2021's Best Art Books for Holiday Gifting
Great art books have always helped me to better engage with art, delivering a broader and deeper reading on a topic than I can get from the headlines.
My love of books has led me to launch a new podcast series this year: “Reading the Art World with Megan Fox Kelly.” In each episode I highlight a new or influential author with a special spotlight on new books on art, design, artists, museums and the art market. You can find the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast platform.
As the year comes to an end, I’ve put together a list of my twelve favorite art books this year that we hope will be favorites of those on your holiday gift list – and don’t forget to put yourself on that list as well!
1. Joan Mitchell. by Sarah Roberts and Katy Siegel; with contributions by Paul Auster, Gisele Barreau, Eric de Chassey, Jennifer Hickey and David Reed, Eileen Myles, Richard Shiff, Joyce Pensato, Jenni Quilter, et al.
Joan Mitchell documents the long-awaited retrospective exhibition which opened at the Baltimore Museum of Art and San Francisco Museum of Modern Art this year, and will travel next year to Paris at the Fondation Louis Vuitton. Lavishly illustrated and with in-depth essays and new research, the book reveals how Mitchell drew inspiration from both her life in France, as well as her love of poetry and music to move her painting beyond Abstract Expressionism. The book tells the story of her evolution from her exceptional New York paintings of the early 1950s to her monumental later works.
Yale University Press, January 5, 2021
Available for purchase here or here
2. The Soul of a Nation Reader: Writings by and about Black American Artists, 1960 - 1980. Edited with text by Mark Godfrey, Allie Biswas. Afterword by Zoé Whitley.
Written to follow the groundbreaking 2019 exhibition, Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power, organized by the Tate Modern, London which then traveled to the Crystal Bridges Museum, Bentonville, and the Broad Museum, Los Angeles, this “reader” presents writings by over 200 scholars, artists, critics, and curators between 1960 and 1980 by and about Black American artists. This compendium of writings celebrates the important contributions by Black artists to the art and culture of their time.
Exhibition curator Mark Godfrey and writer and editor Allie Biswas researched and edited the extensive writings which include rare and out-of-print texts from artists and writers, as well as texts never before published.
Gregory R. Miller & Co., June 1, 2021
Available for purchase here.
3. Spring Cannot be Cancelled: David Hockney in Normandy, by Martin Gayford and David Hockney
An insightful conversation between long-time friends David Hockney and critic and author Martin Gaylord on art's enduring ability to inspire. Prior to the Covid-19 lockdown, Hockney had set up a studio in an old farmhouse in Normandy where he intended to paint the arrival of spring. The forced isolation of 2020 ended up providing him even more time to devote to his art, and this book celebrates that time, the work he produced, and the insights he gained about his art.
Their conversations are beautifully illustrated by drawings and paintings Hockney created in this Normandy studio alongside works by van Gogh, Monet, Bruegel, and others.
Thames & Hudson, May 25, 2021
Available for purchase here.
4.The Sleeve Should be Illegal: & Other Reflections on Art at the Frick, edited by Michaelyn Mitchell with a foreword by Adam Gopnik
The Frick Collection’s recent move from the lush domestic home of Henry Clay Frick on 5th Avenue to the Brutalist architecture of Marcel Breuer on Madison Avenue created the perfect opportunity to reexamine the collection through a new lens. The Sleeve Should be Illegal is a collection of writings by 62 artists, authors, and cultural figures, focusing on a single work of art at the Frick and how that work has moved, challenged, puzzled, or inspired them. Contributors include André Aciman, Rosanne Cash, Roz Chast, George Condo, Teresita Fernández, Carolina Herrera, Abbi Jacobson, Bill T. Jones, Maira Kalman, Julie Mehretu, Catherine Opie, Diana Rigg, Simon Schama, Colm Tóibín, and Chris Ware. These new perspectives are a testament to the timelessness and power of art, and a celebration of this storied New York collection.
Delmonico Books/The Frick Collection, January 26, 2021
Available for purchase here.
