Tabish Khan the @LondonArtCritic takes a break from exhibitions to recommend his top art books to read this Summer. Each one comes with a concise review to help you decide whether it’s for you.
All That Glitters: A Story of Friendship, Fraud, and Fine Art by Orlando Whitfield – published by Penguin RandomHouse
The Inigo Philbrick story and his eventual imprisonment for fraud in the art market are fascinating, and getting the inside scoop on the greed among some art dealers makes for compelling reading. Orlando is one of Philbrick’s oldest friends, having graduated from Goldsmiths together and it charts their journey. It’s part the Inigo story and part Whitfield’s memoir so it does jump around, but the fraudulent elements keep you reading.
How Banksy Saved Art History by Kelly Grovier – published by Thames & Hudson
By comparing Banksy’s works to those from art history, this book shines a new light on the street artist’s past projects and how much he refers to art historical masterpieces. By drawing comparisons with prehistoric cave art through to the likes of Salvador Dali and Damien Hirst, it’s a new take on Banksy.
Romany Mark Bruce: Sculpting Colour by Alex Leith – published by Unicorn
Romany Mark Bruce is an artist best known for his AIDS memorial in Brighton and Hove. This book charts his life story and the development of his painting and sculpture, providing insight into the life of an artist I knew little about.
Great Women Sculptors – published by Phaidon
This coffee table book is a snapshot of the many phenomenal female sculptors of the last 500 years covering 300 artists from across 64 countries – with a strong focus on contemporary artists. It means we get everyone from Rana Begum to Phyllida Barlow, Bharti Kher to Louise Bourgeois, and it’s a celebration of great women sculptors.
How to Collect Art by Magnus Resch – published by Phaidon
The author of How to Become a Successful Artist turns his data-driven approach to art collecting, why you should do it and what makes for a successful collection – and importantly doesn’t suggest buying art purely as an investment.
The Portrait Girl by Nicole Swengley – published by Breakthrough Books
This is an enjoyable novel about a woman discovering a miniature painting in her deceased mother’s belongings and the path it leads her down, including Victorian cosplay and a twisty adventure. It’s a real page-turner, making me want to know how it ends.
Money in Art: From Coinage to Crypto by David Trigg – published by Heni
This book is a fascinating look at how money, both literally and in representation, has been used by artists as a satirical tool to draw attention to the relationship of art to money and the poor pay that artists receive. Through it, I discovered many new artists and artworks. Image © Guerrilla Girls.
Art, Annotated – published by DK
How do you interpret all the symbolism and the techniques within famous works throughout art history? This chunky coffee table book covering 500 works offers a comprehensive look from cave art and The Venus of Willendorf, to more recent works by Paula Rego and Louise Bourgeois.
In the footsteps of the East London group – published by Batsford
Charting 100 years of painting East London’s evolving face, this book looks back at the artists who have drawn inspiration from the East End from the 1920s to those still painting today. It’s also tied into an exhibition on show at the Nunnery Gallery in Bow, East London. Artwork copyright Ben Johnson.
Mirror Mirror by Michael Petry – published by Thames & Hudson
Whether that be mirrors or reflective surfaces, Michael Petry examines how artists have used these in artworks, from Jeff Koons to his own, and the book is filled with plenty of artworks I hadn’t come across before. Image © YAYOI KUSAMA. Courtesy the artist, David Zwirner, Ota Fine Arts, and Victoria Miro
