Notebooks

Richard Serra’s reputation as one of the great sculptors of our time is well known, yet the role of sketches in his working practice is not known. This suite of books will change that. Serra keeps a large library of notebooks from throughout his career in his studio, hundreds in total. Contained within them are delicate sketches of his travels, of landscapes, architecture and of other ideas, some of which the artist developed into mature sculptures and drawings. Serra has personally selected five of these precious notebooks, which are reproduced here in facsimile. Born in San Francisco in 1939, Richard Serra is one of the most important contemporary sculptors. His work is famous for its size and weight, and he has created permanent site-specific works for many public and private venues. Serra’s books at Steidl include Sculpture 1985–1998 (1999) and Torqued Spirals, Toruses and Spheres (2001). Vol. 1 Egypt, 1989, 44 pages, 9.8 x 13 in. / 25 x 33.5 cm Clothbound hardcover Vol. 2 Luxembourg Exchange, 1996, 48 pages, 15 x 11 in. / 38.2 x 27.8 cm Clothbound hardcover Vol. 3 Spiral Sections, 92 pages, 12.6 x 9.4 in. / 32 x 24 cm Clothbound hardcover Vol. 4 Ronchamp 1, 1991, stapled softcover 24 sheets, 12 x 8.3 inch / 31 x 21 cm Vol. 5 Ronchamp 2, 1991, stapled softcover 16 sheets, 12 x 8.3 inch / 31 x 21 cm Housed together in a cardboard box