An artist known for her 3-D installations composed of life-sized drawings (below left), Anne Muntges has made a career of helping other artists. She currently directs the residency program and grant development at the Monira Foundation; preiously she served as program officer of fiscal sponsorship for the New York Foundation for the Arts, and prior to that, she served as education and studio manager at New York’s Center for Book Arts, where she hit my radar around 2013. With that in mind, I invited this Q&A, conducted last week by email:

 Peggy Roalf: Do you remember the first art book you ever purchased? Why did it catch your attention?

Anne Muntges: The first art book I bought was Amphigorey by Edward Gorey. I remember being completely absorbed by his drawings—how exquisite lines could hold entire stories and create such rich texture. I was in high school, just beginning to understand the expansive possibilities of drawing, and Gorey’s work felt like a door opening to something much larger than I had imagined. 

PR: How many libraries do you have? How do they differ? Where are they located?

AM: I have three main “pockets” of libraries, though in reality, you’ll find a pile of books in almost any space I occupy—left there simply because they caught my interest in the moment. My main library is at home in Brooklyn—a mix of monographs, graphic novels, technique and process books, and volumes on architecture and pattern, all of which feed into my work. These are sandwiched between the rhythms of my life right now, often bookended by toys or remnants of my daughter’s things. Then there’s my “studio library,” which is more fluid—a rotating selection of books I’m actively referencing, always in an unstable pile somewhere in my workspace. I also keep a separate collection of zines and art ephemera from friends, gathered together like a personal archive of inspiration.

Finally, there’s the collection at the Monira Foundation, where I am the Director of Residencies. I’ve helped shape it into a growing resource of contemporary art books and interdisciplinary texts. This library is more communal, built through artist donations, finds from Materials for the Arts, and, my favorite, books acquired to support upcoming exhibitions. It’s constantly evolving, just like the work being made around it—though, ironically, I have no documentation of it.

PR: What went into your choice of bookcases — any research? Any seen/envied among friends/colleagues? Any particular manufacturer

AM: My shelves are a mix of found, bought, and industrial—whatever works to keep the ever-growing collection from toppling over. I have a simple industrial shelving unit that holds most of my larger books, plus a few smaller cases for novels and sketchbooks—one of which is a repurposed element from a past installation (nothing goes to waste!). But I absolutely envy those floor-to-ceiling built-ins with rolling ladders. That’s the dream—a library you have to climb into. Now if only someone would give me the building to put them in… 

PR: Please share with the readers some ideas about organizing all the different kinds of books and objects in your library.

AM: My system is pure chaos—organized only to the extent that I can still find what I need. I loosely group books by theme—architecture, comics, artist monographs—but it’s all about reachability within those sections. The ones I reference constantly are stacked for easy grabbing, while others settle into deeper layers, waiting for rediscovery. I also mix in small objects—drawings, found materials, notes from projects—so certain shelves become almost like archives of specific moments in my work.

PR: How do you maintain your library? Do you periodically take it apart and reorganize? What do you do when you run out of shelf space? AM: Every so often, I’ll try to restore some sense of order, but it’s an ongoing battle. When I run out of space, I start making impossible choices. I don’t part with books easily, but if something no longer resonates or might find a new use (like a smart free library purveyor), I’ll pass it on to its next life. 

PR: Have you ever had to move your library? What are the best and worst things about moving this kind of collection?AM: Yes, and it’s brutal. Books are heavy, and no matter how carefully you pack them, you always underestimate just how many you have. The best part, though, is that moving forces you to touch every book again—to remember why you bought it, what it meant to you at the time. It’s like flipping through an old sketchbook—you see traces of your past self.

PR: What are the best bookcases you have ever seen and what do you envy about them?AM: There’s something incredible about those towering, labyrinthine libraries—the kind where books wrap around the whole room, from floor to ceiling. I love when bookshelves feel like architecture, like they belong to the space itself rather than being just storage.

PR: Is there anything you might want to include about favorite libraries for doing research over the years?

AM: I feel like I’m just getting to know the Brooklyn Public Library all over again. Did you know they loan out telescopes? I can’t get enough of what the public library system does for this city—an absolute gem of all gems. The NYPL Picture Collection is another favorite—being able to pull physical images rather than scrolling through a screen makes research feel so much more tactile and engaging. Maybe less about books, but very connected to the objects of the best books.

PR: Do you consider being a bibliophile a form of madness?

AM: Absolutely, but it’s a beautiful madness. Collecting books is collecting ideas, and there’s something deeply satisfying about being surrounded by physical records of thought and imagination.

Anne Muntges is an artist known for her highly detailed drawings, prints, and installations that transform everyday environments. Her work has been exhibited nationally, and she has received numerous residencies and grants, including a NYSCA Artist Grant. She currently works with the Monira Foundation, where she has helped shape residency programs and artist support initiatives.

Website: https://www.annemuntges.com

Instagram: @anne.muntges