Items Similar to Fingerprint Book Sculpture: 'The Prophet" by Kahll Gibran
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 3
Valerie HuhnFingerprint Book Sculpture: 'The Prophet" by Kahll Gibran2025
2025
$1,100
£834.76
€955.87
CA$1,563.18
A$1,701.33
CHF 893.18
MX$20,554.52
NOK 11,210.42
SEK 10,570.10
DKK 7,135.45
About the Item
Material: Ink, Acetate, Pins, Repurposed Banned Book
Leaving Pennsylvania through New Hope was the last leg of my escape from the psychiatric hospital. A few days later, my friend and I returned to the town to visit and shop. The first book I purchased was The Prophet from Farley’s Bookshop. I’ve carried it with me everywhere. Even now, it sits in a bookcase next to my bed.-Valerie Huhn
“When I was sixteen I was in a serious car accident that left me with a traumatic brain injury (TBI). As a result, I spent years in psychiatric hospitals before the condition was partially diagnosed. Final diagnosis came in late 2024—along with a new medication that addressed the area of my brain that was injured. Before the TBI, reading was a passion—worlds opened up for me when I read. For decades after it, I was unable to read large volumes or stay focused on a novel. On my new medication, my ability and joy in reading was back. The experience made me think about the history of reading, writing, and acquiring knowledge—who was allowed to and who wasn’t. I had felt the loss of concentration and reading so keenly. I couldn’t imagine race, ethnicity or gender being reasons to be barred from those worlds.
In 2023, I was preparing for a show when I heard on National Public Radio that, in response to protests on its campus, Rutgers University had banned Susan Abulhawa’s novel, Against a Loveless World. I purchased the book and was immediately struck by the beauty of its words. It was shocking to me that ideas—novels—would be banned. And it was a growing trend throughout the U.S.
I started researching banned books and learned that, in 2023, most of the challenges to books in over 100 school districts were made by just 11 people. Many of the challenges were against Black, Asian, Indigenous, Latino, LGBTQIA+, and women authors. These are the authors I chose to center for this exhibit. The selection also aligned with the authors I started reading upon moving to NYC in 1985. All of the books in this show have been banned, save Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodrin. Percival Everett’s James may not have been banned yet, but is sure to be soon.
Before this show, I celebrated marginalized people and cultures by adding colorful fingerprinted pins into texts written by white men for white audiences. For this show, I have adorned books written by authors from these varied communities to highlight the beauty of our shared identity.
I selected page spreads to fingerprint-pin with care. I wanted to highlight the humanity of each character, even the ones difficult to love. And I wanted each adorned page to include a shared interaction—the sum of who we can be together. For books written by European or American male authors, I often pinned the words. For books by marginalized people, I pinned the white space between words and sentences.”- Valerie Huhn
- Creator:Valerie Huhn (American)
- Creation Year:2025
- Dimensions:Height: 10.25 in (26.04 cm)Width: 8 in (20.32 cm)Depth: 2 in (5.08 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Gallery Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU422316988952
About the Seller
4.6
Vetted Professional Seller
Every seller passes strict standards for authenticity and reliability
1stDibs seller since 2016
130 sales on 1stDibs
Associations
Association of Women Art Dealers
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: New York, NY
- Return Policy
Authenticity Guarantee
In the unlikely event there’s an issue with an item’s authenticity, contact us within 1 year for a full refund. DetailsMoney-Back Guarantee
If your item is not as described, is damaged in transit, or does not arrive, contact us within 7 days for a full refund. Details24-Hour Cancellation
You have a 24-hour grace period in which to reconsider your purchase, with no questions asked.Vetted Professional Sellers
Our world-class sellers must adhere to strict standards for service and quality, maintaining the integrity of our listings.Price-Match Guarantee
If you find that a seller listed the same item for a lower price elsewhere, we’ll match it.Trusted Global Delivery
Our best-in-class carrier network provides specialized shipping options worldwide, including custom delivery.More From This Seller
View AllFingerprint Book Sculpture: '1984" by Geroge Orwell
By Valerie Huhn
Located in New York, NY
Material: Ink, Acetate, Pins, Repurposed Banned Book
“When I was sixteen I was in a serious car accident that left me with a traumatic brain injury (TBI). As a result, I spent years...
