Brian Dettmer

For information about available work, please visit one of the galleries below:

New York Kinz + Tillou

Chicago Packer Schopf

San Francisco Toomey Tourell

Barcelona MiTO

Atlanta Saltworks

Work also currently available from Wexler Gallery (Philadelphia)

For additional images of current and cataloged work please visit: Flickr

To purchase a catalog of a past show please visit: Lulu

Bio

Dettmer is originally from Chicago. He currently resides in Atlanta, GA.

Brian Dettmer is known for his detailed and innovative sculptures with books and other forms of antiquated media. He is currently represented by Kinz + Tillou (New York), Packer Schopf (Chicago), MiTO (Barcelona), Toomey Tourell (San Francisco) and Saltworks (Atlanta). Dettmer’s work has been exhibited Internationally in several galleries, museums and art centers including the Museum of Arts and Design (NY), Museum of Contemporary Art (GA), the International Museum of Surgical Science (IL), Museum Rijswijh (Netherlands), Wellcome Collection (England) the Bellevue Arts Museum (WA), The Kohler Arts Center (WI), and the Illinois State Museums (IL). His work can be found in several public and private collections throughout the U.S, Latin America, Europe, Australia and Asia.

Dettmer’s work has gained International acclaim through internet bloggers, and traditional media. His work has been featured on the CBS Evening News, The New York Times (US), The Los Angeles Times (US), The Guardian (UK), The Telegraph (UK) Chicago Tribune (US), The Age (AU), Art News, Modern Painters, Wired, The Village Voice, Harper’s, Esquire and National Public Radio among others.

In recent years Dettmer has established himself as one of the leading International contemporary artists working with the book today. In 2011 his work was featured on the cover of Book Art (Gestalten Publishers, Berlin) and discussed in a historical context in Bookwork (Stewart, The University of Chicago Press). In 2012 he is scheduled to have solo shows in San Francisco with Toomey Tourell Fine Art and The Jewish Community Center; in Maribor, Slovenia as part of its celebration as the European Cultural Capital of 2012 and in Atlanta, GA at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia. His work is also scheduled to be in several group shows including “40 under 40” at the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian Institute.

Solo Exhibitions

2013

Brian Dettmer, Elemental, October 25 – December 15, 2013, Haverford College, 370 Lancaster Avenue, Haverford, PA 19041

Brian Dettmer, Elemental, May 30 – August 18, 2013, Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, 2200 Parks Avenue, Virginia Beach, VA 23451

Brian Dettmer, March 7 – 10, 2013, VOLTA NY, 82MERCER (Entrance at 76 Mercer Street), New York, NY 10013

Brian Dettmer, Elemental Selections, February 1 – April 28, 2013, Fullerton Public Library, 353 West Commonwealth Avenue, Fullerton, CA 92832

2012

Brian Dettmer: Elemental, October 20, 2012 – January 5, 2013, MOCA GA, 75 Bennett Street, Altanta, GA

Brian Dettmer, April 20 – May 28, 2012, University of Maribor Library, Gospejna ulica 10, Maribor, Slovenia

Brian Dettmer, Selected Works, February – March 2012, Jewish Community Center, 3200 California Street, San Francisco, CA

Textonomy, February 1st – March 31st, 2012, Toomey Tourell Fine Art, 49 Geary Street, San Francisco, CA

2011

Paper Back, November 4 – 20, 2011, Packer Schopf, 942 W. Lake Street, Chicago, IL

Brian Dettmer, Altered Books, May 19, 2011 – June 11, 2011, Kinz + Tillou, 526 West 26^th St., Suite 416, New York, NY

2010

New Worlds to Conquer, November 20, 2010 – January 15, 2011, Saltworks, 664 11th Street NW, Atlanta, GA

Ex Libris, May 27 – July 31, 2010, MiTO, Rosselló 193, Barcelona, Spain,

2009

Brian Dettmer- solo show at Impulse, December 3 – 6, 2009, Pulse Art Fair, The Ice Palace, 59 NW 14th Street, Miami, FL

New Mixed Media, September 1 – 30, 2009, Toomey Tourell Fine Art, 49 Geary Street, San Francisco, CA

Adaptations, April 3 – May 9, 2009, Packer Schopf, 942 W. Lake Street, Chicago, IL

2008

Brian Dettmer, May 3 – June 14, 2008, Kinz, Tillou + Feigen, 529 W. 20th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY

The Cemetery of Forgotten Books, January 31 – March 8, 2008, MiTO, Rosselló 193, Barcelona, Spain,

2007

Brian Dettmer, October 23 – November 30, 2007, Elgin College, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin, IL

Remixed Media, July 3 -– August 11, 2007, Toomey Tourell Fine Art, 49 Geary Street, San Francisco, CA

Postoperative, February 2 – April 20, 2007, International Museum of Surgical Science, 1524 N. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL

Remnants, January 15 – February 8, 2007, Harper College, 1200 W. Alqonquin Rd., Palatine, IL

2006

Second Nature, November 30, 2006 – January 6, 2007, Art & Idea, 529 W. 20th Street, Floor 7, New York, NY

2005

Altered States, December 9, 2005 – January 14, 2006, Aron Packer Gallery, 118 N. Peoria, Chicago, IL

2004

Book Work, July 15, 2004 – September 15, 2004, Digitas, 111 E. Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL

2003

Book Work, Dissections and Excavations, November 21 – December 27, 2003, Aron Packer Gallery, 118 N. Peoria, Chicago, IL

Group Exhibitions

2013

Hey! Modern Art & Pop Culture, 1/13 – 8/13, Musée de la Halle Saint Pierre, Paris, France

E-merge: Contemporary Atlanta Artists, 1/24/13-12/31/13 Hartsfield-Jackson Int’l Airport, Atlanta, GA

The Art of the Book, 1/25/13 – 2/22/13, University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, VA

Brave New World, 5/18/13 – 07/21/13, Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, Mt. Vernon, IL

Rube Goldberg’s Ghost, 2/28/13 – 5/3/13, Glass Curtain Gallery of Columbia College, Chicago, IL

Exploring Media, 3/19/13 – 4/11/13, Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL

Rebound: Dissections and Excavations in Book Arts, 5/23/13 – 7/6/13, Halsey Institute, Charleston, SC

PaperWorks, 6/15/13 – 10/26/13, Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield, MA

Drawing Inside the Perimeter, 6/26/13 – 9/22/13, The High Museum of Art, Atlanta, GA

2012

Re-conTEXT: Book as Object, 10/30/12 – 11/20/12, Allegheny College, Meadville, PA

Out of Print, 9/13/12 – 11/25/12, Bakersfield Museum of Art, Bakersfield, CA

Chattanooga Gems, 8/25/12 – 10/21/12, Hunter Museum of American Art, Chattanooga, TN

40 Under 40, 7/20/2012 – 2/3/2013, Smithsonian Museum, Renwick Gallery, Washington, D.C.

Beaten & Bound, 5/26/12 – 8/26/12, Lubeznik Center for the Arts, Michigan City, IN

A Cut Above: 12 Paper Masters, 5/10/12 -6/24/12, Christopher Henry Gallery, New York, NY

The Art of the Book, 4/17/12 – 5/31/12, Seager Gray Gallery, Mill Valley, CA

Rock, Paper, Scissors: Process & Perception, 1/19/12 – 2/29/12, Aurora University, Aurora, IL

2011

Extreme Materials 2, 10/23/11-1/15/12, Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester, NY

Bookish, 9/25/11-1/15/12, San Jose Museum of Art, San Jose, CA

S L O W Show, 9/23/11 – 10/14/11, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA

BRP Paper, 9/8/11-10/16/11, Black Rat Projects, London, England

The (Un)framed Photograph, 7/6/11 – 9/10/11, The Center for Book Arts, New York, NY

Book Arts Invitational, 6/9/11 – 9/3/11, Hudgens Center for the Arts, Duluth, GA

Cut, 6/5/11 – 8/7/11, Evanston Art Center, Evanston, IL

Paperwork in 3D, 5/15/11 – 10/30/11, Shelburne Museum, Shelburne, VT

Old Souls (Reincarnated Objects), 5/6/11 – 6/25/11, Wexler Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

