Looking for gift ideas for the art lover in your life? Or maybe you want to treat yourself to a book that will not only inspire and educate you about a particular artist, but also look great on your coffee table. Here is a list of 10 must-have art books that were published in 2021.
The following books are listed in no order of preference. They are all available in various bookstores and online booksellers.
Frida Kahlo: her universe
by Frida Kahlo (Artist), Luis Enríquez (Contributor), Gerardo Estrada (Contributor), Paulina García (Contributor), Circe Henestrosa (Contributor)
This book will give readers an in-depth look into the world of Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) by exploring the legacy of one of the leading figures in 20th century art. This publication includes over 300 images from the Frida Kahlo Museum archives and also gives readers an in-depth look at Kahlo’s distinctive wardrobe and the impressive art collection she amassed with her husband, Diego Rivera. The story of La Casa Azul, also known as the Blue House, which now serves as the museum’s main building, is also included. The reader will discover her love for the Mexican folk tradition as well as her complex relationship with her gender and sexuality.
Vasily Kandinsky: Around the Circle
by Vasily Kandinsky (Artist), Tracey Bashkoff (Editor), Megan Fontanella (Editor), Mark Antliff (Contributor), Patricia Leighten (Contributor), George E. Lewis (Contributor)
Vasily Kandinsky (1866-1944) was one of the greatest artistic innovators of abstraction in the 20th century. Kandinsky was a major figure in European modernism and sought to free painting from its ties to the natural world. A series of essays explores his involvement in various avant-garde artistic communities such as the Bauhaus, as well as his travels in Europe, and his relationship with improvisation and music. This book presents more than half of the collection of the Guggenheim Museum by Kandinsky. Included are oil and oil paintings with sand, reverse glass paintings, as well as woodcuts, watercolors and drawings on paper.
Alma W. Thomas: All is Beautiful
by Alma W. Thomas (Artist), Jonathan Frederick Walz (Editor), Seth Feman (Editor), Tiffany Barber (Contributor), Rebecca Bush (Contributor), Aruna D’Souza (Contributor)
In 1972, Alma W. Thomas (1891-1978) became the first black woman to mount a solo exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art. She is known for her large abstract paintings which are often filled with irregular patterns and vibrant colors. This book highlights his theatrical creations, his sculptures, his watercolors and his puppets, demonstrating how Thomas’ quest for beauty extended to all facets of his life. Also included are essays that trace Thomas’ journey from semi-rural Georgia to international recognition. This ambitious retrospective sheds new light on Thomas’ passionate search for everyday beauty.
Upside down: Prints by Mary Cassatt
by Mary Cassatt (Artist), Shalini Le Gall (Editor), Justin McCann (Editor), Jacqueline Terrassa (Contributor), Justine De Young (Contributor)
This book explores how Mary Cassatt (1844-1926) became one of the most creative printmakers of the 19th century through her use of experimentation and innovation. Readers will learn how the artist has used the medium to reflect on his own personal issues regarding his identity in a changing world. The prints reveal an introspective side of an American artist who was at the center of the French art world and was also a collaborator of the impressionists Edgar Degas and Camille Pissarro. In many of her works, Cassatt addresses themes of creativity, domesticity, motherhood, and fashion. This publication offers an intimate look at an American Impressionist and revolutionary printmaker.
Reggie Burrows Hodges
by Reggie Burrows Hodges (Artist), Hilton Als (Contributor)
Reggie Burrows Hodges (b. 1965) explores storytelling and visual metaphor drawing inspiration from his childhood in Compton, California. Hodges begins his creative process by painting a rough canvas black, then creating scenes with expressive brushwork. Hodges paints his figures with blurred faces devoid of identifying features in order to emphasize their bodies and surroundings. This book presents a selection of works created between 2019 and 2020 and is an excellent introduction for those wishing to learn more about an artist recognized as one of the great contemporary artists of the 21st century.
Matthew Wong: Blue Sight
by Matthew Wong (Artist), Julian Cox (Editor), Nancy Sparrow (Contributor), Winnie Wong (Contributor)
Although his career as an artist was brilliant but short-lived, Matthew Wong (1984-2019) was celebrated for his paintings evoking a wide range of historical references – from Chinese calligraphy and scroll painting to pointillism. Many of his works invite viewers into a world of imaginary nightscapes, moody interiors, and vibrant still life compositions. From monumental oils on canvas to smaller gouaches and watercolours, Wong’s work is a meditation on the many moods of the color blue. This publication brings together a number of scholarly voices that shed new light on Wong’s work.
Jeff Koons: Lost in America
by Jeff Koons (Artist), Massimiliano Gioni (Editor), Sophia Al Maria (Contributor), Dodie Kazanjian (Contributor)
This volume brings together over 60 of the most iconic sculptures and paintings by Jeff Koons (b. 1955) as well as recently completed works. Koons is best known for his work that touches on pop culture, such as his famous large-scale stainless steel sculptures of balloon animals. This book explores Koons’ art and its connection to contemporary American culture. He received national recognition as an artist in the 1980s and since then his work has been exhibited around the world. Many of his works have sold for astronomical prices at art auctions, often breaking auction records. This publication traces the cultural influences that shaped his art.
Mel D. Cole: American Protest: Photographs 2020-2021
by Mel D. Cole (Photographer), Jamie Lee Curtis (Introduction)
New York photographer Mel D. Cole (b. 1976) is one of the most accomplished and famous hip-hop photographers. For the past 20 years he has documented the music scene and nightlife, but in 2020, when George Floyd was murdered, Cole dedicated the rest of 2020 and beyond to photographing the Black Lives Matter protests that swept the country. In addition to capturing protests in New York, Cole has also traveled to cover protests in other cities such as Houston, Minneapolis and Washington, DC. The photos in this book document the powerful outpouring of pain, outrage and courage of those forced to act after Floyd’s brutal murder.
Kay Nielsen: An Enchanted Vision
by Kay Nielsen (Artist), Alison Luxner (Contributor), Meghan Melvin (Contributor)
Some of the most famous book illustrations of the 20th century are by Danish artist Kay Nielsen (1886–1957). The artist’s interpretations of fairy tales are known not only for their dramatic intensity but also for their intricate detail. Nielsen gained recognition in the 1920s for his book illustrations as for Fairy Tales by Hans Andersen. Compared to many of his contemporaries, Nielsen often focused on dramatic themes of passion and death. Later in his career, he collaborated with Walt Disney Studios on the animated film Fancy. This book includes reproductions of original watercolors that invite viewers to enter the enchanted world of this gifted artist.
Alexis Rockman: Works on Paper
by Alexis Rockman (Artist), Todd Bradway (Editor), Helen Molesworth (Contributor), David Rimanelli (Contributor)
Alexis Rockman (b. 1962) is known for his large-scale paintings which often depict the collision between civilization and nature. Rockman incorporates elements of human history, landscape painting and science fiction into his passionate interest in climate change. This book includes over 150 works, many of which have never been published before. Readers will also be interested to see some of his early watercolors from the 1980s depicting hybrid and mutated animals. This publication is the first comprehensive survey of Rockman’s work, documenting his achievements with a selection of watercolours, gouaches and oil drawings.