Individual artists, art monographs Books
Viz Media, Subs. of Shogakukan Inc Tokyo Ghoul Illustrations zakki
Book SynopsisA full-color art book showcasing the terrific and terrifying work of Sui Ishida, creator of the hit manga and anime Tokyo Ghoul.Tokyo Ghoul Illustrations: zakki features artwork and behind-the-scenes notes, commentary and ruminations from Tokyo Ghoul creator Sui Ishida. Discover the creative process that brought the hit manga and anime to life, in gloriously ghoulish full color.
£16.99
Taschen GmbH Van Gogh. The Complete Paintings
Book SynopsisVincent van Gogh’s story is one of the most tragic in art history. Today, he is celebrated the world over as one of the most important painters of all time, recognized with sell-out shows, feted museums, and record prices of tens of millions of dollars at auction. Yet as he was painting the canvases that would subsequently become these sell-out modern masterpieces, van Gogh was battling not only the disinterest of his contemporary audiences but also devastating bouts of mental illness, with episodes of depression and paralyzing anxiety which would eventually claim his life in 1890, when he committed suicide shortly after his 37th birthday. This comprehensive study of Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890) pairs a detailed monograph on his life and art with a complete catalogue of his 871 paintings.
£18.00
Thames and Hudson Ltd David Hockney
Book SynopsisSir Norman Rosenthal is an independent curator and art historian. He was Exhibitions Secretary at the Royal Academy, London, from 1977 to 2008.
£38.25
Taschen GmbH Leonardo. The Complete Drawings
Book SynopsisOne of the most accomplished human beings who ever lived, Leonardo da Vinci remains the quintessential Renaissance genius. Creator of the world’s most famous paintings, this scientist, artist, philosopher, inventor, builder, and mechanic epitomized the great flowering of human consciousness that marks his era. As part of our Bibliotheca Universalis series, Leonardo da Vinci – The Graphic Work features top-quality reproductions of 663 of Leonardo’s drawings, more than half of which reside in the Royal Collection of Windsor Castle. From anatomical studies to architectural plans, from complex engineering designs to pudgy infant portraits, delve in and delight in the delicate finesse of one of the most talented minds, and hands, in history.Trade Review“Fantastic… a ‘home museum’ of a kind that does not exist for many other artists. Even the smallest drawing is reproduced in outstanding quality…” * art *
£17.00
HarperCollins Publishers Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien
Book Synopsis
£21.25
Taschen GmbH Frida Kahlo. 40th Ed.
Book SynopsisAmong the women artists who have transcended art history, none had a meteoric rise quite like Mexican painter Frida Kahlo (1907–1954). Her unmistakable face, depicted in over fifty extraordinary self-portraits, has been admired by generations; along with hundreds of photographs taken by notable artists such as Manuel and Lola Álvarez Bravo, Nickolas Muray, and Martin Munkácsi, they made Frida Kahlo an icon of 20th century art.After an accident in her early youth, Frida became a painter. Her marriage to Diego Rivera in 1929 placed her at the forefront of an artistic scene not only in the cultural Renaissance of Mexico, but also in the United States. Her work garnered praise from the poet André Breton, who added the Mexican painter to the ranks of international surrealism and exhibited her work in Paris in 1939 to the admiration of Picasso, Kandinsky, and Duchamp.We access the intimacy of Frida’s affections and passions through a selection of drawings, pages from her personal diary, and an extensive illustrated biography featuring photos of Frida, Diego, and the Casa Azul, Frida’s home and the center of her universe.This book allows readers to admire Frida Kahlo’s paintings like never before, including unprecedented detail shots and famous photographs. It presents pieces in private collections and reproduces works that were previously lost or have not been exhibited for more than 80 years.Trade Review“A rare monograph as rich as any museum show.” * The Chicago Tribune *“Here is your own Kahlo museum.” * The Times *“An unprecedented glimpse into the historical haven of Kahlo.” * Vogue *
£21.25
Manchester University Press Gee Vaucher: Beyond Punk, Feminism and the
Book SynopsisAs one of the people who defined punk’s protest art in the 1970s and 1980s, Gee Vaucher (b. 1945) deserves to be much better-known. She produced confrontational album covers for the legendary anarchist band Crass and later went on to do the same for Northern indie legends the Charlatans, among others. More recently, her work was recognised the day after Donald Trump's 2016 election victory, when the front page of the Daily Mirror ran her 1989 painting Oh America, which shows the Statue of Liberty, head in hands. This is the first book to critically assess an extensive range of Vaucher’s work. It examines her unique position connecting avant-garde art movements, counterculture, punk and even contemporary street art. While Vaucher rejects all ‘isms’, her work offers a unique take on the history of feminist art.Trade Review'Binns’s book is meticulously researched and well written, covering an area of punk history that deserves a full spotlight all of its own. Equal parts informing, accessible and compelling, this is the story of a woman whose talent and beliefs have made a huge contribution to conveying punk’s revolutionary message.'Molly Tie, Punktuation!