Robert Gober rose to prominence in the mid-1980s and was quickly acknowledged as one of the most significant artists of his generation. In the years since, his reputation has continued to grow, commensurate with the rich and complex body of work he has produced.

"Published in conjunction with the first large-scale survey exhibition of Robert Gober's art in the United States and prepared in close collaboration with him, Robert Gober: The Heart Is Not a Metaphor traces the development of his work, highlighting themes and motifs to which he has returned throughout the decades. The book features an essay by Hilton Als--a text both wide-ranging and personal--and an in-depth narrative of Gober's life. The rich selection of images illustrates every phase of the artist's career, and includes previously unpublished photographs from his own archive." -- Publisher's description.