Art & Photography

Ansel Adams always had a special affinity for Yosemite, and that connection is apparent in his photographs of the valley and outlying area. I love the way his images capture the wild spirit of the granite spires, twisting trees, and reflective waters. Released as a celebration of Yosemite’s 150 years, this magnificent book is a worthy homage to both a breathtaking place and an iconic photographer.

Artist Maira Kalman has curated a book of beautiful, delicate, extraordinary, and weird objects from the Cooper Hewitt Museum that have one thing in common: They make her gasp with delight. She weaves her own personal history though these objects, her notes being at once intimate, universally human and empathetic. Her illustrations are so lush and satisfying you could stare at the colors and brushstrokes all day. My Favorite Things is funny, somber, sweet, and quirky.

Outdoor adventure sports are big these days, and while I’m mostly an armchair adventurer, I love books about them. This book, filled with more than 250 color and black-and-white photographs, covers sports from rock climbing to deep-sea diving and everything in between, photographed in all manner of stunning locales. Paired with commentary from legends in their respective sports, these incredible photographs make this perfect for any adventurer, even the armchair kind.

Heather Ross—a wildly gifted illustrator, author, and textile designer—was born into an eccentric family of artists and idealists in rural Vermont. It is easy to see from her delightful designs—fabric with whimsical fish, dandelions, flowers, and, yes, frogs on it, for example—that she grew up surrounded by natural beauty and creative living, but I had no idea that her youth was also defined by nearly inescapable poverty and little exposure to basic life skills. I can’t wait to read Heather’s stories about her upbringing and her road to becoming a super-successful DIYer and entrepreneur. 

The gorgeous blossoms of spring and summer can last forever with designs from this lovely book. Our staff audibly gasped when we first looked at the delicate flowers Cetti shows readers how to make from paper. Modern and beautiful, there’s nothing dowdy about these blooms. The title holds true: this book is truly exquisite.

Todd Selby’s latest bright, kaleidoscopic, and totally gorgeous book showcases the world of fashion, providing a glimpse into the studios and inspirations of some of the most creative minds designing today. From people you’ll know to people to watch, from the everyday to the avant-garde, this is an intimate glimpse into a brilliant, dazzling world. I dare you to look through this book and not come away wanting to create something!  

What’s not to love about summer? Long days, blue (sometimes foggy!) skies, and endless horizons. Summertime collects more than 100 photographs that capture the essence of the season from emerging and acclaimed photographers like Joel Meyerowitz and Martin Parr. Dreamy images of sandy toes, beautiful beaches, and blue water are paired with quotes from luminaries including Emily Dickinson and Diane Arbus, creating a capsule of perfect summer moments.

Jude Stewart, a design expert and writer, digs into the rich subject of color with gusto. What color is the universe? We might say it’s black, but astrophysicists think it might be turquoise. Unless it’s beige. To read about color from Jude Stewart is to unlock a whole different way of looking at the world around us—and bringing it all vividly to life.

From the best-selling author Thomas Cahill (How the Irish Saved Civilization), another popular history, this one focusing on the Renaissance and Reformation and how this innovative period changed the Western world. “Cahill writes passionately about the era’s transformational art, the unexpected benefits of the Black Plague, and the intellectual struggles over secular and papal power, resulting in an entertaining yet thought-provoking examination of Western civilization.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

What is art’s purpose? In this engaging and lively new book, best-selling philosopher Alain de Botton (How Proust Can Change Your Life) and art historian John Armstrong propose a new way of looking at familiar masterpieces, suggesting that they can be useful, relevant, and—above all else—therapeutic for their viewers. Chapters on love, nature, money, and politics outline how art can help with these common difficulties by guiding us, consoling us, and helping us better understand ourselves.