‘A compelling documentation of an important figure in the postwar British counterculture: the stubbornly unpositionable Gee Vaucher. Binns traces the life and work of this uncompromising artist not only in the short high years of Crass and the anarcho-punk movement – dominated by Vaucher’s aesthetic – but also the decades before and after when she defined, refined and extended her powerful practice. Read this book for a brilliant and engaged creative life.’George McKay, Professor in Media Studies, University of East Anglia‘This is a long overdue contribution to an important history. Binns shines new light on Gee Vaucher's significance, showing how her method of photorealism-presented-as-montage can help us make sense of the “skewed reality” around us.’Lucy Robinson, Professor in Collaborative History, University of Sussex‘Gee Vaucher’s artwork was crucial to Crass: thought-provoking and confrontational always.’Adrian Sherwood, music producer'Gee’s indescribable artwork has been an inspiration for multiple generations of artists and art appreciators. Gee is proof that Art changes people's lives — and for the better!'Winston Smith, artist and illustrator (www.winstonsmith.com)‘Binns’s book is an expert feminist reading of the life and work of political graphic artist Gee Vaucher that adeptly writes this unsung heroine into a history of punk design. A must-read for these fractured times.’Teal Triggs, Professor of Graphic Design, Royal College of Art'An essential book, giving due attention to one of the most influential artists of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Gee Vaucher's artwork has been much copied but never bettered. Her influence is here captured expertly by Rebecca Binns's well-researched critical analysis.'Matt Worley, Professor of Modern History, University of Reading‘Finally! What those in the know have been waiting for: a comprehensive, revealing and long overdue analysis of the creative importance of Gee Vaucher. Set against the backdrop of recent socio-economic, political and cultural events, via (but not limited to) punk, this book confirms Vaucher as the trailblazing innovator that she is, and charts her artistic influence to-date. Rebecca Binns thoughtfully surveys over fifty years of Vaucher’s collage, photo-montage, painting, drawing, sculpture, film and installation, rightfully positioning her as a key player within art history, while refusing to restrict this uncategorisable artist to any particular movement. If you are familiar with Vaucher’s work, you have been vindicated. And if you are not, prepare to be amazed.’Marie-France Kittler, co-curator Gee Vaucher: Introspective (Firstsite, 2016) -- .Table of ContentsIntroduction1 The changing face of British arts, politics and culture during Vaucher’s art school years2 Radical art collectives and the free festivals movement 3 New York, political photomontage and the underground press 4 Towards the definition of a punk aesthetic 5 Crass art and the birth of anarcho-punk 6 Post-punk, hardcore, and the dissolution of the dream 7 Post Crass introspection: postmodernism and the anti-rationalist avant-garde 8 Beyond the art world: political agitation and public intervention in the new millennium Index
£76.50
Monacelli Press Danielle McKinney
Book SynopsisThe first book from artist Danielle Mckinney, featuring 50 prompts for self-reflection written by her mother and a 44-page journal for the reader to respondDanielle Mckinney is a rising star in the art world. Her tender, intimate representations of Black women at rest have garnered her a broad and devoted following.This innovative debut book is a mother-daughter collaboration: 50 of Mckinney's paintings appear in dialogue with journal prompts written by the artist's mother, Barbara Mckinney, an educator who embraces the art of creative expression. Journal pages in the back of the book offer readers a chance to write out their responses to the prompts, inspiring a meditative practice.Beautifully designed and produced, Danielle Mckinney: Beyond the Brushstroke draws new inspiration from the work of this fresh voice in contemporary American art.
£31.46
Thames and Hudson Ltd This is How it Feels
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£21.25
Thames & Hudson Ltd Vincent van Gogh A Life in Letters
Book SynopsisTrade Review'A literary masterpiece that would be worth reading even if his paintings were rubbish…. an engrossing encounter with the creativity of Vincent’s life of solitude. As you read, look at his paintings online and see suffering turned into beauty' - Jonathan Jones, Guardian'Open any letter here and it compels — such is the force, honesty and lucidity of van Gogh’s literary expressiveness, echoing his qualities as a painter ... this is a perfect condensed version of the six-volume complete correspondence; among its miracles is optimism almost to the end' - Financial Times'If you haven’t yet discovered the impassioned power of [Van Gogh's] interior monologues, this volume of his letters [...] will make a nicely presented and eminently manageable addition to your shelves' - Rachel Campbell-Johnston, The Times'A judicious selection from the magnificent six-volume Complete Letters of 2009 … Impassioned, often heartbreaking, furious, funny and tender, these letters form a unique testament from a pivotal figure in 19th-century art' - John Banville, The Irish Independent
£11.69
Thames and Hudson Ltd The World According to Henri Matisse
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£13.49
Smith Street Books The Works Gustav Klimt
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£16.20
Penguin Books Ltd I Paint What I Want to See
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewPhilip Guston's work gathers strength with the passing of time. During his lifetime he seemed an outsider, but now the world of painting seems to have regrouped around him. This book captures the breadth and depth of his thinking, and also captures the feeling of an intensely lively era when artists like Cage, Feldman and Guston felt that making art was a branch of philosophy. I think everybody interested in the evolution of culture should read this thought-provoking and timely book -- Brian EnoVital in grasping Guston's contribution to post-war American art and his abiding significance to contemporary painters -- Ben Luke * The Art Newspaper *An appealing little book ... A pocketsized portfolio of Philip Guston's writings, talks and interviews ... It includes a joyous appreciation of the Renaissance master Piero della Francesca ... advice to art students ... [and] insights into what makes a great artist tick -- Stephen Smith * The Times *This expertly curated selection of Guston's writings, talks and interviews draws together the artist's most incisive reflections on iconography and abstraction, metaphysics and mysticism, and the nature of painting and drawing... If you've never heard of him, this is a great introduction; if you have, this book will deepen your knowledge and understanding * Creative Boom *
£9.49
Faber & Faber Pedagogical Sketchbook
Book Synopsis''One of the most famous of modern art documents - a poetic primer, prepared by the artist for his Bauhaus pupils, which has deeply affected modern thinking about art . . . This little handbook leads us into the mysterious world where science and imagination fuse.'' Observer
£11.69
Hodder & Stoughton Strangeland
