13 Sculptures Made Out of Books

Cara Barer
Cara Barer / Cara Barer

Books are beautiful in their own right, but these artists have managed to improve on perfection.

1. Books to infinity

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Flickr

This crazy miracle in a library in Prague was designed by Slovakian artist Matej Kren. There’s a mirror inside so the tunnel of books looks endless when you lean into it.

2. Books as landscapes

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Guy Laramee

Montreal-based artist Guy Laramee uses the texture of the pages to give the feeling of earth and rocks in his landscape sculptures.

3. Film Star

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Flickr

This piece by John Latham was part of a special exhibition at the Tate Britain in 2005-2006.

4. Sunburst of books

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Flickr

This wall-mounted sculpture is by Colombian artist Federico Uribe.

5. The Raven

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Jaron James/Su Blackwell

Paper sculptor Su Blackwell makes delicate cut-outs that appear to be rising from the center of the book.

6. OMG LOL

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Flickr

This sculpture made from a dictionary is by artist Michael Mandiberg

7. Book ball

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Flickr

This sphere made out of books is in Minneapolis.

8. Paging M.C. Escher

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Brian Dettmer

This sculptor carves angular pathways into books, making convoluted three-dimensional figures worthy of M.C. Escher.

9. Sunset

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Cara Barer

This book is reminiscent of wild, rainbow hair.

10. Creepy-crawlies

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BookDust

Robert The unlocks creatures hiding inside books.

11. Color wheel

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Flickr

This colorful sculpture is at Kansas City Public Library.

12. Books as canvas

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Flickr

Artist Mike Stilkey uses acrylic paint on backdrops made out of books, including this piece on display at the Bristol Museum.

13. Flying books

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Flickr

This is the ceiling of a booth made out of books by Jan Reymond for the Geneva Book Fair.