Celebrated children’s book creators Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart combined their talents to create beloved and remarkable pop-up books as seen in the exhibition Wizards of Pop: Sabuda and Reinhart organized by the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature in Abilene, Texas. The exhibition features 80 original works from more than 16 of the duo’s dynamic picture and pop-up books. Using a variety of media including batik, mosaic, and delicate paper cutting, these artists have won numerous awards and garnered an international following for their magical pop-up creations. See imaginative two-dimensional artworks from such books as Saint Valentine, The Blizzard’s Robe, and The Paper Dragon, as well as inventive three-dimensional pages from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the Encyclopedia Prehistorica series, Young Naturalist’s Pop-Up Handbook: Beetles and Butterflies, Cinderella, and STAR WARS: A Pop-Up Guide to the Galaxies.

As a child, Robert Sabuda (born 1965) discovered his passion for pop-up books and began creating his own by examining other books. While studying at the Pratt Institute in New York, he furthered his love of children’s books by interning at Dial Books for Young Readers. Sabuda initially supported himself as a package designer before becoming a full-time author and paper engineer.

After graduating from Clemson University, Matthew Reinhart (born 1971) moved to New York where he met Sabuda. With Sabuda’s encouragement, Reinhart enrolled at Pratt Institute to study industrial design with a concentration in toy design. Reinhart began collaborating with Sabuda on pop-up books and transitioned from toy designer to book creator.

This exhibition is organized by National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature in Abilene, Texas. Its presentation at the Akron Art Museum is supported by a gift from the Mary S. and David C. Corbin Family Foundation.