Reva Kern
Artist - Illustrator
Designer of Ex Libris
(Bookplates)

Reva Kern is an internationally known designer of Ex Libris (bookplates). Originally from Illinois, Reva resides in Camarillo, California (USA) Over many years, Reva perfected her expertise in a relatively rare art form: The design of Ex Libris or bookplates. She utilized a uniquely American method called the "Provincetown Print" or "White-Line Woodcut", developed around 1915 in Provincetown, Massachusetts. An article she wrote on this subject was published in "Block & Burin", the journal of the American Wood Engravers Network. To read the article in its entirety, please click here. Reva was profiled in BOOKPLATE INTERNATIONAL, Vol. 7, No. 1, released in 2001 (pages 44-45), and published by the Primrose Academy, London, England. This distinguished Ex Libris publication also featured two of her bookplates. A major profile of Reva was featured in Volume XXV of the "Encyclopaedia Bio-Bibliographical of the Art of the Contemporary Ex Libris", published by Artur Mário de Mota Miranda in Portugal in 1999, pages 45-52. This wonderful profile included six of her Ex Libris. Reva was also featured in an article in Volume 134 of the esteemed Ex Libris publication, "Graphia Tijdschrift voor Exlibriskunst", published in 1999 in Belgium in three languages (Flemish, French, and German). In 1997, an article about her was featured in "Nordisk Exlibris Tidsskrift", published by the Frederikshavn Museum of Art, Denmark. Her works have also been published in the Czech Republic, France, Sweden, Italy, Lithuania, Taiwan, Russia, China, Yugoslavia, Poland, Croatia, and Hong Kong, and she is included in "American Artists of the Bookplate". Reva Kern studied under such artists as Caldecott winner Uri Shulevitz, illustrator Susan Goldman Rubin, and Sumi-e artist Hilda Heifetz. Her approach in designing was to select those attributes most identified with her client, and to arrange them in an artistic and easily readable fashion. As her art was influenced by Sumi-e as well as artists of earlier eras, she preferred the flexibility of working in a variety of styles to fit the discerning client. Since her last competition in late 2001, Reva has developed an arthritic condition which has forced her to discontinue the intricate tasks necessary to create her unique woodcuts. Unfortunately, this has now brought an end to her relatively short (13-year) but hugely successful career as one of the few American artists in this genre. Her artistic abilities are now involved in other creative pursuits. However, her Ex Libris creations are still being exhibited in various locations. If you possess one of Reva's original signed Ex Libris designs, treasure it......as there will be no more. Some examples of her works are shown below: (Copyright © by Reva Kern)

This is a photo of the "foreign artists" area of the exhibition of Ex Libris presented by the Shanghai Ex Libris Society, in Shanghai, May-August, 2004. One of Reva's Ex Libris is among those exhibited. For reasons explained above, this is Reva's last Ex Libris, completed in late 2001. She designed it in honor of her grandson, Benjamin. It was published in 2002 in Volume XXX of the Encyclopaedia Bio-Bibliographical of the Art of Contemporary Ex Libris, Portugal, and displayed at the Mei Yuan Cup International Ex Libris Invitation Exhibition in Shanghai, China, in November, 2006. The bird is a Toucan. This Ex Libris was completed in 2000 for the "Concorso Internationale Ex Libristico 'Giubileo 2000': Il Sacro Nell'Ex Libris Del Primo Novacento" ["International Ex Libris Competition: Jubilee 2000: The Sacred Ex Libris of the 20th Century"]. It was displayed in the Vittoria Colonna Museo d'Arte Moderna From March 24, 2003, to June 30, 2003, Comune Di Pescara, Italy. Note that this Ex Libris is embossed.. This Ex Libris was displayed by the National Council for the Culture and Arts (Consejo Nacional para la cultura y las Artes--CONACULTA) at the National Center for the Arts in Mexico City, Mexico, from November 10-20, 2001. The Ex Libris exhibit was part of the International Book Fair for Children and Youth (Feria Internacional del Libro Infantil y Juvenil), and was entitled, "Mythological Characters of the XXIst Century." The exhibit was visited by more than 60,000 people. Reva's Ex Libris is the imaginary character, "Quetzalcóatl El Segundo", and is a Provincetown Print. Quetzalcóatl promotes the arts, holding a book in one hand--representing literature, a pan flute in the other hand--representing music, and paint brushes in his waistband, representing art.. In commoration of the grand opening of the Hong Kong Central Library in May, 2001, the Hong Kong Public Libraries jointly organized the "International Ex-Libris Exhibition" with the Hong Kong Ex-Libris Association. Reva's Ex Libris (above), created for this special occasion, was displayed in the new library and included in the color catalogue.. Exhibited with the works of artists from 37 countries at the Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts, in August, 2000. The exhibit was in conjunction with the XXVIII Congress of the Federation International Des Societies D’Amateurs d’Ex Libris (FISAE). The Boston Public Library, first public library in America, had seven separate Ex Libris exhibits in honor of the first International Congress held in the United States, with bookplates dating from 1462! This Ex Libris features the famous North Church in Boston, backlit by the city's traditional Independence Day fireworks. This entire exhibit was on display at the Los Angeles Central Library in downtown Los Angeles, California for several weeks until May 16, 2004. It is traveling to other locations around the country. Exhibited at the Third Annual Ex Libris Exhibition, "Old Scripts," at the Croatian Cultural Centre, Susak, Rijeka, Croatia, November, 2001. The motif for this Ex Libris was influenced by a page from the Glagolitic Breviary of Vitus of Omisalj (1396), and is a form of ancient script. Exhibited at the IV Miedzynarodowy Konkurs Graficzny na Ekslibris, Gliwice, Poland, in 2001. This Ex Libris has the name of Reva's friend Hu Qin, who lives in China. The name means "violin" and the image is a Chinese Violin. Reva was one of 265 artists selected out of 510 participating in the exhibition, with nearly 3,000 entries.. Exhibited with two other Privately Commissioned Ex Libris in Charmeličres, France, in October, 2000, and in an exhibit (Grafica ed Ex Libris) in Casale Monferrato, Italy, in March, 2001. This Ex Libris was for a private collection of books on antique navigational instruments. The image is an "astrolabe". . This Ex Libris was also exhibited in Charmeličres, France, and is a Private Commission. The Ex Libris honors the memory of a much loved agriculture teacher and swine expert, for whom a portion of the library was named at Brownsboro High School, Brownsboro, Texas. Toured in 1999 and 2000 in Gallarate, Italy; Rome, Italy; Nantes, France; and Belgium