5. For Art's Sake: Inside the Homes of Art Dealers, by Tiqui Atencio Demirdjian
A glimpse inside the private residences of some of the most important art dealers working today. For Art’s Sake offers an inside look at how art dealers who are in the business of art collect and live with art in their homes. As a collector herself, Tiqui's writing creates portraits of these collector-dealers and reveals a truly personal side of an often quite private group of individuals.
Their extraordinary collections are set against the considered architecture and interior design, all beautifully captured by photographer Jean-François Jaussaud. For more insight into this book, listen to my interview with Tiqui here.
Rizzoli, October 6, 2020
Available for purchase here.
6. Cecily Brown, by Courtney J. Martin, Jason Rosenfeld, Francine Prose
British-born, New York-based artist Cecily Brown rose to prominence in the late 1990s and her consistently innovative paintings have made her one of the leading artists of her generation. Originally influenced by Abstract Expressionism, Brown has developed her unique voice, which investigates the sensual qualities of oil paint through a process inspired both by abstraction and realism. This is the first and highly anticipated monograph on one of the most influential painters in Contemporary art.
Phaidon Press, November 18, 2020
Available for purchase here.
7. Rothko Chapel: An Oasis for Reflection, by Pamela Smart and Stephen Fox, foreword by Christopher Rothko, introduction by David Leslie
Published in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Rothko Chapel in Houston, home to 14 monumental paintings by Abstract Expressionist Mark Rothko. The works were commissioned by philanthropists Dominique and John de Menil who founded the Chapel as an interfaith sacred space dedicated to global human rights, art, and spirituality.
Through photographic testimony and the insights of scholars, the book gives an intimate look at what is arguably Rothko’s magnum opus, where visitors seek solace and inspiration within this truly ecumenical sanctuary featuring his iconic paintings.
Rizzoli, March 9, 2021
Available for purchase here.
8. Jasper Johns: Mind/Mirror, by Carlos Basualdo and Scott Rothkopf
Published on the occasion of this year’s dual retrospective at the Whitney Museum and Philadelphia Museum of Art, this book presents a series of essays on the work of one of America’s most iconic artists. “Mind/Mirror” refers to the concepts of mirroring and doubling which are the organizing principles of the twin exhibitions.
Arguably the most important American artist living today, Johns has produced a body of work which continues to change the way we see and think about art. His art and the ideas behind it are not readily apparent—there is always more that lies beneath the surface and the appearance of the works. But delving deeper into Johns’ creative process and understanding the recurring motifs that thread through his work always rewards the reader with a deeper engagement with the works themselves.
A diverse group of curators, academics, artists, and writers offer a series of essays—including many paired texts—that consider aspects of the artist’s work, such as recurring motifs, explorations of place, and the use of a wide array of media. These include Carroll Dunham on nightmares, Ruth Fine on monotypes and working proofs, Michio Hayashi on Japan, Terrance Hayes on flags, and Colm Toíbín on dreams, among many others.
Whitney Museum of America Art, September 28, 2021
Available for purchase here
9. Art market insights for collectors and professionals: a suite of three books written by market experts and published by Lund-Humphries:
The Rise and Rise of the Private Art Museum by Georgina Adam
This latest book by art journalist Georgina Adam offers an inside look at the remarkable proliferation of private museums that has emerged globally over the last 20 years.
As an advisor to collectors and in my work with clients on legacy planning for their art collections, I was interested to learn about the motivations driving collector’s decisions—and to see how these private museums are impacting traditional support of public museums. Why are collectors opting to build their own museums to share their collections with the public rather than in partnership with existing museums? And what does this mean for the future?
Georgina’s investigation, based on her recent visits to over 50 private spaces across the US, Europe, China and elsewhere, delves into the reasons behind this boom, and the different motivations of collectors.
At a time of unprecedented levels of contemporary art collecting globally, and with museums facing a near crisis of challenges to their missions, leadership, and financial stability, I found Georgina’s book to be an informative and truly thought-provoking read for these times.
For more insight, listen to my interview with Georgina here.
