Karen Wirth has a longstanding—over 40-year—relationship to books within her practice and an equally long relationship with MCBA—as an artist, teacher, and now as a 2024 McKnight Book Artist Fellow. In the gallery, Wirth’s architectural book-related works will read as poetic stanzas truly displaying what architectural storytelling is.
The exhibition in the Main Gallery expands into MCBA’s Outlook Gallery and Open Book's Literary Commons. Wirth’s expansive practice—ranging from book to public art to book-related installation—positions this exhibition to encompass the values of Open Book as a fully public building where under one roof people hand bind handmade paper, write poetry, and publish a full spectrum of literary work.
Visit the exhibition during our open hours, Tuesday–Saturday, 10am–5pm and Thursdays until 7pm.
The Literary Commons is open during all open Building Hours.
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
WHEREMCBA Main Gallery + Literary Commons Gallery
WHENApril 12, 2025–June 7, 2025
RECEPTIONFriday, April 25, 6–8pm
Karen Wirth is an artist and educator whose artwork ranges from books and sculpture to architecture.
She co-designed the sculptural staircase at Open Book and four blue line light rail stations, all in Minneapolis. Her books include offset editions, one-of-a-kind sculptural pieces, and room-sized installations. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, and is in many collections, including the Museum of Modern Art Library, The Walker Art Center, the Getty Center, and Yale University. She is a 2024 McKnight Fellow in Book Arts.