Displayed at the Sova Centar, Belgrade, Yugoslavia, and published in the catalogue of the International Competition, "Ex Libris: THE CHILD" in April, 2000. In honor of the "Year of the Child", this Ex Libris portrays Reva's husband--with their granddaughter Sophie seated on his knee--teaching her with a computer.

Exhibited in Trakai, Lithuania

Exhibited in Kedainiai, Lithuania

Exhibited throughout France

Personal Commission

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Exhibited in Beijing, China, and in the collection of Bruneck's Civil Museum, Brunico, Italy

Exhibited in St. Petersburg, Russia

Published in Denmark

Private Commission/Belgium

Published in U.S.A.

Published in Argentina

Reva's design of the famous water tower in Yekaterinburg, Russia, received the First Place Diploma (Grand Prize) at the "International Exhibition-Competition Dedicated to the 275th Yekaterinburg Anniversary" in 1998. The winning Ex Libris is shown below:

EXHIBITS

As shown above, Reva has been a featured artist in many Ex Libris exhibits around the world, often as the only artist representing the United States. Two of her Ex Libris were displayed at the Mei Yuan Cup International Ex Libris Invitation Exhibition in Shanghai, China, in November, 2006. From May to August 2004, the Shanghai Ex Libris Society featured one of her Ex Libris in a major exhibition. In July 2003, Reva's Ex Libris "Sophie Ormond" (Panda Bear--shown above) was exhibited in the Brunico Civil Museum, Brunico, Italy and is in the museum's permanent collection of over 8,000 Ex Libris. In November, 2001, over 60,000 exhibition visitors viewed her Ex Libris as part of the International Book Fair for Children and Youth in Mexico City, Mexico. At the same time, her Ex Libris featuring an ancient script was on display at the Croatian Cultural Centre, Susak, Rijeka, Croatia. In May, 2001, her Ex Libris created in commemoration of the grand opening of the Hong Kong Central Library was displayed in the library and published in the commemoration catalogue. In March, 2001, her Ex Libris design was exhibited as part of Grafica ed Ex Libris 2001, Omaggio a Remo Wolf, Salone S. Marco - S. Bartolomeo, in Piazza Baronino, Casale Monferrato, Italy [shown above]. In early 2001, one of her designs was displayed in the etching exhibition: "Istanbul 2000", Istanbul Arkeoloji Müzeleri, Osman Hamdi Bey Yokusu Sarayiçi Gülhane, Istanbul, Turkey. Another Ex Libris was displayed at IV Miedzynarodowy Konkurs Graficzny na Ex Libris in Gliwice, Poland, in 2001. Her Ex Libris prepared for the International Ex Libris Congress in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, was displayed at the Boston Public Library during the month of August, 2000. Three of her private commissions were displayed in Charmaličres, France, in October 2000. At Francavilla Al Mare, Italy, another design was displayed as part of the exhibit, "Il Giubileo Ed il Nuovo Millenio" in July, 2000. Her design entered in the international competition called, "Ex Libris: THE CHILD" was exhibited and published in the catalogue in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, in April 2000. Ex Libris submitted by Reva to the Guido Gezelle Competition in Belgium were displayed in an exhibition in Spring, 2000, in Brugge, Belgium. She was the only American artist selected for the exhibition (of 53 artists from 22 countries). During 1998, 1999, and 2000, her designs were displayed and/or published in exhibitions in Gallarate and Rome, Italy; Nantes, France; Trakai, Lithuania; Kidainiai, Lithuania; Beijing, China; Yekaterinburg, Russia; Paris, France; and Baarn, the Netherlands. Her works were featured in two major exhibitions in 1998: The XXVII International Ex Libris Congress in St. Petersburg, Russia; and the First World Small Printings and Exlibris Works Exhibition in Beijing, China.