Lund Humphries, September 30, 2021
Available for purchase here.
The Art Fair Story: A Rollercoaster Ride by Melanie Gerlis
In just half a century of growth, the art fair industry has transformed the art market. Now, for the first time, art market journalist Melanie Gerlis tells the story of the rapid ascent of the art fair and reflects on their uncertain future. From the first post-war European art fairs built on the imperial 19th-century model of the international exhibitions, to the global art fairs of the 21st century and their new online manifestations, it's a tale of many twists and turns.
The book brings to life the people, places and philosophies that enabled art fairs to take root, examines the pivotal market periods when they flourished, and maps where they might go in a much-changed world. For more insight, listen to my interview with Melanie Gerlis recorded during Art Basel Miami Beach here.
Lund Humphries, December 1, 2021
Available for purchase here.
The Art Collector’s Handbook: The Definitive Guide to Acquiring and Owning Art by Mary Rozell
In this second edition of The Art Collector’s Handbook, fully revised since its first publication in 2014, Mary Rozell addresses the many changes which have taken place in the art market, in art law, and in the practice of collecting.
This book has become a reference guide for me for best practices in working with collector clients. With guidance on everything from invoice clauses and taxes to insurance, storage, collection management, the care and conservation of fine art, and art financing, this book is an essential guide to the exciting business of collecting art.
A fellow member of the Association of Professional Art Advisors (APAA), Mary Rozell combines her experience as both an art lawyer and art advisor to explain some of the myriad issues that arise when owning an art collection—how to care for it now and plan for the future.
For more insight, listen to my interview with Mary here.
Lund Humphries, September 3, 2020
Available for purchase here.
10. Fierce Poise: Helen Frankenthaler and 1950s New York , by Alexander Nemerov
In this insightful portrait of the artist, Alexander Nemerov focuses on the defining moments of Helen Frankenthaler’s early career in the 1950s. Nemerov provides not only poetic descriptions of her dream-like abstract artworks, but an accounting of steps the artist took to achieve success, from her privileged beginnings to the relationships she formed and nurtured. Readers are presented with an unvarnished picture of a talented and determined woman who, by the end of the decade, had firmly established herself not only on the New York art scene, but as an important American artist of the postwar period.
Penguin Press, March 23, 2021
Available for purchase here.
11. The Medici: Portraits and Politics, 1512-1570 by Keith Christiansen and Carlo Falciani
The Medici family ruled Florence between 1434 and 1494 and made a triumphant return to the city in 1512 with Cosimo I de’ Medici at its helm. Art lover, patron, and political craftsman, Cosimo’s ability to use art and portraiture as an instrument for communicating power and prestige was unprecedented. Through his rule and patronage, Florence was transformed into a duchy ruled by the Medici and became the center of art and culture, with artists such as Agnolo Bronzino and Benvenuto Cellini achieving fame for their distinct painting and sculptural styles that conveyed the character, intellect, and social standing of their sitters. This beautifully illustrated catalogue was published in conjunction with the 2021 exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, June 22, 2021
Available for purchase here.
12. Francis Bacon: Revelations, by Mark Stevens and Annalyn Swan
In this new biography of the elusive Francis Bacon, authors Stevens and Swan bring together a decade of new research and extensive interviews to create a complete portrait of the artist. Earlier biographies and accounts of Bacon’s life have addressed his childhood in Ireland and the loneliness, isolation, and parental judgement he experienced; his ears design career in London; his openly gay lifestyle in decidedly unsympathetic culture; his early failures as an artist and the formation of his artistic vision.
Francis Bacon: Revelations is a comprehensive account of the experiences that informed his life and his art, and in its over 900 pages, it debunks many of the myths that have prevailed around him.
Unique to this book—a feature that is particularly compelling—are the examinations at the close of each chapter of a single painting. Insightful, in-depth, and separate from the narrative of his life, these focused readings on individual works remind us of the genius of Bacon and the body of work he left behind.
March 23, 2021
Available for purchase here.