A friend visited the Grolier Club in NYC last week and sent me these pictures of my marbled paper at the “Pattern & Flow” exhibition from The Metropolitan Museum of Art Watson library collection as part of their Paper Legacy Project. The show runs until April 8. Be sure to visit and be part of this momentous exhibition in the history of marbling on this continent when you’re in town. It’s definitely the highlight of my marbling career thus far and for many other talented artists involved.
Visiting NYC this year 2023 from January to April? Be sure to check out this exhibition at the Grolier Club on The Golden Age of American Decorated Paper from The Metropolitan museum of Art Watson library collection. You can see some of my “Marbled Graphics” (marbling art) on display and perhaps purchase some beautiful merchandise (picture frames, scarves, cards) featuring my art work on them at the The Met Museum shop!!! You can purchase my affordable original signed marbling art from me directly. www.studioRobertWu.com www.studioRobertWu.Etsy.com
Below are images of the exhibition catalogue featuring some of my marbling art.
In 2009, I received this nice little certificate from The Honourable Bob Rae from Canada House of Commons in recognition of my contribution to the bookbinding art la reliure d’art in Canada. Time flies! What other beautiful design bindings will be born or have been created since then! Stay tuned!
Franco-Swiss printer/illustrator Francois Louis Schmied produced some of the most beautiful, coveted and lavish limited edition art books during the Art Deco era. This particular binding I just finished took me about 3 years on and off working on it. It’s been quite a journey. Please have a look at the pictures, info and a full video presentation of this amazing book under Bookbinding section. I am quite pleased with how the binding has turned out. Happy Spring !!!
I am happy to report that the design binding I made for US antiquarian bookseller Justin Schiller was just sold in Heritage Auctions USA for $12,500 usd yesterday! Congratulations to Justin and the lucky new owner of this binding. It’s a career milestone for me 😊🙏😇
Kenneth Grahame’s Wind in the Willows. Designed and bound by Robert Wu, Toronto 2020
More pictures can be found under bookbinding section.
This French binding with bookworm design is going into The Grolier Club’s permanent collection in NYC. You can see more detailed pictures under bookbinding section.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC- Watson Library’s “Paper legacy project” is now online. You can see 50 images of my marbling art on The Met Digital Collection online by following the link below. I am quite honored to have my works in the Met’s permanent collections.
https://cdm16028.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16028coll21/id/510
I have been meaning to finish this binding since I had started it four years ago! Trying out new technique and design ideas. You can read more about it under my Bookbinding section. This binding is available for sale.
My newest French art binding creation. For more info and pics and video presentation, Please see the Bookbinding section.
I am pleased to be sharing with you my latest design art binding of Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray”. Please visit under bookbinding section to see more pictures, info and a video presentation of the binding. Or click on the following link…
https://www.studiorobertwu.com/#/oscar-wildes-the-picture-of-dorian-gray/
![Screenshot_2018-12-04-09-31-45[1].png](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5acec7173917eedacceb5096/1544034231820-O3OBS2X3ALPJPMSFSYHC/Screenshot_2018-12-04-09-31-45%5B1%5D.png)
![Screenshot_2018-12-04-09-32-13[1].png](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5acec7173917eedacceb5096/1544034749474-ZNCHAK1OH78P5NL6BB0Q/Screenshot_2018-12-04-09-32-13%5B1%5D.png)
Lots of new paste paper are available now. My favorite would be my new original design/composition “Sunflower Field” decorative paste paper in impressive 26x39” format! They are available for sale in my online shop. Colours can be customized too!!!
