Field Studies
Altered Maps & Artist’s Books

Daniel Mayer
July 25, 2025 – October 10, 2025

Field Studies is inspired by collected experiences, perceptions of surroundings, and the passage of time. Working in layers, Mayer’s interdisciplinary works interpret current or historical events, examines language through typography, and pushes the process of the artist’s book as visual landscape. Atmospheric rivers, cycles, landforms, and the changing climate are captured in recycled altered topographic maps, landscape accordion books, and relief printmaking.

This ongoing series investigates breaking down complex structures and sensory perceptions into fundamental elements. Multiple perspectives and underlying themes are collected and reinterpreted visually. Ideas and images are built up, reduced, and layered. Atmospheric rivers become reductive charcoal drawings, altered topo maps and landscape accordion books provide sequence with a depth of field. Real, imagined and invented perceptions are variable constructs for the changeable conditions in Field Studies.

Daniel Mayer is an Arizona artist/educator who investigates the intersection of language and art resulting in artist’s books, experimental printmaking, and gateway public art. Mayer’s commissioned transportation public art projects integrate the natural world into the built environment. Mayer’s award-winning PHX Sky Train’s architectural glass murals incorporate Arizona nature prints collected from different elevations; the terrazzo platform design has multi-colored blue aggregates representing the passage of time; rivers of metal letters provide wayfinding; and the freeway overpass design at I-17 and Happy Valley Rd. merges land and sky into a uniform pattern at the Sonoran Foothills.  

Mayer exhibits national and internationally and has work in numerous private and public rare book collections such as the UC-Berkeley Environmental Library, Getty, Wellesley, Yale, Klingspor Stadt Museum, Bibliotheek-Hague, and others. Artist residencies have informed Mayer’s work at the Ucross Foundation, PLAYA Arts and Science Residency, and the Glasgow Print Workshop. Mayer established his Tempe studio in 1983 for generating new work. 

Daniel Mayer is the Director of the Pyracantha Press, ASU School of Art, for interdisciplinary creative research in artist’s books and letterpress printmaking. Collaborative projects include Eco Songs, a song-cycle based on earth and ecology, and Individualocracy, a study on urban sprawl. Since 1986, Mayer has managed an active historical movable type collection for creative research, outreach, and education.

Stay tuned for upcoming Field Studies events:

Grand Opening Reception: Friday, July 25th, 5pm – 7pm
Free and open to the public!

4th Friday Art Walks: Friday, July 25th, August 22nd, and September 26th
5pm – 7pm

Artist Talk: Inspiration Point: Collected Perspectives
Thursday, August 21st at 7pm
Register Here

Art Workshop: Landscape Accordion Books
Saturday, September 27th, 10am – 2pm
Registration Coming Soon!