I was searching for books that felt ... perfectly justified type: “Vintage Contemporaries.” I became a connoisseur of those covers, and of the often surreal illustrations at their centers.

Michael Ezzell's motifs and characters take cues from tarot, playing cards, early-20th-century style, and retro publications.

This summer, the Dexter District Library will host Echoing the Past: An Exhibit of Vintage Poster Design and Illustration, featuring the work of local artist and designer Steve Burdick. Running from ...