Book SynopsisThe intimate memoirs of one of the most acclaimed and controversial artists of her generation.Here I am, a fucked, crazy, anorexic-alcoholic-childless, beautiful woman. I never dreamt it would be like this.''Frequently affecting...intriguing, almost incantatory'' TelegraphTracey Emin''s Strangeland is her own space, lying between the Margate of her childhood, the Turkey of her forefathers and her own, private-public life in present-day London. Her writings, a combination of memoirs and confessions, are deeply intimate, yet powerfully engaging. Tracey retains a profoundly romantic world view, paired with an uncompromising honesty. Her capacity both to create controversies and to strike chords is unequalled in British life. A remarkable book - and an original, beautiful mind.''As spare and poignant as one of Emin''s line drawings'' Marie ClaireTrade ReviewHer writings are painfully honest . . . Strangeland is more than Tracey's diary, just as her bed and her tent and her blankets are more than private displays that happen to have attracted a lot of attention -- Jeanette Winterson * The Times *While her best-known art has shown Emin at her most confrontational, in her writing we meet a calmer, more sensitive soul. * Observer *A fantastically engaging storyteller . . . heartbreaking . . . effortlessly funny * Metro *As spare and poignant as one of Emin's line drawings * Marie Claire *A very readable book, and a surprising one too * Independent on Sunday *Eccentrically readable * Glamour *Frequently affecting . . . intriguing, almost incantatory * Saturday Telegraph *Reveals a funny, sensitive and brave woman * Grazia *Emin talks with brutal frankness . . . genuinely uplifting * Scotsman *'A fantastically engaging storyteller... heartbreaking... effortlessly funny' * Metro *'As spare and poignant as one of Emin's line drawings' * Marie Claire *'A very readable book, and a surprising one too' * Independent on Sunday *'Eccentrically readable' * Glamour *'Frequently affecting...intriguing, almost incantatory' * Saturday Telegraph *'An extremely well-written and readable book' * Glasgow Herald *'Reveals a funny, sensitive and brave woman' * Grazia *'Emin talks with brutal frankness...genuinely uplifting' * Scotsman *'A natural oddball - or, to put it another way, instinctively eccentric' * Telegraph Magazine *'Strangeland should not...be approached as a memoir unless a memoir can be understood to be a Tracey Emin artwork. She is no fake' * Rachel Cusk, Sunday Telegraph *'[Emin's] writings are painfully honest...Strangeland is more than Tracey's diary, just as her bed and her tent and her blankets are more than private displays that happen to have attracted a lot of attention' * Jeanette Winterson, The Times *'While her best-known art has shown Emin as her most confrontational, in her writing we meet a calmer, more sensitive soul.' * Observer *'Strangeland is a surprisingly lyrical and tightly written account of its author's journey so far.' * Australian Vogue *'Emin writes with fierce clarity.' * Henry Hitchins, Times Literary Supplement *
£11.69
Taschen GmbH Pre-Raphaelites
Book SynopsisFounded in 1848 as a secret society, the Pre-Raphaelites rejected classical ideals and the dominant artistic genre painting of their era for what they saw as a more spiritual, sincere, and naturalistic approach. Founded by William Holman Hunt, John Everett Millais, and Dante Gabriel Rossetti, they evolved into a seven-member “brotherhood” that included poets and critics as well as painters. Moving away from the classical compositions exemplified by Raphael (hence the group’s name), the Pre-Raphaelites rather turned to medieval culture and the jewel-like colors of Quattrocento art for inspiration. Their principal themes were initially religious, but also included subjects from literature and poetry, as exemplified by Sir John Everett Millais’s famous Ophelia, drawn from Shakespeare's Hamlet. Inspired by the theories of John Ruskin, they were also committed to the close study of nature. This book presents key works from the Pre-Raphaelite group to introduce their reactionary principles, their dazzling colors, their interest in love, death, and nature, and their extensive influence on latter-day Symbolism and beyond.
£13.50
Vintage Publishing Grayson Perry
Book SynopsisEvery inch of Grayson''s childhood bedroom was covered with pictures of aeroplanes, and every surface with models. Fantasy took over his life, in a world of battles ruled by his teddy bear, Alan Measles. He grew up. And in 2003, an acclaimed ceramic artist, he accepted the Turner Prize as his alter-ego Clare, wearing his best dress, with a bow in his hair. Now he tells his own story, his voice beautifully caught by his friend, the writer Wendy Jones. Early childhood in Chelmsford, Essex is a rural Eden that ends abruptly with the arrival of his stepfather, leading to constant swerving between his parents'' houses, and between boys'' and women''s clothes. But as Grayson enters art college and discovers the world of London squats and New Romanticism, he starts to find himself. At last he steps out as a potter and transvestite.Trade ReviewThe most remarkable aspect of Grayson Perry's biography is the resilience of the human spirit to which it testifies... There are lovely moments in this book and what really comes across is what a lovely man Grayson Perry is * Literary Review *Gripping and splinter-sharp account of the Turner prize-winning potter's early life and artistic growth * Sunday Times *[A] delightful autobiography... this short charming book ought to be required reading for anyone with artistic ambitions. For everyone else, it can be enjoyed simply as one of those heartwarming tales of happiness and success wrested from the jaws of potential disaster * Mail on Sunday *One of the most gripping and intelligent accounts of an artist's growth I have ever read -- John Carey * Sunday Times *Charming... oddly reminiscent of Nigel Slater's recent book, Toast * Saturday Herald *
£10.44
Smith Street Books The Works Vincent van Gogh
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£16.20
The Monacelli Press Jenny Sais Quoi
£31.96
Smith Street Books The Works Katsushika Hokusai
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£16.20
Taschen GmbH The Fantastic Worlds of Frank Frazetta
