James McQueen
Anthology | 2023

James McQueen’s latest collection, Anthology, takes a look beyond the world of books to the one of the people who read them, in a duo of limited editions showing their spines. As we all know, there’s no better way to find out about someone’s personality than by looking at their bookshelves; “To know a man’s library is, in some measure, to know a man’s mind,” said Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Geraldine Brooks.

The famously private, provocative artist, celebrated for his literary-influenced works, was inspired to make Anthology by his wife’s pile of books next to the bed. “There’s something intriguing about an individual’s choice of literature, differing titles waiting to be read, half read or discarded back on the pile for another day,” McQueen explains. “Reading material is subjective, much like art and anyone can in theory get involved. It’s an easy pastime, get a book, read it, and just like that you. become a reader. But behind that simple process is a question of motivation.

“Books carry a whole world within them. Books, like people, have personalities. Reading a good book is like making a new friend - understanding their journey and experiencing a different view of the world.”

McQueen’s work is hugely popular with collectors, and often sells out shortly after release, so make sure to secure your piece fast.