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