Book SynopsisFrank Frazetta has reigned as the undisputed king of fantasy art for 50 years, his fame only growing in the 12 years since his death. With his paintings now breaking auction records (Egyptian Queen sold for $ 5.4 million in 2019) he’s long overdue for this ultimate monograph. Born to a Sicilian immigrant family in Brooklyn, 1928, Frazetta was a minor league athlete, petty criminal and serial seducer with movie star looks and phenomenal talent. He claimed to only make art when there was nothing better to do – he preferred playing baseball - yet began his professional career in comics at age 16. Strip work led him to the infamous EC Comics, then to oils for Tarzan and Conan pulp covers. Both characters were interpreted by many before him, but as he explained in the 1970s, “I’m very physical minded. In Brooklyn, I knew Conan, I knew guys just like him,” and he used this first-hand knowledge of muscle and macho to redefine fantasy heroes as more massive, more menacing, more testosterone-fueled than anything seen before. As counterbalance he created a new breed of women, nude as censorship allowed, with pixie faces and multiparous bodies: thick thighed, heavy buttocked, breasts cantilevered out to there, yet still, with their soft bellies and hints of cellulite, believably real. Add in the action, the creatures, the twilit worlds of haunting shadow and Frazetta’s art is addictive as potato chips. This monograph is the most complete ever produced on the artist, done in collaboration with the Frazetta family. It won the 2023 Eisner Award for Best Archival Collection.Trade Review“The Godfather of fantasy art finally gets a proper monograph, as a team of artists, writers, scholars, and family members pay weighty tribute to Frazetta’s insane vision and industry-changing career.” * Village Voice *“…one of the most renowned illustrators of the 20th century. This collection highlights some of his best-known works, including paintings of Tarzan, Conan the Barbarian, Vampirella, and his signature Death Dealer.” * Esquire *“…a super-deluxe retrospective of Frazetta’s career in comics, art, illustration and advertising.” * forbes.com *”The Fantastic Worlds of Frank Frazetta re-assesses the artist’s influence on visual culture in the wake of his ever-increasing popularity.” * Creative Review *
£127.50
Royal Academy of Arts Italian Journey
Book SynopsisThis jewel-like book evokes unmistakable Italian landscapes and cityscapes. Anne Desmet's pen commits every detail to paper, and the small-scale format emphasises her distinctive flair for capturing the relationship between extreme foreground and distance. This is an opportunity to explore Italy, from Apennines to Veneto, through the eyes of a very particular artist.
£13.90
Canongate Books Widow Basquiat: A Memoir
Book SynopsisMADONNA. ANDY WARHOL. KEITH HARING. FAB 5 FREDDIE. DEBBIE HARRY. JULIAN SCHNABEL. Jean-Michel Basquiat's transition from the subways to the chic gallery spaces of Manhattan brought the artist into the company of many of New York's established and aspiring stars. In 1988, unable to deal with the demands that his new fame brought, Basquiat, the most successful black visual artist in history, died from a heroin overdose at age twenty-seven.Widow Basquiat is an exploration of the artist as seen through the eyes of his muse, Suzanne. It is a love story like no other.Trade ReviewA love story for the ages, Widow Basquiat is an unorthodox dissection of one of modern history's greatest artists, Jean-Michel Basquiat, as recounted by his muse, Suzanne Mallouk. Bound to tug at your heartstrings, this book paints a vivid portrait of the trials and tribulations of an artist like no other -- DUA LIPAEngrossing . . . Clement offers far more clues to the cryptic symbols which litter his paintings than any art critic could * * The Times * *A compelling book that leaves a giant sized lump in the throat . . . A vivid portrait of Basquiat, powerfully evoking his inventiveness as an artist * * Independent on Sunday * *Engrossing * * The Times * *The kind of book that makes you want to take the next flight to New York * * Big Issue * *Widow Basquiat is truly unique and continues to resonate long after you've closed the final page * * Straight no Chaser * *Deeply romantic * * Big Issue * *Compelling * * Independent on Sunday * *
£9.49
Prestel Monet
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£10.44
Taschen GmbH The Art and Science of Ernst Haeckel. 40th Ed.
Book SynopsisErnst Haeckel (1834–1919) was a German-born biologist, naturalist, evolutionist, artist, philosopher, and doctor who spent his life researching flora and fauna from the highest mountaintops to the deepest ocean. A vociferous supporter and developer of Darwin’s theories of evolution, he denounced religious dogma, authored philosophical treatises, gained a doctorate in zoology, and coined scientific terms which have passed into common usage, including ecology, phylum, and stem cell. At the heart of Haeckel’s colossal legacy was the motivation not only to discover but also to explain. To do this, he created hundreds of detailed drawings, watercolors, and sketches of his findings which he published in successive volumes, including several marine organism collections and the majestic Kunstformen der Natur (Art Forms in Nature), which could serve as the cornerstone of Haeckel’s entire life project. Like a meticulous visual encyclopedia of living things, Haeckel’s work was as remarkable for its graphic precision and meticulous shading as for its understanding of organic evolution. From bats to the box jellyfish, lizards to lichen, and spider legs to sea anemones, Haeckel emphasized the essential symmetries and order of nature, and found biological beauty in even the most unlikely of creatures. In this book, we celebrate the scientific, artistic, and environmental importance of Haeckel’s work, with a collection of 300 of his finest prints from several of his most important tomes, including Die Radiolarien, Monographie der Medusen, Die Kalkschwämme, and Kunstformen der Natur. At a time when biodiversity is increasingly threatened by human activities, the book is at once a visual masterwork, an underwater exploration, and a vivid reminder of the precious variety of life.Trade Review“…as energetic and colorful as Haeckel’s life. It’s scientific eye candy that feels as fresh as Haeckel’s groundbreaking biological art must have seemed more than a century ago.” * The Washington Post *“A dazzling graphic work... One is left astounded by these mesmerizing wonders.” * Le Monde *
£20.00
Taschen GmbH Hieronymus Bosch. The Complete Works. 40th Ed.
