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

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

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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

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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?

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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”

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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

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Reviewed: Warhol, A Life as Art by Blake Gopnik

Three Andy Warhol devotees give their take on the near-1000 page biography

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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

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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

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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

What is the curator Hans-Ulrich Obrist reading during lockdown?

The artistic director of the Serpentine Galleries has been inspired by his daily walks and ‘animal interviews’ to revisit one of his favourite books about trees