Here are 12 covers that use sculptures, figurines, or digital renderings of an imagined physical object as the primary piece of interest. Explore the tag “sculpture” to see more.
*If you’re able to provide any missing design credits or if you have suggestions for expanding this list, please write me at ineedabookcover.site@gmail.com or DM @zoenorvell on Instagram.
The Kingdom of Surfaces by Sally Wen Mao
Graywolf Press

There Once Lived a Woman Who Tried to Kill Her Neighbor’s Baby by Lyudmila Petrushevskaya
Designer: Chris Brand, 2009

How Should a Person Be? by Sheila Heti
Designer: Kelly Blair, 2013

Motherhood by Sheila Heti
Designer: Na Kim, 2019, “inspired by Kelly’s design” above

True Love by Sarah Gerard
Designer: Joanne O’Neill, 2020

Dear Thief by Samantha Harvey
Designer: Chip Kidd, 2015

How Beautiful We Were by Imbolo Mbue
Designer: Jaya Miceli, “Holding Hands” by Daniel Arsham, 2021

Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo
Designer: Keith Hayes, artwork by Sasha Vinogradova, 2023

Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust
Flatiron Books, artwork by Sasha Vinogradova, 2023

Social Engagement by Avery Carpenter Forrey
Designer: Jaya Miceli, 2023

The Narrow Circle by Nathan Hoks
Designer: Alison Forner, 2013

Bluest Nude by Ama Codjoe
Milkweed Editions, 2022

Middle C by William H. Gass
Designer: Gabriele Wilson, 2013

I’m Trying to Tell You I’m Sorry by Nina Boutsikaris
Black Lawrence Press, Designer: Zoe Norvell, 2019

Dada
2015

How Not to Kill Yourself by Clancy Martin
Designer: Kelly Blair, artwork by Kent Rogowski, 2023