Book SynopsisOnly 20 paintings and eight drawings are confidently assigned to Netherlandish painter Hieronymus Bosch (c. 1450–1516) but in their fantastical visions they have secured his place as one of the most cult artists in history. 500 years on from his death, his works continue to inspire scholars, artists, designers, and musicians, death metal band names and designer dresses. This edition offers the complete and haunting Bosch world in one compact format. Through full spreads and carefully curated details, we explore the full reach and compelling inventions of the artist’s genius as well as disturbing imagination. We encounter his hybrid creatures, his nightmarish scenarios, his religious and moral framework, and his pictorial versions of contemporary proverbs and idioms. Along the way, art historian and Bosch expert Stefan Fischer reveals the most important themes and influences in these cryptic, mesmerizing masterpieces.Trade Review“A magnificently illustrated monograph.” * The Times *“Superb color reproductions and numerous details allow us to examine Bosch’s fantastic imagery with a clarity seldom possible, even in a museum gallery.” * The Burlington Magazine *“Bosch in breathtakingly unearthly depth of field.” * Die Welt *
£20.00
Tate Publishing Artists Series Malgorzata MirgaTas
Book SynopsisAn insightful and much-needed introduction to the life and work of Malgorzata Mirga-Tas, a textile artist dedicated to celebrating the vibrant heritage of the Romani community. Malgorzata Mirga-Tas (b.1978) is a Romani artist and activist who is best known for her colourful textile collages. Made from materials gathered from family and friends, and often created in collaboration with other women, these works depict the everyday life of the Romani people to challenge stereotypical representations and form what she calls microcarriers of history'. This fascinating introduction explores the life and work of Mirga-Tas, contextualising her practice within Romani culture and the community in which she was raised. Bringing attention to the Romani people their relationships, alliances and shared activities through her visual storytelling, she also re-imagines artworks from across the centuries that have presented Romani identity in negative ways and transforms them into vibrant images imbued with strength and dignity. These works, informed by her feminist perspective and a sustained engagement with her community, combine realism with visual motifs of Romani culture, and offer a rare opportunity to see and celebrate the Roma on their own terms both as a contemporary community and as a people with a rich heritage.
£12.15
Taschen GmbH Rothko
Book SynopsisResisting interpretation or classification, Mark Rothko (1903–1970) was a prominent advocate for the artist’s consummate freedom of expression. Although identified as a key protagonist of the Abstract Expressionist movement, first formed in New York City, Rothko rejected the label and insisted instead on “a consummated experience between picture and onlooker.” Following a repertoire of figurative works, Rothko developed his now iconic canvases of bold color blocks in red, yellow, ochre, maroon, black, or green. With these shimmering, pulsating color masses, Rothko stressed that he had not removed the human figure but rather put symbols or shapes in its place. These intense color forms contained all the tragedy of the human condition. At the same time, Rothko explicitly empowered the viewer in the expressive potential of his work. He believed “A picture lives by companionship, expanding and quickening in the eyes of the sensitive observer.” From his early development through to his most famous color fields, this book introduces the intellect and influence of Rothko’s dramatic, intimate, and revolutionary work.
£13.50
Flame Tree Publishing Alphonse Mucha: Masterworks
Book SynopsisThough very much an individual and spiritual artist, Alphonse Mucha was a defining figure of the Art Nouveau era and is loved for his distinctive lush style and images of beautiful women in arabesque poses among the plethora of paintings, posters, advertisements and designs he produced. Admire a whole range of his work here in its full glory with succinct accompanying text.
£21.25
Taschen GmbH HR Giger. 40th Ed.
Book SynopsisSwiss artist HR Giger (1940–2014) is most famous for his creation of the space monster in Ridley Scott’s 1979 horror sci-fi film Alien, which earned him an Oscar. Yet this was just one of the most popular expressions of Giger’s biomechanical arsenal of creatures, which consistently merged hybrids of human and machine into images of haunting power and dark psychedelia. The visions drew on demons of the past, as well as evoking mythologies for the future. Above all, they gave expression to the collective fears and fantasies of his age: fear of the atom, of pollution and wasted resources, and of a future in which our bodies depend on machines for survival. Following the SUMO-sized monograph which was begun shortly before the artist's unexpected death, this affordable anniversay edition pays homage to Giger’s unique vision. The book shows the complete story of Giger’s life and art, his sculptures, film design, and iconic album covers as well as the heritage he left us in his own artist’s museum and self-designed bar in the Swiss Alps. In an in-depth essay, Giger scholar Andreas J. Hirsch plunges into the themes of the artist’s oeuvre while an extensive biography draws on contemporary quotes and Giger’s own statements.Trade Review“At its essence, Giger’s art digs down into our psyches and touches our very deepest primal instincts and fears. His art stands in a category of its own. The proof of this lies in the intensity of his work and imagination, which I can only compare to Hieronymus Bosch and Francis Bacon in their powers to provoke and disturb.” * Ridley Scott *“A magnificent volume, a lovingly designed homage that does justice to the significance of this artist... One thing is certain: most celebrated contemporary artists quickly fall back into obscurity, but HR Giger will remain.” * Weltwoche *“A disturbingly beautiful tribute to H.R. Giger’s nightmarish work.” * Wired.com *
£21.25
Little, Brown & Company Ninth Street Women Lee Krasner Elaine de Kooning
Book SynopsisFive women revolutionize the modern art world in postwar America in this gratifying, generous, and lush true story from a National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize finalist (Jennifer Szalai, New York Times).Set amid the most turbulent social and political period of modern times, Ninth Street Women is the impassioned, wild, sometimes tragic, always exhilarating chronicle of five women who dared to enter the male-dominated world of twentieth-century abstract painting -- not as muses but as artists. From their cold-water lofts, where they worked, drank, fought, and loved, these pioneers burst open the door to the art world for themselves and countless others to come.Gutsy and indomitable, Lee Krasner was a hell-raising leader among artists long before she became part of the modern art world''s first celebrity couple by marrying Jackson Pollock. Elaine de Kooning, whose brilliant mind and peerless charm made her the emotional center of the New York School, used her work and words to build a bridge between the avant-garde and a public that scorned abstract art as a hoax. Grace Hartigan fearlessly abandoned life as a New Jersey housewife and mother to achieve stardom as one of the boldest painters of her generation. Joan Mitchell, whose notoriously tough exterior shielded a vulnerable artist within, escaped a privileged but emotionally damaging Chicago childhood to translate her fierce vision into magnificent canvases. And Helen Frankenthaler, the beautiful daughter of a prominent New York family, chose the difficult path of the creative life.Her gamble paid off: At twenty-three she created a work so original it launched a new school of painting. These women changed American art and society, tearing up the prevailing social code and replacing it with a doctrine of liberation. In Ninth Street Women, acclaimed author Mary Gabriel tells a remarkable and inspiring story of the power of art and artists in shaping not just postwar America but the future.
