Events › Art Exhibit - Deborah Ellington: Bookish Art

The Jamaica Plain Branch Library, in partnership with the Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library, is thrilled to announce the next exhibit in its 2025 rotating art program: Bookish Art, a solo exhibition by Roslindale-based artist Deborah Ellington

In Bookish Art, Ellington transforms painted book pages and poetry into vivid hand-cut collages. Layering text, color, and shape, she builds unique compositions where typography becomes texture, shadow, and pattern. Each piece is carefully crafted—cut and assembled by hand—reflecting her deep appreciation for storytelling and visual form.

With a background in technical theatre, painting, graphic design and advertising, Ellington draws on years of study at the Art Students League in New York and the Art Institute of Boston. Her discovery of collage as a medium allowed her to integrate skills in painting, design, and typography into a single expressive form.

Inspired by the beauty and power of nature, Ellington’s work explores both two- and three-dimensional space. Her art captures the movement, essence, and complexity of the natural world, inviting viewers to experience its wonder through color, line, and form.

Bookish Art is on view from May 1 – June 25, 2025, with a public reception to be held on Thursday, May 1, 2025, 5:30-7:30 pm.  The exhibition space is located on the lower level.

This exhibition is made possible through the generous support of The City-Wide Friends of the Boston Public Library, a volunteer, community-based organization that seeks to enhance public awareness, recognition, status and financial support of the library system through advocacy and education.

Accessibility Notice: We strive to make our events accessible. To request a disability accommodation and/or language services, please contact jamaicaplain@bpl.org or 617-524-2053. Please allow at least two weeks to arrange accommodation.