With original art created by Los Angeles artist and printmaker Daniel González and paper engineering by Matthew Reinhart, this ambitious feat of scale and storytelling constructed in the Rotunda of the Richard J. Riordan Central Library is inspired by the Library’s enduring “light of learning.”
As a centerpiece of the building’s centennial celebration, Luceros y Penumbras unfolds across two giant pop-up spreads that evoke memory, culture, and discovery through rich imagery drawn from González’s personal history, the spirit of Los Angeles, and the history of Central Library.
Luceros y Penumbras has been officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest pop-up book ever created! When opened, the book measures approximately 31 feet by 20 feet, with pop-ups rising more than 11 feet tall. Weighing over 1,800 pounds, it is made entirely from the same materials used to produce traditional books, including paper, adhesive, and fabric.