Exhibits with Reva's Ex Libris include:

Mei Yuan Cup
Shanghai International Ex Libris Invitation Exhibition
Shanghai, China
November, 2006

Shanghai Ex Libris Society Exhibition
Shanghai
May - August, 2004

International EXLIBRIS
Stadtmuseum Bruneck
Brunico Civil Museum
Brunico, Italy
July 6 - October 30, 2003

Concorso Internazionale Ex Libristico
"Giubilieo 2000"
Il Sacro Nell'Ex Libris Del Primo Novacento
Vittoria Colonna Museo d"Arte Moderna
Comune Di Pescara, Italy
March 24 - June 30, 2003,

Feria Internacional del Libro Infantil y Juvenil
Centro Nacional de Las Artes
Mexico City, Mexico, November, 2001
Solo representative of the USA

3rd International Ex Libris Exhibition
"Old Scripts"
The Croatian Cultural Centre, Susak
Rijeka, Croatia
November, 2001

International Ex-Libris Exhibition
In Commemoration of the Grand Opening of the Hong Kong Public Library
Hong Kong
May, 2001

"Grafica ed Ex Libris"
Salone S. Marco - S. Bartolomeo
Piazza Baronino
Casale Monferrato, Italy, 2001

"Istanbul 2000"
Istanbul Arkeoloji Müzeleri
Osman Hamdi Bey Yokusu Sarayiçi Gülhane
Istanbul, Turkey, 2001

"IV Miedzynarodowy Konkurs Graficzny na Ekslibris"
Gliwice, Poland, 2001

World Ex Libris Artists: 1998-2000
XXVIII Congress of the Federation International Des Societies d’Amateurs d’Ex Libris (FISAE)
Boston, Massachusetts, USA, 2000

L’Ex-Libris Utile
Concours International d’Ex-Libris
Chamaličres, France, 2000

Ia Bienniale Internazionale Di Grafica
"Il Giubileo Ed Il Nuovo Millennio"
Palazzo Sirena, 2000
Francavilla Al Mare (Chieti) Italy

Racibórz 2000
Third International Biennial Exhibition
Racibórz, Poland

International Ex Libris Competition
"Ex Libris: THE CHILD"
Sava Centar, 2000
Belgrade, Yugoslavia

Ex Libris 1999
"L'Uomo Del Novo Millenio"
Civica Galleria D'Arte Moderna Di Gallarate
Gallarate, Italy 1999-2000 (also traveled to Rome, Italy; Nantes, France; and Belgium)
Solo representative of the United States

Mikalojaus Daukšos -- "Postilei" - 400 Metu
Kedainiu Mikalojaus Daukšos Viešoji Biblioteka
Kedainiai, Lithuania 1999
1 of 2 Americans selected for exhibit, out of 120 artists

"Numismatics"
Trakai History Museum
Trakai, Lithuania 1999
Solo representative of the United States

La Marge Symphonique
hommage d’artistes d’aujourd’hui à Felix Buhot
Musee Thomas Henry, Cherbourg, France 1999
Le Fleur d'Or, Paris, France 1998

First World Small Printings and Exlibris Exhibition
Beijing, China 1998
One of 158 artists selected out of 500
One of 2,986 works entered, of which 600 were exhibited

Muestra Plástica de Ex Libris "Jose Hernández"
Provincia De Buenos Aires, Argentina 1998
Solo Representative of the United States

World Exlibris
XXVII International Ex Libris Congress
St. Petersburg, Russia 1998

M. C. Escher Foundation Exhibition
Baarn, The Netherlands, 1998

Mostra di Grafica Internazionale "Ex
Libris", Comune di Voltaggio, Italy, 1998
1 of 2 Americans selected for exhibit

"Ex-Libris" da tutto il mondo
Comune di Campomorone, Genoa, Italy, 1998
1 of 2 Americans Selected for exhibit

XXVI International Congress of
Bookplates, Chrudim, Czech Republic,1996
1 of 2 Americans selected for exhibit

L'Ex-Libris Fęte Verlaine
Metz, France, 1996
Solo representative of the United States

Biblioteca Comunale Di Lomazzo
Lomazzo, Italy 1996
Solo representative of the United States

National Central Library
Taipei, Taiwan, 1994

Fung Ping Shan Museum
University of Hong Kong, 1991

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Ex Libris Sites to Visit Int'l Ex Libris Exhibit-Kedainiai, Lithuania, 1999; Includes Reva Kern's Ex Libris/Bookplates HP Wonderful Collection of Ex Libris Sites The Art of Ex Libris The Ex Libris One List The Ex Libris Webring Home Page Yale Bookplate Collection Ex Libris - Medicine Artifex The Wood Engravers Network Buhos Ex Libris Galeria Galeria de Artistas del Ex Libris Heraldic Bookplates Last update: June,2007 Reva's Webmaster Viewed by over 16,000 interested visitors before our counter reset itself in mid-October, 2006