Mike stilkey is an internationally recognized artist who has always been attracted to painting and drawing not only on vintage paper, record covers and book pages, but on the books themselves. Mike stilkey in 2020 book sculpture, book art, paper art. While artists books can take many forms, there are a few elements that are common across the practice. Check out our resources for adapting to these times. November 6, 2018 installation at starfield library in seoul korea complete 25. For years, weve been following mike stilkey s evergrowing collection of painted book art. Mike creates whimsical painted sculptures out of stacked books. Mike stilkey with a day of celebration, created for a show at bakersfield museum of art. Working with ink, paint, colored pencil, and lacquer, he creates lighthearted paintings of humans and animals alike.
Art painted on stacks of books by mike stilkey aug 27, 2014 0 comment read interviews written and visual art go hand in hand perfectly, and the lines between the two are constantly being blurred by calligraphers or people who do book. Using ink, colored pencil and paint to create his whimsical works of art, stilkey. From age 8 to 14, stilkey attended a different school each year. Weve been fans of labased book artist mike stilkey for quite a while now, so we were psyched when my modern met clued us in about his new exhibition, full of smiles and soft intentions, which went up this month in hong kongs times square. In a previous interview, stilkey says i was painting on book pages for forever, and actually published a book in 2005 titled 100 portraits in which i drew one hundred.
His art, a combination of whimsical people and animals, is painted on everything from canvas to books. Here are a dozen of his works, some of which will be on display in the exhibition face to face. Stilkey s paintings on individual book pages gradually morphed into painting down the spines of stacked books. The book is a medium that allows an artist s work to be accessible to a multitude of people in different locations at any given time.
Books are sacred objects which we are all free to worship in different ways. American artist mike stilkey uses books discarded by libraries to create his unusual artworks. Using a mix of ink, colored pencil, paint and lacquer, stilkey depicts a melancholic and at times a whimsical cast of characters inhabiting ambiguous spaces and. Most libraries have thousands and thousands of books that.
Mike stilkey is an american artist who paints on vintage paper, record covers and books by using a mix of ink, colored pencil, pairead more. Using pen and ink and acrylics, stilkey has painted the books spines to depict a scene where wild and domestic animals are, as he puts it, taking back their land, while humans with. Please wash your hands and practise social distancing. Mike stilkey is an artist from alta dena, california, who creates amazing works of art by stacking spinepainted books. This piece, entitled discarded romance, has found a. For the past several years, artist mike stilkey has repurposed old books as a medium for his portraits of people and animals. If i can paint on them, im giving them a second chance. Mike stilkey book sculpture building timelapse video. See more ideas about book sculpture, book art and painting. At the time, i was drawing on books, records or anything else i could find at a thrift store. He is best known for creating small and largescale installations that use discarded books as their canvas. Using a mix of ink, colored pencil, paint and lacquer, stilkey depicts a melancholic and at times a whimsical cast of characters inhabiting ambiguous spaces and narratives of fantasy and fairy tales.
I came across his work somewhat randomly online and cant get enough of it. The book as an art form artists books libguides at. Using a mix of ink, colored pencil, paint and lacquer, he depicts a melancholic cast. Artist mike stilkey reclaims the book covers of dozens of old books that otherwise would have been thrown out. More whimsical book paintings by mike stilkey 7 pieces by alice yoo on march 18, 2011 over the years, weve featured the wonderfully whimsical work of mike stilkey a few times see here and here and now the artist is back with some fresh new pieces. The changing face of portraiture in carlsbad, california. Stilkey debuted his first book sculpture while exhibiting work at blkmrkt. And there is the inescapable comparison to such moody german expressionist artists from the 1930s as otto dix and egon schiele. For years, weve been following mike stilkey s evergrowing collection of book art. Mike stilkey the birthday party 2019 available for. New paintings on salvaged books by mike stilkey colossal.
Mike stilkey s book art a literary canvas an artist uses discarded books to make his distinctive artworks. Eleven astonishing works of art made from books the new. A big thank you to starfield library and be big company for help making this. The new art installation, from american artist mike stilkey, has sprung up in the coex starfield library in gangnam, seoul. Mike stilkeys paintings on salvaged books in pictures. More whimsical book paintings by mike stilkey 7 pieces. The spellbinding book filled hall is located in the largest underground shopping centre in asia, the coex mall, and holds more than 50,000 titles. Amazing book paintings by mike stilkey oddity central. In the absence of a standard blank canvas, mike stilkey paints his dark yet cartoonishly charming works on towers of stacked books. He works with a mix of ink, colored pencil, paint and lacquer to create each artwork that can vary from anthropomorphic animals playing instruments to portraits of men and women inspired by weimarera german expressionism. A book tree art installation from american artist mike stilkey, has been erected in the coex starfield library in gangnam, seoul.
Mar 14, 2012 book paintings by mike stilkey i would love to have these in the gallery. The piece is on display through april 10 at his exhibit at the great park gallery at the palm court arts. This guy made use of discarded books to create incredible. Mike stilkey is an artist from alta dena, california, who creates amazing works of art by stacking spinepainted books mike had been drawing on book pages for a very long time, even publishing a. Installation at oakopolis gallery, oakland, california. Aside from donating these books, a california artist from tarzana, mike stilkey found a way to turn discarded books into masterpieces. An artists inspiration mike stilkey part 2 of 3 youtube. He turns old books into new works of art orange county. Mike stilkey hits the books to make art entertainment. Here are 14 of his magnificent book paintingssculptures. Artist mike stilkeys largescale book mural on display at.
Artist breathes new life into old books by turning them into stacked sculptures for years, weve been following mike stilkey s evergrowing collection of book art. Understanding a book as an artwork invites a reflection on the properties of the book form itself. Mike had been drawing on book pages for a very long time, even publishing a. Stilkey, who in his early 20s quit his job as a picture framer and sold his car to get money so he could become a fulltime artist, said the book artwork has become a big recycling project, since.
Old man questioning existence while dogs wait for ball. Mike stilkey uses stacks of old books as his canvases, making small portraits and giant sculptural. Artist mike stilkey uses the covers of books reclaimed from library trash heaps as a canvas for his whimsical paintings. Most of his childhood was spent in malibu lake, a small town stilkey describes as a hippy party community. This librarys holiday book display may convince you its. Whatever your response, there is one word you cannot ignore. See more ideas about book sculpture, book art and painted books.