Paper Cuts, 1/27/11–2/24/11, Fullerton College, Fullerton, CA

Movers and Shakers, 1/22/11– 3/19/11, MOCA GA, Atlanta, GA

T_XT_RT, 01/13/11 – 02/22/11, Jenkins Johnson Gallery, San Francisco, CA

2010

The Book: A Contemporary View, 12/22/10 – 4/17/11, DCCA, Wilmington, DE

The Slice, 11/20/10 – 12/15/10, AA Gallery, London, England

Art on Paper 2010, 11/7/10 – 2/06/11, Weatherspoon Art Museum, Greensboro, NC

The Cutting Edge, 10/7/10 – 11/12/10, Valle Orti, Valencia, Spain

Skin, 6/10/10 – 9/26/10, Wellcome Collection London, England

Holland Paper Biennial, 6/06/10 – 9/12/10, Museum Rijswijk, Rijswijk, Netherlands

Paper Cut, 5/07/10 – 6/20/10, KOP, Graphic Design Festival Breda, Breda, Netherlands

Open Book, 4/05/10 – 6/15/10, Eastern Michigan University Art Gallery, Ypsilanti, MI

Substitute Teacher, 3/05/10 – 5/16/10, The Contemporary, Atlanta, GA

Hi Fructose 5th Anniversary Show, 3/13/10 – 4/04/10, Copro Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

Beyond Words, 1/17/10 – 5/30/10, Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI

2009

Slash: Paper Under the Knife, 10/07/09 – 04/04/10, Museum of Arts and Design, New York, NY

Valencia.Art, International Art Fair, 10/01/09 – 10/04/09, w/ MiTO Gallery, Valencia, Spain

On, Of or About: 50 paper works, 09/22/09 – 10/22/09, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX

Prozess, 8/17/09 – 8/21/09, Lyons Wier, New York, NY

All American, 07/11/09 – 10/31/09, Salt Lake Art Center, Salt Lake City, UT

A Flood of Pictures, 06/19/09 – 08/01/09, Saltworks, Atlanta, GA

Deviate, 05/22/09 – 06/27/09, Schroeder Romero, New York, NY

Papershapers, 04/11/09 – 05/20/09, Scion Space, Los Angeles, CA

Inappropriate Covers, 04/11/09 – 05/24/09, Brown University, Providence, RI

Novel Ideas, 03/7/09 – 05/31/09, Oakville Galleries, Toronto, Canada

The Book Borrowers, 02/24/09 – 06/14/09, Bellevue Arts Museum, Bellevue, WA

All Over the Map, 02/15/09 – 05/09/09, Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI

Cutters, 01/29/09 – 03/14/09, Hunter College, New York, NY

2008

Bridge Berlin, International Art Fair, 10/30/08 – 11/02/08, w/ Toomey Tourell, Berlin, Germany

Banned & Recovered, 8/15/08 – 11/26/08, San Francisco Center for the Book, San Francisco, CA

Domestica, 4/5/08 – 5/4/08, Edward Day Gallery, Toronto, Canada

Selects, 1/24/08 – 2/16/08, Romo Gallery, Atlanta, GA

HereThereEverywhere, 1/19/08 – 4/6/08, Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL

2007

Urtopia, 8/09/07 – 09/02/07 Edward Day Gallery, Toronto, Canada

Another Story, 8/12/07 – 10/07/07 Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL

Singularity in the Communal Tide, 5/13/07 -715/07 Pierro Gallery, South Orange, NJ

Clarence Morgan, Nancy Blum, Brian Dettmer, 4/26/07 -06/02/07 Romo Gallery, Atlanta, GA

2006

Brian Dettmer and Mark Crisanti, 6/17/06 – 7/8/06 Aron Packer Gallery- Michigan, Three Oaks, MI

Silk Road Oasis, 6/01/06 – 9/30/06 Chicago Tourism Center, Chicago, IL

Interregno, 4/27/06 Art & Idea, Mexico City, Mexico

Reconstructing the Mundane, 3/17/06 – 5/05/06, Unit B Gallery, San Antonio, TX

Heart Pounder, 2/11/06 – 3/05/06, Hotcakes Gallery, Milwaukee, WI

2005

Project Storm, Auction, 10/8/05 Mackey Gallery, Houston, TX

Think Small!, curated-Robert Sill, 9/10/05 – 2/3/06 Illinois State Museum Lockport Gallery Lockport, IL

The 4th Book & Paper Arts Triennial, 7/15-8/27/05 Center for Book and Paper Arts, Chicago, IL

The Chicago Solution Show, 6/1/05 – 6/25/05 ARC Gallery, Chicago, IL

Think Small!, curated-Robert Sill, 3/20/05 – 7/31/05, Illinois State Museum, Springfield, IL

2004

Think Small!, curated-Robert Sill: 10/17/04 – 1/14/05 Illinois State Museum Chicago Gallery, Chicago, IL