£19.00
Taschen GmbH Hopper
Book SynopsisEdward Hopper (1882–1967) is something of an American success story, if only his success had come swifter. At the age of 40, he was a failing artist who struggled to sell a single painting. As he approached 80, Time magazine featured him on its cover. Today, Hopper is considered a giant of modern expression, with an uncanny, unforgettable, and utterly distinct sense for mood and place. Much of Hopper's work excavates modern city experience. In canvas after canvas, he depicts diners, cafes, shopfronts, street lights, gas stations, rail stations, and hotel rooms. The scenes are marked by vivid color juxtapositions and stark, theatrical lighting, as well as by harshly contoured figures, who appear at once part of, and alien to, their surroundings. The ambiance throughout his repertoire is of an eerie disquiet, alienation, loneliness and psychological tension, although his rural or coastal scenes can offer a counterpoint of tranquility or optimism. This book presents major works from Hopper's œuvre to introduce a key player not only in American art history but also in the American psyche.
£13.50
Taschen GmbH The Fantastic Worlds of Frank Frazetta. 40th Ed.
Book SynopsisFrank Frazetta has reigned as the undisputed king of fantasy art for 50 years, his fame only growing in the years since his death. With his paintings now breaking auction records (Egyptian Queen sold for $ 5.4 million in 2019) he's long overdue for this ultimate monograph.Born to a Sicilian immigrant family in Brooklyn, 1928, Frazetta was a minor league athlete, petty criminal and serial seducer with movie star looks and phenomenal talent. He claimed to only make art when there was nothing better to do he preferred playing baseball - yet began his professional career in comics at age 16. Strip work led him to the infamous EC Comics, then to oils for Tarzan and Conan pulp covers. Both characters were interpreted by many before him, but as he explained in the 1970s, I'm very physical minded. In Brooklyn, I knew Conan, I knew guys just like him, and he used this first-hand knowledge of muscle and macho to redefine fa
£21.25
Taschen GmbH David Hockney. A Chronology. 40th Ed.
Book SynopsisPop artist, painter of modern life, landscape painter, master of color, explorer of image and perception—for six decades, David Hockney has been known as an artist who always finds new ways of exploring the world and its representational possibilities. He has consistently created unforgettable images: works with graphic lines and integrated text in the Swinging Sixties in London; the famous swimming pool series as a representation of the 1970s California lifestyle; closely observed portraits and brightly colored, oversized landscapes after his eventual return to his native Yorkshire. In addition to drawings in which he transfers what he sees directly onto paper, there are multiperspective Polaroid collages that open up the space into a myriad of detailed views, and iPad drawings in which he captures light using a most modern medium—testaments to Hockney’s enduring delight in experimentation. This special edition has been newly assembled from the two volumes of the David Hockney: A Bigger Book monograph to celebrate TASCHEN’s 40th anniversary. Hockney’s life and work is presented year by year as a dialogue between his works and voices from the time period, alongside reviews and reflections by the artist in a chronological text, supplemented by portrait photographs and exhibition views. Together they open up new perspectives, page after page, revealing how Hockney undertakes his artistic research, how his painting develops, and where he finds inspiration for his multifaceted work.Trade Review“That’s the way I see it.” * David Hockney *“This is not your average art book.” * The Guardian *“David Hockney has written – or rather, painted – a real piece of art history.” * Deutsche Welle *
£999.99
Vintage Publishing Wall and Piece
Book SynopsisArtistic genius, political activist, painter and decorator, mythic legend or notorious graffiti artist? The work of Banksy is unmistakable, except maybe when it's squatting in the Tate or New York's Metropolitan Museum. Banksy is responsible for decorating the streets, walls, bridges and zoos of towns and cites throughout the world. Witty and subversive, his stencils show monkeys with weapons of mass destruction, policeman with smiley faces, rats with drills and umbrellas. If you look hard enough, you'll find your own. His statements, incitements, ironies and epigrams are by turns intelligent and cheeky comments on everything from the monarchy and capitalism to the war in Iraq and farm animals. His identity remains unknown, but his work is prolific. Here's the best of his work in a fully illustrated colour volume - including brand material.Trade ReviewWitty and thought-provoking, his images excite and infuriate in equal measure. Already a classic * www.shortlist.com *This is work that must be witnessed, lived with, taken to heart, and re-enacted in the name of 'Freedom' * Rain Taxi Review of Books *
£15.90
Profile Books Ltd Da Vinci Notebooks
Book SynopsisA dazzling array of invention, insight and observation from perhaps the greatest genius of Western civilisation. Towering across time as the painter of the Mona Lisa, forever famous as a sculptor and an inventor, Leonardo da Vinci was one of the greatest minds of both the Italian Renaissance and Western civilisation. His celebrated notebooks display the astonishing range of his genius. Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code and recent in-depth biographies have stimulated renewed interest in Leonardo and his complex and enquiring intelligence. This brand-new selection of sketches, diagrams and writings from the notebooks is a beautiful and varied record of Leonardo's theories and observations, embracing not only art but also architecture, town planning, engineering, naval warfare, music, medicine, mathematics, science and philosophy. Complete with a short biographical essay describing Leonardo's life and achievements, this is the perfect introduction to a mysterious and endlessly fascinating genius.
