Tabish Khan the @LondonArtCritic takes a break from exhibitions to recommend his top art books to read. Each comes with a concise review to help you decide whether it’s for you.
The Art Thief by Michael Finkel, published by Simon & Schuster
What a wild ride, and even better, it’s based on the true story of a prolific art thief who couldn’t stop stealing masterpieces, roping his girlfriend in as an accomplice. Even when he got caught and then got out of jail, he started again. It’s a fascinating tale of someone who stole for the love of artworks, and not for the money.
Totem: The Untold Story of Sculpture by Jo Baring, published by Canongate Books in September
A beautifully written trip around the world, taking in some of the most powerful sculptures, and transporting us to them. It will make you want to visit them all, and the book reminds us of the importance of sculpture and our experiences with it.
The Story of the Bayeux Tapestry: Unravelling the Norman Conquest by David Musgrove & Michael J. Lewis, published by Thames & Hudson in September.
A fantastic overview of the Bayeux Tapestry, the history surrounding it, and the story it tells, including the elements where the message is uncertain. The book is timed to coincide with the tapestry’s arrival at The British Museum, and it’s great to have read this, so I can come informed when I see the real deal.
Working in Art: How to build a career in the art world by Alexandra Steinacker-Clark, published by Ilex
A fantastic book for anyone starting out or building a career in the arts. It’s jam-packed with helpful advice and interviews with everyone from gallery directors to content creators. Even established figures will wish they had such a book when they were starting out. Given how poorly paid the art sector can be, there’s invaluable advice in this book.
How to Enter the Art World… AFTER a late start / a first career / raising children / caring for parents / recovering from illness / a crisis of confidence / leaving it in disgust by Hettie Judah, published by Hoxton Mini Press
This book is filled with great advice for people wanting to be artists. It debunks myths and sets out practical advice on entering the art world, building community and connections, and getting your work exhibited.
The Story of Printmaking: A Global History of Art by Holly Black, published by Yale University Press
What a great read through the history of printmaking, and I learned a lot about how the different techniques came about and evolved. I particularly liked how it doesn’t focus on purely Western art history and highlights the women who were instrumental in the story of printmaking.
Space Journal: The Art and Science of Cosmic Exploration by Dallas Campbell, published by Thames & Hudson
Who are the people who speculated about space travel before it was possible, those who made space travel possible and those who are still leading with new discoveries? It covers artists, writers and scientists who all contributed to the creation of humanity’s story in our search for new worlds and new life.
The Symbols of Art: Decoding the Hidden Meanings of Art by Susie Hodge, published by Frances Lincoln
Ever wanted to know what a particular plant, flower or colour is meant to mean in an artwork? This handy reference book sets them all out and highlights how this may vary across cultures, whether that be Ancient Egypt, Mesoamerica, or Impressionism. A very helpful book to have.
Queer Art (Art Essentials) by Mollie E. Barnes & Gemma Rolls-Bentley, published by Thames & Hudson
A fantastic overview of art history from a queer perspective. It features a great mix of queer artists I was familiar with and those new to me, including Frida Kahlo, Keith Haring, Jeffrey Gibson and Zanele Muholi. Plus new names to me, such as Cornel Bradascu and Del LaCrace Volcano.
The Tudor Heart by Rachel King, published by The British Museum
It was big news when the Tudor Heart was discovered and then subsequently secured for the nation, to be shown at The British Museum. This is a succinct read on the history of the Tudor Heart, the research that’s gone into its provenance and how it was found. It’s a short read, but it includes everything you’d want to know about this national treasure.
Beyond Botanical: A Guide to Drawing Plants in Nature by Daniel the Gardener
A great guide for anyone wanting to start out drawing plants, with hints and tips from a professional artist and tattoo artist who draws plants on paper and people.
Framing the Invisible: How We See and Understand Art by Gita Joshi
This is a great introduction and a practical book on experiencing and interpreting art. From what colours and symbolism we’ll see in artworks, the section on how Western and Eastern symbolism can differ is really important.
All images are copyrighted and are courtesy of the respective authors and publishers.
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