In her books Cohere and Ecomenical, Tara O’Brien uses thread, pearls and the process of crochet to create books which examine how humans are part of and make sense of the world around them.

Tara O’Brien is an accomplished book artist whose work is widely exhibited and collected. Her work is found in many collections, most notably, the Tate Modern Library, and the Art Institute of Chicago. Pieces range from contemporary structural explorations to traditional leather bound volumes. She is interested in conceptualizing the book and exploring its future. Using thread to embroider, stitch, crochet, and knit the surface of the paper, Tara believes that a narrative within a book can be something other than text and images. She received her MFA in Book Arts/Printmaking from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA and is currently the Director of Conservation and Preservation Services at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, and adjunct lecturer in book arts at Moore College of Art and Design, Philadelphia, PA.