Disparate Visuals, 2/14/094 -3/11/04 Northern Michigan Univ. Art Museum, Marquette, MI

2003

New Vibrations, curated- Thomas Plum, 10/3/03 – 11/8/03 A & D Gallery, Chicago, IL

If you don’t follow the creative process you screw up, 8/1/03 – 9/1/03 Glass Curtain Gallery, Chicago, IL

Politics as Usual, Group Show: 7/16/03 – 8/23/03 Aron Packer Gallery, Chicago, IL

Zounds, curated- Jeremy Biles, 3/9/03 – 4/19/03, The Hyde Park Art Center Chicago, IL

Press / Bibliography

2013

Designerbooks, Paradise of Paper Art, 2013 (Reproductions, Essay)

Heyenga, Laura, Art Made from Books, 2013 (Reproductions, Preface)

McHugh, Gene, 500 Paper Objects, 2013 (Reproductions)

Ripley’s Believe It or Not, Artistic License, 2009/2013 (Reproductions)

2012

Alsammare, Rima, “The Price of Knowledge,” Curve (Beirut), 2012 (Reproductions)

Arabesques, No. 65, (book cover/image commission), January – March 2012 (Reproductions)

Baker, Kenneth, “Reviews,” San Francisco Chronicle, February 11, 2012

Bell, Nicholas R., 40 Under 40: Craft Futures, 2012 (Reproductions)

Bologna, Joe, “Brian Dettmer,” Sculptcast Conversations, Episode 11 (Reproductions)

Christopher Henry Gallery, A CUT Above: 12 Paper Masters, Exhibition Catalog, May, 2012 (Reproductions)

Feaster, Felicia, “Dettmer’s book-sculptures profound,” The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, October 26, 2012 (Reproductions)

Hajnsek, Melita Forstneric, “Skalpelom nad knjige”, Vecer Newspaper, Slovenia, May 26, 2012 (Reporductions)

Haurt, Bianca, et al., Book Up!, 2012 (Reproductions)

Hill, Crag and Nico Vassilakis, The Last Vispo Anthology: Visual Poetry 1998-2012, 2012 (Reproductions)

Hines, Nathan, “From Paper to Art,” Live Interactive English Magazine, January 2012 (Reproductions)

Holcombe, Brian, “Brian Dettmer,” BL!SSS Magazine, September 2012 (Reproductions)

Johns, Myke, “Atlanta Sounds: Book Carver Brian Dettmer,” NPR – City Café WABE 90.1FM, August 20, 2012

Kreuzer, Martin, “The Perfect Cut: Ex Libris,” ONLY Magazine, 2012 (Reproductions)

Lapham, Lewis H., “Ignorance of Things Past,” Harper’s, May 2012 (Reproductions)

Manco, Tristian, Raw + Material = Art, 2012 (Reproductions)

Merrill, Timothy F., “The Surgical Scripture,” Homiletics, October 2012 (Reproductions)

Moses, Monica, “Future Tense: 40 Under 40,” American Craft, Oct/Nov 2012

Osthues, Romulo, “Ecodecor,” Casa & Decoração 56, 2012 (Reproductions)

Pousner, Howard, “Atlanta artists among ’40 under 40’, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, July 15, 2012 (Reproductions)

Predin, Andrej, “Kaj lahko zremo, ko knjige meso postanejo?,” Slovenske Novice, April 16, 2012 (Reproductions)

Sandrin, Mariela, “Ex libri,” Focus No. 235, May 2012 (Reproductions)

Sandu Publishing, Paper Works, 2012 (Reproductions)

Segar Gray Gallery, The Art of the Book, Exhibition Catalog, April, 2012 (Reproductions)

Sorensen, Morten, “Kultur,” Politiken (Denmark), February 22, 2012 (Reproductions)

Sylwan, Kerstin et al., Materialens Magi (Sweden), 2012 (Reproductions)

Thomas, Peter & Donna, 1000 Artists’ Books, 2012, (Reproductions)

Vance, David Ray & Kasper, Catherine, American Letters & Commentary, Issue 23, June 2012 (Reproductions)

Wang, Jian, “Brian Dettmer”, Bizmode Magazine, April, 2012 (Reproductions)

Wolinski, Natacha, “Bibliophiles de l’art à l’ouvrage,” The Good Life Magazine (France), May/June 2012 (Reproductions)