£8.54
Prestel Victor Ehikhamenor
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£40.00
Aurora Metro Publications Unlocking Women's Art: Pioneers, Visionaries &
Book SynopsisWho were the pioneering female painters? Who are the best contemporary women painters around today? Offers a perceptive journey through Western art history, highlighting artists from Gentileschi to Kahlo, from Amrita Sher-gil to Jenny Saville, exploring the fascinating lives of diverse female painters and their artworks within often-challenging cultural contexts. In chapters which consider identity, muses and models, the domestic space, the avant-garde, in addition to war, peace and protest, the world of women who paint is intriguingly unlocked. Includes over 20 interviews with contemporary women artists, providing unique insights into their practices, themes and personal motivation.Trade Review“From the personal to the political, a brilliant book and significant addition to feminist art history.” – Ruth Millington, art historian and author of MUSE; “P.L Henderson’s writing is essential and key to the always unfolding story of the impact of women on art. And of art on women.” – Bonnie Greer, novelist, critic and broadcasterTable of ContentsAuthor bio Introduction Chapters 1 -8 Index
£17.99
Penguin Books Ltd The Letters of Vincent Van Gogh
Book SynopsisA new selection of post-impressionist painter Vincent Van Gough''s letters, The Letters of Vincent van Gogh put a human face on one of the most haunting figures in modern Western culture. In this Penguin Classics edition, the letters are selected and edited by Ronald de Leeuw, and translated by Arnold Pomerans in Penguin Classics.Few artists'' letters are as self-revelatory as Vincent van Gogh''s, and this selection, spanning his artistic career, sheds light on every facet of the life and work of this complex and tortured man. Engaging candidly and movingly with his religious struggles, his ill-fated search for love, his attacks of mental illness and his relation with his brother Theo, the letters contradict the popular myth of van Gogh as an anti-social madman and a martyr to art, showing instead a man of great emotional and spiritual depths. Above all, they stand as an intense personal narrative of artistic development and a unique account of the process of creation. The letters are linked by explanatory biographical passages, revealing van Gogh''s inner journey as well as the outer facts of his life. This edition also includes the drawings that originally illustrated the letters.Vincent Willem van Gogh (1853-1890) was born in Holland. In 1885 he painted his first masterpiece, The Potato Eaters, a haunting scene of domestic poverty. A year later he began studying in Paris, where he met Gauguin, Toulouse-Lautrec and Seurat, who became very important influences on his work. In 1888 he left Paris for the Provencal landscape at Arles, the subject of many of his best works, including Sunflowers.If you enjoyed The Letters of Vincent van Gogh, you might also like 100 Artists Manifestos, available in Penguin Modern Classics.''If there was ever any doubt that Van Gogh''s letters belong beside those great classics of artistic self-revelation, Cellini''s autobiography and Delacroix''s journal, this excellent new edition dispels it''The TimesTable of ContentsThe Letters of Vincent van GoghAbout This EditionTranslator's NoteIntroductionBiographical OutlineEarly LettersRamsgate and IsleworthDordrechtAmsterdamThe BorinageEttenThe HagueThe Hague, Drenthe and NuenenFrom Nuenen to AntwerpParisArlesSaint-RémyAuvers-sur-OiseBibliographyIndex
£11.69
Thames and Hudson Ltd The Book of Garden Flowers
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£15.29
El Croquis Edmund de Waal an Archive
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£25.20
The Mainstone Press Ravilious in Pictures Sussex and the Downs
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£22.50
Unicorn Publishing Group A Potter's Book
Book SynopsisWritten by Bernard Leach, the father of British studio pottery, this seminal book is the first treatise to be written by a potter on the workshop traditions handed down from the greatest period of Chinese ceramics in the Sung dynasty. With this book, potters can learn everything from how to adapt recipes for pigments and glazes to designing kilns.Trade Review“With his writings as well as with his ceramics, Leach played a major role in elevating the status of the European potter from craftsman to artist, thereby paving the way for the twentieth-century studio pottery movement.” * New York Times *"This updated edition of the classic by Leach (British potter and teacher) belongs on every ceramist’s bookshelf. Minor text changes, a look at Leach’s impact on the West, and numerous color photographs make this an even more valuable resource than the 1940 original. Highly recommended." * Choice *"This fine new edition of A Potter’s Book, first published in 1940, shows representative images of his work (and sometimes his son David’s) alongside Japanese or Korean wares made from similar bodies or using similar glazes. It is always easy to spot the Leach." * Times Literary Supplement *"This edition, published 75 years after the first edition in 1940, remains faithful to Leach’s text, while also including color versions of the original images (where available), color images of his pots, and additional images to clarify various points. A preface by Leach’s grandson, Philip Leach, updates the family’s story and frames the important role this book has played in countless potters’ lives." * Ceramic Arts *"Despite the idiosyncrasy of Leach’s East-meets-West output and ideas, he expressed these so often and with such solemn conviction in numerous books, talks and tours that by the 1950s they had become doctrine. A Potter’s Book (1940) had the greatest impact: even today, its mixture of poetry, philosophy and practical instruction earns it the soubriquet 'the potter’s bible'." * Apollo *Table of ContentsThe Leach Legacy by Philip Leach Leach in Japan by Soyetsu Yanagi Preface by Michael Cardew Author’s Preface 1. Towards a Standard 2. Raku - English Slipware - Stoneware - Porcelain 3. Clays 4. The Making of Clay Shapes 5. Decoration 6. Pigments and Glazes 7. Kilns 8. The Workshop Footnotes Appendix A - Potters Terms, Tools & Materials Appendix B - Conversion Charts Appendix C - Seger Pyrometric Cones Image Credits Index