Category
2010s Contemporary Still-life Sculptures
Materials
Mixed Media
Fingerprint Book Sculpture: 'Letter's to a Young Poet"
By Valerie Huhn
Located in New York, NY
Material: Ink, Acetate, Pins, Resin, Rubber, Repurposed Banned Book
“When I was sixteen I was in a serious car accident that left me with a traumatic brain injury (TBI). As a result...
Category
2010s Contemporary Still-life Sculptures
Materials
Mixed Media
Fingerprint book Sculpture: "Against the Loveless World" by Susan Abulhawa
By Valerie Huhn
Located in New York, NY
Material: Ink, acetate, resin, rubber, repurposed banned book
I read this novel as soon as I heard that Rutgers University had banned it. It is as close to a perfect beginning as I ...
Category
2010s Contemporary Still-life Sculptures
Materials
Mixed Media
Fingerprint Book Sculpture: 'Between the World and Me" by Ta-Neshisi Coates
By Valerie Huhn
Located in New York, NY
Material: Ink, Acetate, Pins, Repurposed Banned Book
Coates details the weight of being perfect as a marginalized American—always prepared and without the privilege to make mistakes...
Category
2010s Contemporary Still-life Sculptures
Materials
Mixed Media
Fingerprint Book Sculpture: 'When Things Fall Apart" by Pema Chödrön
By Valerie Huhn
Located in New York, NY
Material: Ink, Acetate, Pins, Repurposed Banned Book
"I stumbled upon this book while I was out in California, shortly after the end of a relationship. The title of this show is the...
Category
2010s Contemporary Still-life Sculptures
Materials
Mixed Media
Fingerprint Book Sculpture: 'The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood
By Valerie Huhn
Located in New York, NY
Material: Ink, Acetate, Pins, Repurposed Banned Book
The Handmaid’s Tale was released around the time I moved to New York, not long after I escaped from a long-term psychiatric hosp...
Category
2010s Contemporary Still-life Sculptures
Materials
Mixed Media
You May Also Like
American Contemporary Book Sculpture by Alexander Korzer-Robinson - Sunday Hours
Located in Paris, IDF
Book Sculpture,
signed Alexander Korzer-Robinson
Robert Robinson is an American artist born in 1960 who lives and works in London, UK. He creates 3-D media artworks using comic bo...
Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Paper
Conny Goelz Schmitt "See Through" Vintage Book Parts Sculpture
By Conny Goelz Schmitt
Located in New York, NY
"I create geometric collages, assemblages and sculptures with vintage book parts. My work is a never-ending story where I play with deconstruction and reconstruction, and changing di...
Category
2010s Contemporary Abstract Sculptures
Materials
Found Objects
American Contemporary Book Sculpture by Alexander Korzer-Robinson - Brockhaus 6
Located in Paris, IDF
Book Sculpture,
signed Alexander Korzer-Robinson
Robert Robinson is an American artist born in 1960 who lives and works in London, UK. He creates 3-D media artworks using comic bo...
Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Paper
American Contemporary Book Sculpture by Alexander Korzer-Robinson - The Quiver
Located in Paris, IDF
Book Sculpture, signed Alexander Korzer-Robinson, The Quiver, 1882
Robert Robinson is an American artist born in 1960 who lives and works in London, UK. He creates 3-D media artwor...
Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Paper
American Contemporary Book Sculpture by Alexander Korzer-Robinson - Alice in
Located in Paris, IDF
Book Sculpture, signed Alexander Korzer-Robinson
Robert Robinson is an American artist born in 1960 who lives and works in London, UK. He creates 3-D media artworks using comic boo...
Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Paper
American Contemporary Book Sculpture by Alexander Korzer-Robinson - Cassell's
Located in Paris, IDF
Book Sculpture,
signed Alexander Korzer-Robinson
Robert Robinson is an American artist born in 1960 who lives and works in London, UK. He creates 3-D media artworks using comic bo...
Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Paper