2011

Allès, Chantal, Crazy Art, published 2011 (Reproductions)

Anne & Julien, “Brian Dettmer: Paper Break,” Hey!, No. 7, September 2011 (Reproductions)

Argudo, Adriana, “Brian Dettmer, 3-D Books and Art”, bg Magazine, issue 057, Spring 2011, (Reproductions)

Benato, Max, “Artist turns old books into sculptures”, The Guardian, March 3, 2011 (Reproduction)

Boonstra, Jessica, “Top Shelf”, Writer’s Digest, July/August 2011 (Reproduction)

CBS, “Artist makes high-priced sculptures from old books,” CBS Evening News, May 15, 2011 (Video)

Cullum, Jerry, “Brian Dettmer: Saltworks, Atlanta,” ARTnews, May 2011 (Reproductions)

Dormoy, Marie, “Quand l’art opère à livre ouvert,” Ça m’intéresse, September 2011 (Reproductions)

Dowling, Faye, The Book of Skulls, 2011 (Reproduction)

Feaster, Felícia, “Brian Dettmer”, Art Papers, January/ February, 2011 (Reproduction)

Farameh Media, Skull Style, published 2011 (Reproductions)

Gestalten, Book Arts, Iconic Sculptures and Installations made from Books, published 2011 (Reproductions)

Habe-Evans, Mito, “Destroy Your Books”, NPR.org, March 3, 2011 (Reproductions)

Hansell, Sally, “Brian Dettmer: New Worlds to Conquer”, FiberArts Magazine, Spring, 2011 (Reproductions)

Hu, Mior, “Warm Memories of Books,” Surface Magazine, Issue 30, Summer 2011 (Reproductions)

Huang, Fino, “Brian Dettmer,” Taiwan Tattoo Extreme Magazine, Volume 47, Summer 2011 (Reproductions)

Koçan, Sebla, “ Açilin Ben Kitap Cerrahiyim”, Aktuel Magazine, March 2011 (Reproductions)

Lark Books, Masters, Major Works by Leading Artists, Book Arts, published 2011 (Reproductions)

Miller, Liz Harmon, “Portfolio: Brian Dettmer,” Demo Magazine, Fall/Winter 2011 (Reproductions)

Newhall, Edith, “Use it up, Wear it out”, The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 15, 2011

Sánchez, Ana, “Libros con vida interior”, El Periódico, April 17, 2011 (Reproductions)

Sanderson, Mark, “Literary Life”, The Telegraph, March 13, 2011 (Reproductions)

Shih, Serra, “Book Art – Brian Dettmer,” dpi magazine, August 2011 (Reproductions)

Stewart, Garrett, Bookwork, Medium to Object to Concept to Art, published 2011 (Reproductions)

Tselentis, Jason, Type, Form & Function, Rockport Publishers, published 2011 (Reproductions)

Turner, Chris, “Brian Dettmer’s Carved Up Books”, ICON Magazine, January, 2011 (Reproduction)

Vanasco, Jeannie, “Postmodern Deconstruction”, The New Yorker, March 10, 2011 (Reproduction)

Załuski, Łukasz, “Rzeźba w książce,” Focus, June 2011 (Reproductions)

2010

Barrett, Carly, “Book sculptures” Digital Artist Magazine, Issue 08, 2010 (Reproduction)

Bonart Magazine, “Brian Dettmer, Mito Galeria d’Art Contemporani”, July, 2010 (Reproduction)

Bufill, Juan, “Brian Dettmer esculpe y excava libros enciclopédicos” La Vanguardia, June 28, 2010 (Reproduction)

Burton, Charlie, “Lit-crit’s knifeman”, Wired Magazine UK, May, 2010 (Reproductions)

Cullum, Jerry, “Brian Dettmer Digs Deep in Altered Books at Saltworks”, ArtsCriticATL.com, Dec. 2010

Dohmann, Antje, “Hunger nach Echtem”, Page Magazine, May, 2010 (Reproductions)

Elk City – House of Tongues, Album Cover, 2010 (Reproductions)

Feaster, Felicia, “Text Messaging”, The Atlantan, Dec. 2010 (Reproductions)

Hutchinson, Kate, The Sow’s Ear Poetry Review, (image commission) Vol. XIX, No 4 Winter 2010 (Reproduction)

Jacobus, Lee A., A World of Ideas, (book cover/image commission) 2010 (Reproduction)

