Center for Book Arts presents Visual Volumes: Contemporary Explorations in Book Arts. Jul 14–Sep 9, 2023

This group show features artist-made books that embody interdisciplinary approaches to creative book practices

Gwen Smith’s The Black Women Project is a collection of her painted portraits of renowned Black Women. The project began in 2018 when Smith set out her creative journey after spending the previous 13 years as a full time mother. Smith took selfies to reference each time she entered her studio, creating a rhythm by merging her identity as a Black Woman with her subjects. Some of the women Smith chooses to paint are artists, scientists, educators, politicians, writers, poets and performers. All are respected by Smith and provide the impetus for her ongoing self-exploration. (Vol. 1 & 2) were published in 2020 and sold as a 2 Volume set. Since then Smith has continued the project producing 100 more paintings that make up (Vol. 3). In this exhibition Smith presents the complete (Vol. 3)- a grid of 100 original paintings. As Smith originally intended for the work to be exhibited as one unit outside of the book form.