Art Exhibit: "Tiny Clay Books" by Julie Simon

View artist Julie Simon's Tiny Clay Books exhibit on display at Maze Branch, July 1-31.

From the artist
Inspired by an article in the New York Times featuring tiny foods made out of clay, I began creating tiny clay things, mostly foods and succulents, during the height of the pandemic. But I wanted to make something that was special to me, and that's when it hit me—books. With a steady hand and my high-powered magnifying glass, I created my first Tiny Clay Book, Donna Tartt’s The Goldfinch. From there, I set about making replicas of all the books I read in 2020—and I just kept going.

My most important tools include Sculpey clay and my kitchen oven, as well as a roller for removing air bubbles, an Xacto knife for slicing and scoring, sculpting tools for shaping, and extra-fine tip oil-based markers for hand-drawing letters on a 1-inch canvas.

I launched an Instagram account @TinyClayBooks in November of 2021, where you can find the entire TCB collection alongside my thoughtful book reviews. It's been a joy to connect with many readers, writers, and authors, including Gillian Flynn, Christie Tate, and Tia Williams, who are delighted by seeing their bestsellers as a Tiny Clay Book. My hope is that Tiny Clay Books bring you as much joy as they have brought me.