Michaud, Debbie, “Vintage Books Under The Knife”, Creative Loafing, Dec. 20, 2010 (Reproductions)

Northrop, Jillian and Toast, Hi Fructose Collected Edition 2 Box Set , 2010 (Reproductions)

Swartz, Rose, Hayden’s Ferry Review Spring/Summer 2010 (Reproductions)

Thompson, Jason, Playing With Books, published 2010 (Reproductions)

Unbridled Books, Fall Catalog, 2010 (Cover, Reproductions)

Vejnoska, Jill, “Literary Expression”, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, May 2, 2010 (Reproductions)

Walker, Rob, “Hit Rewind”, The New York Times Magazine, April 25, 2010 (Reproduction)

Xenos, Stephanie, “Art That Speaks to Our Relationship to Stuff,” Momentum Magazine, Summer 2010 (Reproduction)

2009

Baker, Kenneth, “Brian Dettmer turns books into sculptural pieces” San Francisco Chronicle, Sept. 12, 2009

Black Dog Publishing, Paper Tear Fold Rip Crease Cut, published 2009 (Reproductions)

Broz, Joan, “Learn how to turn passion for art into a career”  Daily Herald, January 26, 2009

Cardman, Zena, “Excavations, and interview with Brian Dettmer  “ Tract Magazine, May, 2009 (Reproductions)

Cook, Greg, “Rock n’ Roll saves the day”, The Providence Phoenix, May 6, 2009

Celdran, Helana, “Libro Viejo Busca Vida Nueva” Calle 20, Feburary 2009, #35 (Reproduction)

Cronin, Jan. Drichel, Simone, Drichel (editors) Frameworks (book cover/image commission) 2009

Dahlgren, Jeff, “Brian Dettmer, Tracing the Untraceable”, Artvoices, Issue 21, 2009 (Reproductions)

Dewan, Shaila, “An Upstart Art Scene, on Atlanta’s West Side”, The New York Times, November 22, 2009

Edgar, Ray, “The fine art of cracking old spines”, The Age, August 21, 2009 (Reproduction)

Edwards, Natalie, “Review: Brian Dettmer/Packer Schopf Gallery” New City, April 13, 2009 (Reproduction)

Fox, Catherine, “Atlanta Artist Digs Old Books”, Atlanta Journal Constitution, July 3, 2009 (Reproduction)

Gestalten Publishers, Beyond Architecture, published 2009 (Reproductions)

Gestalten Publishers, Papercraft, published 2009 (Reproductions)

Gestalten.tv, “Brian Dettmer, Altered State of the Art”, released March 2009, video podcast interview

Guimaraes, Mariana, “Numa folha qualguer”, abc Design Maxi Graphica, November 2009 (Reprioductions)

Huang, Nickmatul, “A Thousand Words” Singapore Home Concepts, June, 2009 (Reproductions)

Ise, Claudine, “Brian Dettmer at Packer Schopf” Bad at Sports article, April 10, 2009

Kaiser, Sarah, “Excavations of Printed Matter” Chicago Contemporary Art Examiner, April 6, 2009

Klein, Paul. Online review Art Letter, April 3, 2009 (Reproduction)

Lamster, Mark, “Brush with Greatness” ID Magazine, March, April, 2009

Matthews, Anita, “Inappropriate’ re-envisions appropriation” The Brown Daily Herald, April 13, 2009

McFadden, David Revere, “Slash” Museum of Arts and Design Exhibition Catalog, 2009 (Reproductions)

Nance, Kevin, “Balancing the Books” Poets & Writers Magazine, Jan/Feb 2009 (Reproductions)

Regev, Hanna, “Banned and Recovered” San Francisco Center for the Book Exhibition Catalog, 2009

Schillinger, Lisa, “Words Without Borders”, The New York Times, October 18, 2009 (Reproduction)

Tullis, James Lee, “Book Extracts” American Express Platinum Magazine, Summer 2009 (Reproductions)

Tullis, James Lee, “Book Extracts” American Express Centurion Magazine, Fall 2009 (Reproductions)

Upchurch, Michael, “An unsettling, yet remarkable, display of books”, Seattle Times, February 27, 2009

Ventura, Stella, “Brian Dettmer” Grab Magazine, November 2009 (Reproductions)

2008

Brown, Ellen Firsching “The Cut-Up Artist” Fine Books & Collections Magazine, May/June 2008 (Reproductions)

