Karen Bleitz

Born in California in 1973, Karen Bleitz has been creating book works in England since 1997. Her Interactive and often sculptural books draw readers in by allowing them to alter or manipulate the page. Books with machines, pop-ups, and magnets become dynamic stages where the reader actively participates in debates around issues that range from the evolution of language to the role of gender and the body in communication. The transformations that take place within the pages force her readers to 're-view' and experience the subjects from a changed perspective.
Talks Codex Symposium, Berkeley, CA, 2009 Seoul International Book Fair, 2007 Ewha Women’s University, Seoul, Korea, 2007 University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, 2007 University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA, 2006
Bibliography Weston, Heather. ‘Structure as Metaphor - Dolly: Edition Unlimited by Karen Bleitz.’ Bookcraft. London: Quarto Publishing, 2008 Bodman, Sarah. ‘The hybrid lexicon: an overview of contemporary artists publishing in the UK.’ Book Art Object. Ed. David Jury. Berkeley: The Codex Foundation, 2008 Edwards, John. ‘Print Evolution.’ Paper Jam. Nov. 2008 Price, Richard. ‘Words In Process: Arc Editions.’ Artist's Book Yearbook 2008-2009. Ed. Sarah Bodman. Bristol: Impact Press The Center for Fine Print Research, 2007 King, Ronald. 'New Blood at Circle Press.' Parenthesis - Concerning the Book Arts. UK: Journal of the Fine Press Book Association. Journal No.10, Nov. 2004 Fairman, Elisabeth. ‘Cooking the Books: Ron King & Circle Press at the Yale Center for British Art.’ Artist's Book Yearbook 2003-2005. Ed. Sarah Bodman. Bristol: Impact Press The Center for Fine Print Research, 2003 Glueck, Grace. ‘A Varied Tour of Connecticut’s Indoor Treasures.’ New York Times. July 26, 2002 Lambirth, Andrew & King, Ronald. Cooking the Books - Ron King & Circle Press. London: The Yale Center for Brtish Art & Circle Press, 2002 Kim, Shin. ‘Book Designers in the Digital Age.’ Monthly Design (256). Korea: Oct. 1999 Courtney, Cathy. Speaking of Book Art - Interviews with British & American Book Artists. Los Altos Hills: Anderson-Lovelace Publishers, 1999 ‘Thurston's Root.’ Sleazenation. UK: Nov. 1998 ‘Antennae.’ The World of Interiors. UK: Aug. 1998 ‘Paper Round - Truly Original Ideas.’ Design Week. UK: Jul. 1998
Associates Arc Artists’ Editions, London Co-founder Design, production, promotion and sales of limited edition art works and artists’ books; August 2006 to present Circle Press Publications, London Artist book design, production, promotion and sales in addition to general management of the press; March 1997 to April 2007 Editions Koch, Berkeley, CA Apprenticeship in letterpress printing and typographic design, Heidelberg and Vandercook Presses; May 1996 to December 1996
Teaching Book Arts Elective, Course Leader University of the Arts London: Camberwell College of Art, London Creation and leadership of elective program for 2nd & 3rd year degree students September 2001 to December 2007 The Virtual Studio Elective, Course Leader University of the Arts London: Camberwell College of Art, London Introduction to 3D computer and real world modelling using 3D Studio Max September 1999 to December 2007 Key Skills Communication Level 3, Program Co-ordinator University of the Arts London: Camberwell College of Art, London Development / implementation of KS program for Foundation students & staff September 2002 to June 2005
Education Camberwell College of Arts, London MA Book Arts (scholarship received from Mills College) December 1996 to December 1997 Mills College, Oakland, CA BA Comparative Literature Spanish (major), English (minor) Language and Literature September 1994 to May 1996 University of California at Davis, Davis, CA Studies in Literature, Folklore, Myth and Religion September 1991 to January 1993 Otis Parsons School of Design, Los Angeles, CA One semester summer program in Painting June 1990 to August 1990