The Plain Wrapper Press Redux Team

JACE GRAF founded Cloverleaf Studio in 1997, and over the past 25 years, Cloverleaf has specialized in design, edition binding, slipcases, boxes, and most any other kind of book- or print-related enclosure. Clients include museums (such as MoMA, The Museum of Fine Arts-Houston, and the National Gallery of Art), academic special collections (such as Princeton University, Southern Methodist University, and Vanderbilt University), small publishers, booksellers, and private collectors. Cloverleaf Studio’s work is found in major museums, university archives and private collections across the United States.

Graf was trained as a bookbinder at BookLab in Austin, Texas, where he worked for five years. At the time, BookLab, the brainchild of Craig Jensen, was the premier fine press hand bindery in the country. Because it was an edition shop, Graf got lots of reps on all kinds of bindings and boxes, and was fortunate to be mentored by Craig, Gary Frost and Priscilla Spitler.

Graf has a Master of Arts in Book Arts from Mills College in Oakland, California, where he studied calligraphy, letterpress printing, hand binding and book history. As part of his degree plan, Graf also had private classes with the renown calligraphic artist Thomas Ingmire. Graf also has a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Government from the University of Texas at Austin.

Photo courtesy of Kenny Braun