Chiara, Federico, “Books” Vogue Italia, March, 2008 (Reproductions)

Christia, Natasha, “Brian Dettmer Cementerio de Libros Olvidados” Calle 20 Barcelona, February, 2008

Feaster, Felicia, “Speakeasy with Brian Dettmer” Creative Loafing, February 6, 2008

Feaster, Felicia, “Book Smarts” The Atlantan, December, 2008 (Reproductions)

Freeman-Zachery, Rice. “Artist Portfolio Brian Dettmer” Somerset Studio, July/August 2008 (Reproductions)

Gestalten Publishers “Fully Booked” Cover Art & Design for Books, published 2008 (Reproductions)

Greenburg, Gary “A Mind of its Own” Harper’s Magazine (image commission) June, 2008 (Reproduction)

Harmanci, Reyhan,  96 Hours Guide, San Francisco Chronicle, August 14, 2008 (Reproduction)

Hawgood, Alex, T, The New York Times Style Magazine, (image commission) March 30, 2008 (Reproduction)

Hernandez, Noelia, “Nuevos libros viejos” La Vanguardia, February 13, 2008 (Reproduction)

Heuer, Renko, “Counter Movement to the Intangeable World” Lodown Magazine, July 2008 (Reproductions)

Hobson, Kenneth, “Artist carves images from books” Gadsden Times, April 8, 2008 (Reproductions)

Kinkley, Jonathan, “You ought to be in pictures” Time Out Chicago, Issue 196, Nov.27-Dec.3, 2008

Landow, George, “Hors Livre” Modern Painters, November 2008, (Reproductions)

Mazzei, “Art Smarts” CS Interiors, Spring 2008 (Reproductions)

Millán, Alicia San, “Escultor de libros” Lamono Magazine, May 2008, Number 43 (Reproductions)

Morgan, Elanor, “Book Surgeon” Dazed and Confused Magazine, Issue #58, February 2008

Northrop, Jillian and Toast, “Brian Dettmer” Hi Fructose Magazine, Vol.7, March 2008 (Reproductions)

Paul, Anne Murphy, “The First Ache” New York Times Magazine (Images for article), February 10, 2008

Wark, Randal, Interview- Outside the Artists Studio, Podcast Episode 20- Fall 2008

Wong, Alva, “Brian Dettmer” IdN International designers Network Volume 15, Number 2, 2008 (Reproductions)

Vance, David Ray, Vitreous Poetry Book Cover, released Spring 2008 (Reproductions)

2007

Artner, Alan, “Art Reviews” Chicago Tribune, April 6, 2007

Balzer, David, “Eye Candy” Eye Weekly, Aug. 30, 2007 (Reproduction)

Bischoff, Dan, “Small space, big talents” New Jersey Star Ledger, May 25, 2007

Cataldi, Alberto, “Mensagem Oculta”  Dom De Outro Modo, December 2007

Faiwell, Sara, “Art of the Ordinary” Daily Herald, February 1, 2007 (Reproductions)

Genocchio, Benjamin, “Tougher Than the Rest” The New York Times, July, 1, 2007

Goddard, Peter, “Summer in the City of Dreams” Toronto Star, August 30, 2007 (Reproduction)

Klein, Paul. Online review Art Letter, February 2, 2007 (Reproduction)

Leaverton, Michael, “Digging Into a Good Book” San Francisco Weekly, July 9, 2007

Loerzal, Robert, “Artistic Surgeries create unusual work” Pioneer Press, February, 2007

Martin, Stacy, “ReMixed Media” San Francisco Bay Guardian, July 25, 2007

Nikolopoulos, Stephanie, “You Are What You Art” www.gothamist.com, January 1, 2007

Rosas, Blanca Gonzalez, “Maco 2007”, Proceso Magazine, May 6, 2007

Schechter, Fran, “Ideal Worlds”, Now Toronto Magazine, Aug. 30, 2007 (Reproduction)

Tyson, Josh, “Spine Surgery” Time Out Chicago, March 29, 2007 (Reproduction)

Varner, Jon, “Cut to the chase” Closerlook.com, May 1, 2007

Whiteside, Jessica, “Brian Dettmer- Remixed Media”, www. artbusiness.com July 5, 2007

