LOS ANGELES (May 19, 2026) — The Library Foundation of Los Angeles (LFLA), in partnership with the Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL), will premiere Luceros y Penumbras: The World’s Largest Pop-Up Bookin the Rotunda of the Richard J. Riordan Central Library on July 11, as a centerpiece of the building’s 100th anniversary celebration. At the heart of the exhibition, on view through mid-November, is a newly commissioned, towering work by Los Angeles–based artist and printmaker Daniel González. An ambitious feat of scale and storytelling, it is designed to surpass the current world record for the largest pop-up book, which has a footprint of roughly 18 by 29 feet when open.

The work’s title, Luceros y Penumbras (“starlight and shadows,” loosely translated), refers to the 1926 building’s “light of learning” architectural theme and the resolve to keep that beacon shining. González reinterprets the idea through a personal, contemporary lens, exploring the tension between knowledge and uncertainty in the modern world while tracing his own journey—from his upbringing in Boyle Heights and formative summertime experiences farming with his grandparents in rural Mexico, to his teenage years finding inspiration in Central Library.

Luceros y Penumbras unfolds across two enormous pop-up spreads that will be displayed one at a time and turned weekly. One spread presents the Library’s south façade emerging from the same night sky that animated his grandmother’s stories. The building’s walls will be embedded with images depicting scenes of the library’s history as well as González’s own history with the library, from getting his first library card to exploring his heritage in the stacks.

The other spread centers on a richly imagined “Tree of Wisdom,” representing Los Angeles’s cultural knowledge—including that of the indigenous Tongva/Kizh—flanked by two skylines that have shaped González’s life: downtown Los Angeles and his parents’ hometown of El Teúl in Mexico. The natural world is represented through a visual language of intricate roots, branches, and guiding animal and iconographic figures, including those that represent knowledge such as owls, snakes, the coyote, and the Quetzalcoatl.

“I visited Central Library on a school field trip shortly after its reopening in 1993, and it quickly became an important part of my life as a young person. Through its books and resources, I gained a deeper understanding of myself and the world around me,” said artist Daniel González. “The library feeds my curiosity, has informed my work, and continues to be a source of wonder. I’m excited to be able to share my journey and reflections on the Light of Learning through this artwork.”

Realizing the project at this unprecedented scale is a collaborative effort. González is joined by paper engineer Matthew Reinhart, known for his award-winning work in the pop-up publishing and entertainment fields; fabricator Goodnight & Co., a studio specializing in large-scale scenery for TV and film; and exhibition designer and project manager Ann Marshall of Annex Design Services. The team brings together fine art, design, and engineering to push the boundaries of what a book can represent.

Complementing the central installation is a focused display of items drawn from the Library’s rarely exhibited Toy Movable Collection, an archive of more than 2,000 intricate pop-up and interactive books. These materials provide historical context for the art form and underscore Southern California’s unsung role in the global history of pop-up book production. There will also be a series of free public programs including story times and paper engineering workshops presented in conjunction with the exhibition.

“At a monumental scale, Luceros y Penumbras presents a rich story illustrating how the Library helped empower Daniel to find his voice as an artist deeply rooted in his community and culture,” said Todd Lerew, curator of the exhibition and LFLA’s Special Projects Director. “We hope this striking and thoughtful artwork, presented in the irresistible format of a giant pop-up book, inspires visitors to reflect on the Library’s role in their own journey of discovery.”

A signature initiative of LFLA’s Centennial Celebration, the exhibition highlights Central Library not only as an architectural landmark, but also as a living civic space—one that continues to inspire curiosity, creativity, and access to knowledge for all Angelenos.

The opening date of Luceros y Penumbras: The World’s Largest Pop-up Book coincides with Central Library’s July 11 free, day-long festival to celebrate 100 years in Los Angeles. Designed for all ages, the Centennial Festival will offer music, workshops, author talks, community booths, giveaways, six Central 100-themed exhibitions on view, and more.

The exhibition will be on view and open to the public during regular hours at the Richard J. Riordan Central Library, which is located at 630 W. 5th Street in Downtown Los Angeles. Exhibition admission is free and open to all ages.  For hours, holidays, and more information visit lapl.org/branches/central-library

This project is made possible with support from Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Debi and Norris Bishton, The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation, Hope and Steve Heaney, Pasadena Art Alliance, and The Philip and Muriel Berman Foundation.

Special thanks to Leading Centennial Celebration Sponsor Judith and Steve Krantz Foundation.