From its natural splendors to its sprawling suburbs and congested cities, California presents myriad realities. Long considered a site of new opportunities and unlimited potential, the Golden State also contends with a complicated and constantly changing identity.

The modern and contemporary artists’ books and portfolios on view in California BookWorks feature California subjects and provide visitors with the opportunity to see views of the state through the eyes of a range of artists. Some works reflect the historical promise of California as a land of plenty, while others foreground the experience of living in some of its largest cities. Most of the books selected for the exhibition were made in California-based print workshops and are testaments to the vitality here of this engaging art form.