Diaries Exhibit

Trent Pehrson

A series of handmade diaries created for select individuals

Explore the Exhibit Back About This Exhibit About the Artist

The Diaries

Click on a diary to see more information about it. Hover over a diary and use the right and left arrows to see more images for each diary. Learn more about this exhibit here.

Diary for B.A. – Cover
Diary for B.A. – Side Profile
Diary for B.A. – End Paper
Diary for B.A. – Monogram

Diary for B.A.

The recipient of this diary asked for a simple geometric design and a handmade feel.

Diary for M.B. – Cover
Diary for M.B. – End Paper
Diary for M.B. – Inscription

Diary for M.B.

This individual asked the artist for a calligraphic inscription and illumination inside the cover using the recipient's constructed language.

Diary for A.P. – Cover
Diary for A.P. – Side Profile

Diary for A.P.

This individual wanted a small, "rustic" diary with handmade paper suitable for ink, paint, or pencil.

Diary for C.S. – Front Cover
Diary for C.S. – Back Cover
Diary for C.S. – End Paper

Diary for C.S.

This individual asked for two specific glyphs on the front and back covers of the diary.

Diary for W.H. – Cover
Diary for W.H. – End Paper

Diary for W.H.

This individual wanted a Jewish theme, with a gilded bull and the word "Ephraim" in Hebrew inside the front cover.

Diary for B.H. – Cover
Diary for B.H. – End Paper

Diary for B.H.

This individual wanted a very specific geometric swirl pattern on the cover of the diary.

Diary for W.A. – Cover
Diary for W.A. – Cover Glyph
Diary for W.A. – Inscription
Diary for W.A. – End Paper

Diary for W.A.

This individual wanted a very specific geometric swirl pattern on the cover of the diary.

Diary for B.W. – Front Cover
Diary for B.W. – Side Profile
Diary for B.W. – Back Cover
Diary for B.W. – End Paper

Diary for B.W.

This individual asked for a worn look and wanted the artist to inscribe the cover with a phrase in the artist's own constructed language, Idrani. The end paper is the artist's original design and was made by hand.

Diary for A.T. – Cover
Diary for A.T. – Front Illumination
Diary for A.T. – Back Illumination

Diary for A.T.

This individual wanted a Jewish theme and provided detailed descriptions of the illuminations they wanted the artist to place on the front and back of the diary.

Diary for J.G. – Front Cover
Diary for J.G. – Back Cover
Diary for J.G. – End Paper
Diary for J.G. – Interior Pages

Diary for J.G.

A travel theme was requested for this diary, including an arrow design on the cover and end papers featuring common vacation destinations.

About This Exhibit

The Diaries exhibit is a small sampling from a large series of handmade diaries created by artist Trent Pehrson. For this project, Trent distributed the diaries to individuals he encountered over a period of his life. Each participant provided preferences related to the diary's appearance and design, resulting in volumes shaped by distinct personalities, histories, and goals.

Each diary was given away for free with only two conditions. First, it had to be filled with something meaningful or important to its recipient. Second, the writing had to begin immediately upon receiving the diary. The project imagines a future in which the scattered volumes are tracked down and reunited by a dedicated collector after the artist's death, forming an accidental archive–a library composed not of professional authors, but of everyday people.

The diary project is now over, and Pehrson no longer gives diaries away for free. To inquire about commissioning a blank diary or bookbinding project, please visit the Services page and click on the Request an Art Commission Here → link in the Custom Art Commissions service section.