Laura Wait Papers

Laura Wait is a book artist living in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She received a BA in Art History from Barnard College, New York, 1975. She went to London in 1976 to study printmaking and received a certificate in printmaking with merit for a one-year course in 1977 specializing in intaglio. Afterwards, she studied traditional bookbinding with Richard Tullett at Croydon, and received a certificate with distinction for a three year course in 1981. Laura moved to Denver, Colorado in 1981, and started a bookbinding and conservation business which she ran successfully until 2003, when she moved her studio to Steamboat Springs, Colorado. She moved to Santa Fe in March, 2013. She has exhibited her artist’s books and fine bindings nationally since 1994. Her solo show at Regis University was featured in the Guild of Book Workers Journal, Vol. XXXVI, No.2, 2001. She makes unique books and small editions using painting, handwriting, and printmaking techniques, especially monoprinting, collographs, and woodcuts, and is known for her rich painterly surfaces. Her experience as a bookbinder and conservator for twenty years is the basis for her excellent bookbinding technique in the English tradition, including leather fine bindings, and medieval-style modern, wood bindings. Her artist’s books are found in many private and public collections including the Library of Congress.