Book Club
The Art Newspaper’s Book Club shines a light on art books in their myriad forms and brings you exclusive extracts, interviews and recommendations from leading art world figures. Sign up to our monthly newsletter above
What has the Camden Art Centre director Martin Clark been reading during lockdown?
The curator has been delving into the complex lives of plants and has found “the perfect companion through these strange days”
Q&A | Would Bauhaus artists have loved the iPhone? The writer of a new book called iBauhaus thinks so
Nicholas Fox Weber tells us what inspired his book and which visionary he would not like to spend lockdown with
How the photographer Gordon Parks upended stereotypes of policing and crime in America
As protests over the death of George Floyd continue to rage across the US, a newly released monograph on The Atmosphere of Crime series from the 1950s remains timely
Reviewed: Warhol, A Life as Art by Blake Gopnik
Three Andy Warhol devotees give their take on the near-1000 page biography
Extract | Tribal identity, Tories and Tracey Emin: Grayson Perry reveals (even more) in updated book
Excerpts from the expanded monograph include how he was inspired by outsider art and the stresses of building a “Taj Mahal on the River Stour”
What has the Wallace Collection director Xavier Bray been reading during lockdown?
The art historian has been engrossed by a spy biography featuring art world personalities, and is taking his first steps with a book on ancient walking routes
What has the Whitechapel Gallery chief Iwona Blazwick been reading during lockdown?
The London-based curator has been perusing publications on science fiction, avant-garde cabarets and all things witchy
Extract | The story of Ruth Asawa and the secret gift from her teacher Josef Albers
An excerpt and images from a new biography on the sculptor who studied at the famous Black Mountain College and was interned during the Second World War
What has the art world been reading during the coronavirus lockdown? Part two
Curators, directors and art historians tell us about the books they have been reading and revisiting
Extract | The late Peter Beard on being the only photographer to capture Francis Bacon’s work in progress
An excerpt, photographs and collages from the photographer’s re-released book
Greatest myths? Did he always wear his wig? Would he be on Instagram? Biographer Blake Gopnik speaks about Andy Warhol
An Instagram Live interview with the writer of a new biography on the famous US artist
What is the curator Hans-Ulrich Obrist reading during lockdown?
The artistic director of the Serpentine Galleries has been inspired by his daily walks and ‘animal interviews’ to revisit one of his favourite books about trees
What is the collector Eugenio Re Rebaudengo reading during lockdown?
The Turin-based art patron enjoys learning about artist rivalries and delving into the Francis Bacon catalogue raisonné, among other things
What is the curator Chrissie Iles reading during lockdown?
The Whitney Museum of American Art curator delights in learning about the global culture of the Middle Ages and finds lessons for the future in a Cauleen Smith monograph
What is the art world reading during the coronavirus lockdown?
Curators and directors tell us about their new favourite books as The Art Newspaper launches its Book Club