The top 6 art books to read in spring 2022
Tabish Khan the @LondonArtCritic takes a break from exhibits to recommend her top art books to read this year. Each comes with a concise review to help you decide if it’s for you.
Meaning in the making by Sean Tucker, published by Rocky Nook
It’s easy to recommend this beautifully written book to any creative, Sean Tucker encouraging every artist to find meaning in their work. It’s grounded in reality while offering a great philosophy on how to create art.
Portrait of an artist by Hugo Huerta Marin, published by Prestel
This is a beautiful book of polaroids and interviews with hugely successful women the author admires, spanning all the arts, so we have Marina Abramovic, Cate Blanchett and Annie Lennox in one book, offering all a window on how they live and create. art.
See the stars above the mountains of Vlatka Horvat, published by PEER and Unstable Object
Artist Vlatka Horvat walked around every day in 2021, taking photos as he went of fields and dwellings – the sights we’re all used to. She then transformed them into fantasy realms, so a waterfall fell from one tower and another residential tower was transformed into a beacon of light. It’s playful and creativity is joyful to flick through.
Making Videogames: The Art of Creating Digital Worlds by Duncan Harris & Alex Wiltshire, published by Thames & Hudson
When playing video games, sometimes we have eye-popping moments or even things we don’t notice that just work because the art direction is transparent, like how a race track reflects light when the headlights of a car are on or off. This beautifully illustrated book uses 12 games to show the influences and thought that go into the art direction of video games.
Hello Rainbow: Finding Happiness in Color by Momtaz Begum-Hossain, published by Leaping Hare Press
This book will make you stop and explore all the colors we see in our everyday lives, whether in art, nature, or just passing by on the street. By combining color therapy with ideas around wellness and meditation, it is guaranteed that every reader will be all the more curious about colors.
Francis Bacon by Cristina Portolano & Bauhaus by Valentina Grandeedited by Prestel
The graphic novel is a great way to introduce art to a new audience, including those not steeped in the art world. Large tomes can be daunting for those wanting to dive into a subject and this pair of graphic novels provide excellent insight into the life of Francis Bacon and the creation and evolution of the Bauhaus school of art.
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Tabish Khan
Art critic for FAD and Londonist. Visit as many exhibitions as possible and write reviews, opinion pieces and a weekly top 5 for FAD.
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