2006

Baker, R.C. “Best in Show, Buzz-Worthy” Village Voice, December 21, 2006

“Don’t Miss”, Time Out Chicago, Issue 46, January 12-19, pg.54 (Reproduction)

Cain, Amina. “The Inner Light, Brian Dettmer: Visual Art DJ” CAC Newspaper, June 2006 (Reproductions)

Gilmour, Amy Ritthaler. “Reconstructing the Mundane” Online Review, www.mightbegood.com, March 24, 2006

Gonzalez Valdez, Michelle. “In Review” Online Review, www.glasstire.com, May 6, 2006

Holland, Richard.  “Bad at Sports Episode 19” Podcast review -www.badatsports.com, January 8, 2006

Slingerland, Cara. “Hotcakes showcases love’s saucier side” The Marquette Tribune, February 10, 2006

Walworth, Catherine.  “Reconstructing the Mundane” Online Review, www.artoridiocy.com, March 22, 2006

Walworth, Catherine. “The Art Capades” San Antonio Current, April 5. 2006 (Reproduction)

2005

Camper, Fred. “Reading is Incidental” Chicago Reader, December 23, 2005, Sec 2, p. 24 (Reproduction)

Catania, Lance. (director, producer) Cup of My Blood, Movie, 2005 (Artwork in Scene)

Klein, Paul. Online review Art Letter, December 9, 2005 (Reproduction)

Sill, Robert. (curator, writer) think small!, Exhibition Catalog, p. 14-15, 26, 64, 2005 (Reproduction)

Snyder, Jason. (editor) New Standards fiction journal anthology, 2005 (Reproductions )

Sundell, Ivy. (editor) Living Artists Crow Woods Publishing, 2005, p. 70-71 (Reproduction)

2003

Biles, Jeremy. (curator) “Vulnerescence”, Exhibition Catalog, p. 1, 2003 (Reproduction)

Dutchover, Yvonne. “Holy Art” f NEWS, April, 2003

Faulkner, Tamara.  “Galleries and Museums” Chicago Reader, March 7, 2003, Sec. 2, p. 25 (Reproduction)

Faulkner, Tamara.  “Galleries and Museums” Chicago Reader, August 1, 2003, Sec. 2, p. 28 (Reproduction)

Feigley, Amy. “Politics as Usual in Unusual Artistic Gallery” Islam Online.net, Aug. 30, 2003 (Reproduction)

Gehring, Kristin. “Reading paper entrails” Chicago Journal, November 2003, p.1, Sec. 2  (Reproduction)

Iannacci, Elio. “Of Artists and Icons” UR Chicago Culture, April 15, 2003, p.31 (Reproduction)

Iannacci, Elio. “Short & Sweet…” UR Chicago Culture, July 17, 2003, p.19 (Reproduction)

Mast, Audrey Michelle. “Glossing, Politics as Usual”, f NEWS, November, 2003

Weins, Ann. “Vibrant Viewing” The Chicago Collection, Fall/Winter 2003, p. 62. (Reproduction)

Statement

The age of information in physical form is waning. As intangible routes thrive with quicker fluidity, material and history are being lost, slipping and eroding into the ether. Newer media swiftly flips forms, unrestricted by the weight of material and the responsibility of history. In the tangible world we are left with a frozen material but in the intangible world we may be left with nothing. History is lost as formats change from physical stability to digital distress.

The richness and depth of the book is universally respected yet often undiscovered as the monopoly of the form and relevance of the information fades over time. The book’s intended function has decreased and the form remains linear in a non-linear world. By altering physical forms of information and shifting preconceived functions, new and unexpected roles emerge. This is the area I currently operate in. Through meticulous excavation or concise alteration I edit or dissect communicative objects or systems such as books, maps, tapes and other media. The medium’s role transforms. Its content is recontextualized and new meanings or interpretations emerge.

Explanation of Process

In this work I begin with an existing book and seal its edges, creating an enclosed vessel full of unearthed potential. I cut into the surface of the book and dissect through it from the front. I work with knives, tweezers and surgical tools to carve one page at a time, exposing each layer while cutting around ideas and images of interest. Nothing inside the books is relocated or implanted, only removed. Images and ideas are revealed to expose alternate histories and memories. My work is a collaboration with the existing material and its past creators and the completed pieces expose new relationships of the book’s internal elements exactly where they have been since their original conception.

For additional images of current and cataloged work please visit: Flickr

Contact Brian Dettmer:  info@briandettmer.com