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About Us

Obvious State is a creative studio and independent press founded by Nichole and Evan Robertson in 2011. 

We make beautifully illustrated, keepsake pocket editions of the classics and bold, original art drawn from the world’s greatest writers.

Our books and prints are available in our shop and in bookstores and boutiques nationwide. 

Our work has been featured at The Folger Shakespeare Library, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The American Writers Museum, The Emily Dickinson Museum, The Library of Congress, The Getty Museum, The Museum of Contemporary Art and more. 

One artist. Over 150 original works. All drawn from the classics.

Every piece is illustrated by Evan Robertson — a single artistic vision applied to some of the greatest works ever written.


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Every piece rewards a second look. Or a third.

Provocative visuals paired with punctuated language, full of surprising visual metaphors, subtext, and insider nudges.

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Books are the original smart device

Our pocket editions are portable art objects made to collect, share, and inspire moments of quiet reflection in an overstimulated digital world.

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In Pursuit of Wisdom & Beauty Since 2011

We’re drawn to language that has stood the test of time, insights that strike a chord, poetry that stretches the imagination, and philosophy that prompts critical thinking.

Our Story

Obvious State began, quite literally, with bare walls. When we moved back to the U.S. from Paris fifteen years ago, we searched for artwork inspired by the books we loved — the poetry, philosophy, and literature that had shaped how we thought about the world. We found nothing that captured that spirit, so we decided to make our own.

We shared the first three illustrations Evan made on our blog, and readers immediately asked where they could buy them. That enthusiasm sparked what would become Obvious State — first a two-person Etsy shop in 2011, and now a creative studio and independent press with 19 books and more than 150 original art prints.

Formerly in New York City, our studio is currently located in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where we live with our two sons and two exceedingly spoiled cats.

Evan Robertson

Evan Robertson is a multidisciplinary artist whose work has always followed the idea rather than the medium. Trained at Yale and Juilliard, he spent years performing classical theater at some of New York's most celebrated stages. Illustration and art direction took center stage in 2011.

His bold, graphic work — conceptual illustrations that pair provocative text with surprising visual metaphors — quickly attracted attention from the press and fans. Over 500,000 pieces have since been sold in more than 50 countries.

Nichole Robertson

Nichole Robertson is a creative director and copywriter with twenty years of experience. Before co-founding Obvious State, she worked with brands and ad agencies on projects for Reebok, Kiehl's, Real Simple Magazine, Estée Lauder, Aveeno, Amala, Nickelodeon and more.

She is also the author of four books with Chronicle Books featuring her photography: Paris in Color (an international bestseller), Paris in Love, Literary Paris and New York in Color.

Client Work & Collaborations

We've collaborated with leading publishers, film productions, musicians, and universities on custom projects—from book jackets and postcard sets to album covers and event prints.

Juniper Books
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Penguin Random House
Disney's Frozen on Broadway
Genius (The Film)
True West London
Bear Ceuse
The University of Manchester
Double Day & Lawrence Ferlinghetti
Gibbs Smith
Andrews McMeel

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