, and essays by Carole Naggar and Kinohi Nishikawa. It also includes an international directory of exhibitions from 1969 onward, as well as “Baker’s Dozen” selections of influential artists’ books, compiled by curators, artists, collectors, and scholars. Together, the exhibition and book honor the dynamic legacy of Center for Book Arts while opening new perspectives on the future of the medium.