John David O’Brien: O’Bibliology
A Personal History of Books as Physical Objects
Jan 22, 2019 to Mar 28, 2019
Location: Don B. Huntley University Art GalleryPress the tab key to view the content. Use the down arrow key to move to the next tab and up arrow key to move to the previous.
Exhibition Statement
The exhibition, O’Bibliology - A Personal History of Books as Physical Objects, explores the collected book works, artist books and book-related objects that have been in central part of John David O’Brien’s oeuvre from the start. In part, this was determined by O’Brien’s first art (Magistero) degree at the Istituto Statale D’Arte di Urbino which went by its more commonly used name: School of the Book. All those artforms associated with bookmaking ranging from paper-making to bookbinding, to printmaking, to letterpress, were taught at Urbino. Among the first art projects ever undertaken, O’Brien worked with poets and made limited edition artist books. Subsequent to that start, he has continuously used books as raw material for three-dimensional art installations. He’s used modified reading stands and tables that are often used as pedestals for his book artworks to be placed upon for sculptural explorations. Mapping has always been another important aspect of his practice as an artist, but this actually originally started as a practice of working with ‘archives’, and, in a more two-dimensional format.
For the Huntley Gallery exhibition, O’Brien exhibits a series of works that are books, artist books, book-related objects and collected books made by other artists that are now part of his personal collection. It is particularly fitting that such an exhibition would appear in the Cal Poly Pomona library. As a bibliophile, John David O’Brien has exhibited extensively in libraries throughout his career, while also involved in site-specific installations, and several permanent public artworks.
Other works to be exhibited include artist books by Italian book artists Valeria Bertesini, Marzia Corteggiani, Gianfranco D’Alonzo, Elisabetta Diamanti, Lydia Predominato, Guido Strazza, and Maria Grazia Tata.
Image at top: Installation View, Back Title Wall, John David O’Brien: O’Bibliology Exhibition, 2019.
Artist Biography
Born in Sagamihara, Japan into a military family, John David O’Brien works as an artist, writer and curator, living between Los Angeles and Umbria, Italia. He works in both studio and public art exhibiting locally and internationally. He has had solo and group exhibitions in Los Angeles, Rome and New York among other locations, in venues ranging from commercial galleries to artist-run spaces, and non-profit institutions.
He is a recipient of numerous grants, and fellowships including a California Community Foundation Artist Fellowship, a City of Los Angeles Artist Grant and a Fulbright Research Grant. He has degrees in studio art, an MFA from the USC, with an emphasis in three-dimensional work, an AA.BB. degree from the Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma, Rome, Italy in drawing and decorative arts, a Magistero degree from the Istituto Statale D’Arte di Urbino, Urbino, Italy for printmaking and was qualified as a Master Printer by the Calcografia Nazionale (National Etching Institute) in Rome, Italy. He currently teaches at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California.
Image Caption: Photo portrait of John David O'Brien
Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019 - 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Opening Reception
Please join us during the opening reception on Saturday, January 26th, 2018, from 2pm to 5pm! There will be artist remarks at 4pm during the reception.
Gallery Views
Installation Pano View, Entrance to Gallery, John David O’Brien: O’Bibliology Exhibition, 2019.
Installation Pano View, Center of Gallery, John David O’Brien: O’Bibliology Exhibition, 2019.
Installation Pano View, Back of Gallery, John David O’Brien: O’Bibliology Exhibition, 2019.
Installation Pano View, Back of Gallery, John David O’Brien: O’Bibliology Exhibition, 2019.
Installation Pano View, Center of Gallery, John David O’Brien: O’Bibliology Exhibition, 2019.
Installation Pano View, Center of Gallery, John David O’Brien: O’Bibliology Exhibition, 2019.
Reception Video with Artist Talk
O’Brien exhibits a series of works that are books, artist books, book-related objects and collected books made by other artists that are now part of his personal collection. In this video, watch as O'Brien shares the stories and meanings behind his work with books as well as answering interesting questions from fellow artists and admirers.