£21.24
Taschen GmbH Matisse
Book SynopsisThe work of Henri Matisse (1869–1954) reflects an ongoing belief in the power of brilliant colors and simple forms. Though famed in particular for his paintings, Matisse also worked with drawing, sculpture, lithography, stained glass, and collage, developing his unique cut-out medium when old age left him unable to stand and paint. Matisse’s subjects were often conventional: nudes, portraits, and figures in landscapes, Oriental scenes, and interior views, but in his handling of bold color and fluid draftsmanship, he secured his place as a 20th-century master. It was Matisse’s palette that particularly thrilled the modern imagination. With vivid blue, amethyst purple, egg-yolk yellow, and many shades beyond he liberated his work from a meticulous representation of reality and sought instead a “vital harmony,” often referring to music as an inspiration or analogy for his work. A comprehensive and informative source, this lavishly illustrated publication includes preparatory studies, full-page reproductions, and enlarged details. Discover the artist's adventurous path, from the chromatic brilliance of his Fauve period, right through to his invention of gouache cut-outs at the ripe age of 80. Each image has been reproduced with painstaking care to create a viewing experience worthy of the expressionist par excellence. The bard of color deserves no less.
£13.50
Taschen GmbH Mucha
Book SynopsisWith his instantly recognizable decorative style, Czech artist and Art Nouveau master Alphonse Mucha (1860–1939) defined the look of the fin-de-siècle. In evocative shades of peach, gold, ochre, and olive, his seductive compositions of patterns, flowers, and beautiful women became paradigms of the Belle Époque years. Mucha’s work permeated illustration, posters, postcards, and the advertising designs of his day. His striking posters of star actress Sarah Bernhardt were particularly famous. Alongside this delicate decorative work, Mucha also harbored strongly felt political ideas. With his monumental cycle The Slav Epic, he expressed his staunch support for Pan-Slavism, promoting the political independence of the Czech and Slavic nations from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Compiled in association with the Mucha Foundation, this book presents key works and introduces the full reach of Mucha’s œuvre from patterned decoration to his book illustrations, posters, photographs and monumental paintings.
£14.25
Prototype Publishing Ltd. Significant Others
£13.50
Lund Humphries Publishers Ltd Leonora Carrington: Surrealism, Alchemy and Art
Book SynopsisNow available in paperback, this book remains the definitive survey of the life and work of Surrealist artist Leonora Carrington (1917-2011). Carrington burst onto the Surrealist scene in 1936, when, as a precocious nineteen-year-old debutante, she escaped the stultifying demands of her wealthy English family by running away to Paris with her lover Max Ernst. She was immediately championed by Andre Breton, who responded enthusiastically to her fantastical, dark and satirical writing style and her interest in fairy tales and the occult. Her stories were included in Surrealist publications, and her paintings in the Surrealists' exhibitions. After the dramas and tragic separations of the Second World War, Carrington ended up in the 1940s as part of the circle of Surrealist European emigres living in Mexico City. Close friends with Luis Bunuel, Benjamin Peret, Octavio Paz and a host of both expatriate Surrealists and Mexican modernists, Carrington was at the centre of Mexican cultural life, while still maintaining her European connections. Leonora Carrington: Surrealism, Alchemy and Art provides a fascinating overview of this intriguing artist's rich body of work. The author considers Carrington's preoccupation with alchemy and the occult, and explores the influence of indigenous Mexican culture and beliefs on her production.Trade Review'full of stunning colour reproductions of Carrington's visionary art, whose hybrid forms borrow from nature, culture and religion in order to take themselves beyond all three. A beautiful book.' Ali Smith, The Sunday TelegraphTable of ContentsIntroduction: The magikal art of painting; The reluctant debutante; Ernst, Surrealism and the femme sorciere; Heaven and hell: wartime experiences; The alchemical kitchen: Domestic space as sacred space; Esoteric interests; Bibliography; Index.
£26.99
Taschen GmbH Turner
Book SynopsisIn the work of Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775–1851) lies an impact akin to a sudden acquisition of sight. His landscapes and seascapes scorch the eye with such ravishing light and color, with such elemental force, it is as if the sun itself were gleaming out of the frame. Appropriately known as “the painter of light,” Turner worked in print, watercolor, and oils to transform landscape from serene contemplative scenes to pictures pulsating with life. He anchored his work to the River Thames and to the sea, but in the historical context of the Industrial Revolution, also integrated boats, trains, and other markers of human activity, which juxtaposes the thrust of civilization against the forces of nature. This book covers Turner’s illustrious, wide-ranging repertoire to introduce an artist who combined a traditional genre with a radical modernism.
£13.50
