Book Reports

Paola Pivi is best known for sculptures of true-to-size brightly hued polar bears, but Pivi also has a significant video and large-scale-installation practice. This monograph of more than 250 works is the largest of her career.

Packed with motivational quotes and brain exercises, this notepad-size book is a perfect gift for a creative—or anyone who has ever struggled with a blank page or a stuck project.

A super-fun compendium of facts, figures, graphs, and charts relating to art history, Artifacts has a surprise on every page. Did you know Picasso had a dog named Erika?

An intimate history written by one of the last British surrealists, this is an ode to a movement that began after World War I.

Turner Prize–winning artist Keith Tyson channels math, science, mythology, and poetry into his artworks. This overview of his work features more than 400 illustrations.

There are many books about the methodical and tidy works of Bridget Riley. Working Drawings is a close look at her process—particularly the notes, sketches, and color choices that evolve into the finished product.

Manuela Alexejew is a former flight attendant who lived the glamorous jet-set life of the 1970s, from holidays at Oscar de la Renta’s Dominican Republic estate to partying with Sophia Loren at Studio 54. This semi-autobiographical story is told through the art she’s collected along the way.

George Condo’s career has included a stint at Andy Warhol’s Factory, a long friendship with Basquiat, and the design of album art for Kanye West. By tracking Condo’s own influences and psyche, Painting Reconfigured brings new light to an important artist.

M+ is a brand-new museum in Hong Kong with a focus on twentieth- and twenty-first-century visual arts. M+ opened in 2021 and Highlights provides a primer to its expansive and impressive permanent collection.

Many Rivers to Cross includes a personal selection of works by accomplished land artist Richard Long. The artist’s output is closely associated with his process—many of his works culminate from Long walking a narrow path in snow, dirt, and mist.

Making art is a job just like any other, requiring résumé writing, networking, and seizing the opportunities as they come. Having a handbook like this is a secret weapon for how to make it in the art world with your soul intact.