Art & Photography

It’s important in this time and in this country to recognize that the powerlessness we feel is something forced upon us and is entirely manufactured. Even if just for a moment, we can offer hope and comfort to those who are fighting for us all. This book, which chronicles artist and activist Ai Weiwei’s project of encouraging people to write postcards to those incarcerated for advocating for human rights, is hopeful and shattering and will galvanize its readers. - Jax

Known for her distinct graphic style and charming color palettes, Orla Kiely truly has lived a life in pattern. In this, her third publication, we get a fascinating look into her career in fashion and home design, starting with her ever-popular “stem” design that she made right in her apartment living room back in 1995. A fine book for those inspired by graphic design or the recent history of female entrepreneurship. - Megan

Maier is one of my favorite photographers of the 20th century. Her uncanny ability to create a beautiful, haunting, or visually intriguing image from everyday people and places makes her photos endlessly fascinating. The Color Work is the first conclusive collection of her color work and so has a very different feel than previous compilations of her black-and-white shots. A wonderful new glimpse into the enigmatic Maier. - Megan

Mary Gabriel set out to illuminate the lives and legacies of five female American artists who changed history while being overlooked by it, and through these women brings viscerally to life a New York–centered world of the last century. The relationships, famous names, wars, social movements, and above all, the art in Ninth Street Women will leave you inspired, looking up paintings, and holding onto the names Lee Krasner, Elaine de Kooning, Grace Hartigan, Joan Mitchell, Helen Frankenthaler, and Mary Gabriel. - Jocelyn

In An American Odyssey, Mary Schmidt Campbell, president of Spelman College, delves into the life of artist Romare Bearden, a muralist and collagist whose large-scale public works came to symbolize the black experience during the Civil Rights era. I have always loved Bearden’s work and am fascinated to learn more about his art and life, including his collaborations with choreographer Alvin Ailey and how being a social worker (for nearly three decades) impacted his work. - S.B.

I first discovered Rainey’s loose, floral watercolor style through social media. I’m always on the lookout for a good how-to watercolor book and hers is a favorite. You start off learning the materials and the medium and then move into color theory, value pigmentation, shapes, strokes and techniques such as wet on wet. A great book for a beginner or intermediate artist! - Rechelle

With tips on form, style, and craft, this artist’s manual gives you skills and wisdom that are hard to find elsewhere. After using many different books as references for my own lettering work, I found this guide to be incredible with info for the beginner as well as great advice for those wanting to pursue lettering more seriously in the professional world. Check this one out! - Grace

I love nonfiction writing that teaches through objects. Color melds history, science, travel writing, economics, and color theory in a meandering exploration of the world through the pigments that dazzle our eyes at every moment. Finlay has a talent for ferreting out stories and painting pictures with her words. This is a great read for fueling your curiosity! - Clara

This new collection of photographer Annie Leibovitz’s most memorable portraits of artists, performers, thinkers, athletes, politicians, and more, is the third book in her celebrated series. Included are images of a wide range of notable subjects, including Barack and Michelle Obama, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Joan Didion, Misty Copeland, and Queen Elizabeth II. “Whether she’s photographing the famous and powerful, or simply the woman next door, Annie always captures something unexpected and deeply personal.” —Oprah Winfrey

This collection presents 50 large-scale works from Rothko’s color field period (1949–1970) alongside essays by his son, Christopher Rothko, and San Francisco Museum of Modern Art curator of painting and sculpture Janet Bishop. Filled with illuminating details about Rothko’s life, influences, and legacy, this essential volume brings the renowned artist’s luminous work to light for both longtime Rothko fans and those discovering his work for the very first time. - Rico