Art for Everyone: Art Books to Own
Not ready to spend on an art collection yet? Why not try collecting books about art? There are so many delicious options to choose from. They won’t break the bank, they are gorgeous, and you can enjoy them for years to come. Plus they are the rock stars of your bookshelves and coffee table.
I am not trying to cover the history of art here. That list would be way too long! This is a very curated list of recommendations, and for this post I’ve left sculpture off the “table” and focused on painters and photographers. None of these books is particularly controversial or even racy—they are just stunning.
This is the criteria I used to select these books:
- I don’t want to overwhelm, so I kept to just 10 books. That was hard.
- The contents of these books are inspiring and beautiful to me, and hopefully to you. The selections are curated by me and me alone. I like these artists.
- The book cover is worthy of your coffee table.
- I believe that people will pick up these books (if they are sitting on said coffee table) and actually look at them, as will you.
Martin Parr
Okay, I know I said I selected 10 books, but I couldn’t choose between these two about Martin Parr, so you choose.
Parr, who passed away just last December, chronicled everyday life through his photographs. While his images might appear to be mundane, they are actually bittersweet slices of humanity that make us laugh and cringe at the same time.
SHOP:
Utterly Lazy and Inattentive: Martin Parr: My Words, My Photographs
Rothko
Ditto. Two Rothko books, because one is never enough.
The Color Field Paintings book highlights 50 paintings from 1949 to 1970, his “color period,” while the Paintings on Paper book focuses on 40 years of his works on paper. Both deserve space on your bookshelf.
SHOP:
Annie Leibovitz: Women
Annie Leibovitz is one the great photographers of our time, and among the top portraitists ever. This two volume collection is a knockout.
SHOP:
Annie Leibovitz: Women: 2025 Edition
Frida Kahlo: The Complete Paintings
Having just seen Frida: The Making of an Icon, an exhibit about Kahlo and her influence on art and culture, I had to include a book about her. This book is an investment, but it includes all of Kahlo’s 152 paintings plus photos, diary pages, and more.
SHOP:
Hokusai
Japanese artwork is endlessly fascinating for its color, detail, and depiction of the culture. In particular I love the work of Katshusika Hokusai who painted The Great Wave, now one of the most reproduced prints of all time. This compendium is full of luscious color and storytelling.
SHOP:
Lynette Yiadom-Boakye: Fly In League With The Night
Three years ago I saw Lynette Yiadom-Boakye: Fly in League with the Night at the Tate Modern in London, and the exhibit made a huge impression on me. The people she paints do not exist other than in her imagination, and yet they feel so real and so dignified. And her brushwork and color palette are just as remarkable as her images. This beautiful book helps to show how her work fits into a wider history of portraiture.
SHOP:
Pictures by David Hockney
As a fan of Hockney, I was excited to see this 1979 vintage book for sale. With more than 300 illustrations of his work and a little bit of age on the page, this is a collector’s item.
SHOP:
Lucian Freud: Revised and Expanded Edition
Considered one of the most important painters of his time, Freud’s ability to probe emotional depth in his work is often haunting. Best known for his portraits, this book also includes many of his paintings of plants and interiors which I find especially intriguing.
SHOP:
While much of Turrell’s work is best understood by experiencing it, this retrospective is hard to resist. The cover will make you want to open this book, but the 250 illustrations of his work from his early days to his recent, innovative work with light.
SHOP:
Such beautiful books are worthy of collecting, and the opportunity to learn more about art and artists is always welcome. To get your started, here is a quick list of our go to resources for big, luscious art books.
Check out the websites or shops of Rizzoli, Phaeidon, Assouline, and Taschen. Their selections are endless.
Barnes and Noble is a classic bookstore choice, and don’t forget about Amazon. You really can buy almost anything there, including art books.
Museum book stores are a top resource for art books. If you go to see an exhibit you like, score the book, but check out the museum’s shop as well for lots of great choices.
Try used and rare book sellers. Here are a couple that we have frequented, but there are lots more online!
Happy reading!