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
What has the Goldsmiths CCA director Sarah McCrory been reading this year?
The curator's interests have ranged from artist interviews and books on race, to crime fiction and a biography revealing what Walter Gropius really thought of the English
An expert’s guide to Artemisia Gentileschi: five must-read books on the Italian artist
All you ever wanted to know about Artemisia, from the best biographies to a book about her place in early modern feminism—selected by Italian painting specialist Letizia Treves
Ka-boom! How art history is embracing the comic book genre
Publishers looking for ways to draw in wider audiences to the lives and careers of famous artists are increasingly turning to graphic novels
New biography highlights how Philip Guston risked his art-world standing and livelihood
The book by Robert Storr delves into the American painter's dealings with Klansmen and how he wanted “to make paintings you couldn’t count money in front of”
An expert’s guide to Vincent van Gogh: five must-read books on the Dutch artist
All you ever needed to know about the artist, from the story of the ear incident to the definitive biography and best picture book—selected by Van Gogh specialist Martin Bailey
Can’t make it to the Met? Dive into a new book for an unconventional look at the museum's collection
Publication aims to open up 6,000 years of art history using objects as a springboard—but is it worth the effort?
In Pictures | John Cage’s lifelong obsession with mushrooms
A new book looks at the artist and composer's love of all things mycological, including his fungi photograph collection and collaboration with illustrator Lois Long
Misogyny and making art in the shadow of Jackson Pollock—how Lee Krasner was shut out of art history
New digital publication argues that the late US artist is the “unacknowledged equal” of her superstar husband
In Pictures | Yayoi Kusama’s colourful life gets the graphic novel treatment
From naked performances in New York and her relationship with Joseph Cornell to hijacking the Venice Biennale, the Japanese artist is the subject of a new comic book by Elisa Macellari
Why Jeff Koons is so difficult to please, the strange Venice Biennale selection process and which collector is a game changer
A new book by Matthew Israel gives an insider’s view of the art world over the course of a year
Q&A | Vintage photo trove hidden in attic for decades revealed in new book
Alberto di Lenardo’s secret 8,000-strong archive has been distilled into a new publication by his granddaughter Carlotta, who tells us all about it
Art, enlightenment and plenty of sex: life according to John Giorno
Some takeaways from the late US artist and poet’s new memoir Great Demon Kings
Extract | Philip Guston’s fascination with the ‘funnies’ was key to developing his distinctive later style
An exclusive excerpt from a forthcoming biography by art historian Robert Storr looks at the influence of comics as well as caricatures that the American-Canadian artist made of his contemporaries
New Getty publication brings together life-affirming DIY masterpieces made during lockdown
Participants worldwide re-created famous works by Vermeer, Munch and Klimt—using everyday household items
Summer Reads: which books do Oxford librarians want to dip into by the pool?
Bodleian scholars give their top tips for The Art Newspaper Book Club
Q&A | Lisa Tickner on the inspiration behind her book on London’s 1960s art scene
From student sit-ins to the importance of air travel in shaping the art world as we know it
Q&A | Drawings of ‘eruptions of violence’ against statues fill Sam Durant’s new book
The US artist speaks about his research into historic cases of iconoclastic annihilation
Sex, Soho, cocksure snappers and cigarette money: the making of London’s 1960s art world
A new book by Lisa Tickner, called London's New Scene, focuses on a cast of glamorous characters and gritty drama, with much that resonates today
In Pictures | Can’t travel to Venice? Immerse yourself in a new book on Turner’s paintings of the watery city
Five paintings and sketches by the British artist selected from a new book
In Pictures | Eva Hesse and Hannah Wilke compared in new catalogue
A selection of photographs, plus the curator Eleanor Nairne tells us how the two artists had a love for liquid latex and were fuelled by grief
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
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