Produced as both unique objects and small editions, artist’s books are crafted in a variety of forms including folds-outs, boxes, scrolls, and concertinas. Although artisans have crafted books for centuries, many consider poet and artist William Blake the originator of the book as intended art-object—his handcrafted Songs of Innocence and Experience joined text, craft and illustration into a bound volume. In the early part of the twentieth century, the artist’s book was further explored through the lens of various artistic movements and styles, from Marcel Duchamp's 1947 Le Surréalisme,' to the Italian Futurist manifestos that included meticulous lithographs.

The modern artist’s book is often associated with Swiss artist Dieter Roth, whose publications were influenced by Constructivism and Fluxus. His 1958 work Bok incorporated cut holes and codex, allowing viewers to rearrange and view multiples pages at once. Ed Ruscha’s 1963 Twentysix Gasoline Stations  and Sol LeWitt’s 1977 Brick Wall are examples of contemporary artist’s books that expand upon the practice of each artist. While the nature and practice of creating artist’s books has changed throughout history, institutions like the Center for Book Arts in New York City have upheld this method of creation.