Artist Books and Unbound

Forming the foundation of Thomas Gleaner’s interdisciplinary practice are his artist books, which have been referred to as “patchwork quilts of the subconscious.” Intimate in scale and deeply autobiographical, Gleaner’s books remain a prism through which he freely explores the disparate aspects of our shared history and collective humanity.

Initiated in 1990 and maintained over three decades, the entries have become more narrative and introspective. To date, the archive of handmade books has reached 65 volumes that contain over 8,000 pages.

“Unbound” is a series of large-scale works in which Gleaner’s pages are printed onto Sintra board and hand-sculpted to suggest the form of an open book.