Starting from now until October, Grey Gallery in Owen Sound, Ontario is hosting an exhibition and sale of my Marbled Graphics™ and old fashioned handmade bespoke stationery. On September 29, I will be also giving two fun origami workshops at the gallery as part of The Japanese Paper Place Washi weekend in downtown Owen Sound. Please check out a list of other fun workshops in the area! Don’t miss it! Drive up to the north for some scenic autumn colours and creative activities! www.GreyGallery.ca
"Of Unicornes Hornes" by Sir Thomas Browne, Published by Cheloniidae Press 1984. A commissioned binding and available for sale through The Kelmscott Bookshop in Baltimore. www.kelmscottbookshop.com
Classic design with a contemporary flair. I incorporated some of my special techniques on this binding - sparkling edge, Faux Ivoire panels, marbled paper and white leather relief panels. For more pics & info, please vist www.studioRobertWu.com under bookbinding section.
Please check out my new binding - Vignette from a bygone era under my bookbinding page for pictures and video link!
My newest commissioned Arctic binding was just finished. The project started two years ago and I had to wash the entire 300 pages of this 18th century book as the pages were dirty and moldy. It took me more than two months just to wash, flatten and conserve all the pages before the binding could commence. The binding is bound in the full French technique that I was trained in. The French Reliure d'art technique is considered the most refined and beautiful bookbinding technique. I was happy with the way the design turned out. I was also trying out my new decorative panel technique I called "Faux Ammolite" to emulate the northern lights effect. I hope I have achieved it if you see it in person and panel animates and sparkles with colours under light. The egg shell panel turned out beautifully too. They all fit like a puzzle. Interior flyleaves are lined with my own special marbled paper.
Shakespeare's King Lear printed at Roycroft shop 1904. Full leather design binding by Robert Wu. Bound in full green leather with simple blind tooling and titling in 22k gold leaves. Inset " Faux Ivoire " panel created by me and framed with leather strips. Interior marbled paper by Robert Wu. Housed in a linen covered folding box. Book dimension. 8 1/2" × 10 1/2"
Youtube video presentation.
Mason's The Four Feathers. First Edition 1903
I am very happy with the way the design came out for this binding. One of the requirements from the commissioner was to incorporate white feathers and British flag in the design. The book is bound in full French technique with gorgeous navy blue leather. The design utilizes traditional gilding in 22k gold, palladium, and various coloured leather onlays and eggshell panels I made. Inside covers are lined with beautiful Abalone panels framed by leather strips and flyleaves lined with cork gold paper. Like all of my bindings, I incorporate with my own marbled paper in turquoise. The top edge of the book is coloured in navy blue with my own special "glittered edge" effect. The standing board edges and headcaps are gilded in gold leaves as well for that extra tour-de-force details. The titling is done with this beautiful Art Nouveau Typeface with palladium and 22k gold. The whole book is housed in linen covered folding box lined with red suede. Here is a youtube video presentation of the binding.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland First North American Edition 1866 Appleton. Designed and bound by Robert Wu, Toronto. It will be on display at the New York Antiquarian Bookfair opening on March 8. What an honour to have worked on this iconic precious rare tome! The design is my own take/twist on the traditional Cosway binding style where portrait cameos are incorporated on the cover. I didn't want to compete with the iconic images by Sir John Tenniel so I thought it was best to honour the original illustrations by showcasing them right on the cover. My geometric design somehow ties everything together.
The binding is in full French technique. It's covered with gorgeous red morocco goatskin. The original covers in red cloth and gilt images were falling apart. So first I removed the cloth from the boards and preserved and lined and bound them in with the bookblock. The edges have original old gilding on them so I left them the way they are. Handsewn headbands in red, blue, yellow silk threads. Various coloured leather onlays were used to decorate the covers. I managed to create and invent this "Faux Ivoire" panels to great success. It also sparkles with fairy dust to add a touch of magic! I also incorporated with eggshell panels on the cover and mother of pearl on the inside of the books. Flyleaves are covered with my own delicately refined red bouquet marbled paper for a touch of elegance. The gilding and toolings are done with 22k gold leaves and soot. The book is housed in a linen covered folding box lined with suede.
I think the end result looks very elegant and timeless. Here is a video of the binding.