Art is a mirror to the soul, a bridge between cultures, and a catalyst for change. In this carefully curated selection of art books, we dive into the minds of visionary thinkers, trailblazing curators, and revolutionary artists who have shaped the way we see and experience the world. From Olivia Laing’s passionate defense of art in turbulent times to Peggy Guggenheim’s daring legacy, these books explore the intersections of creativity, culture, and society. Whether you’re an artist, a curator, or simply an art lover, this collection invites you to reflect, question, and be inspired by the transformative power of art.
Funny Weather: Art in an Emergency by Olivia Laing
Olivia Laing's Funny Weather: Art in an Emergency is an inspiring collection of essays that passionately argues for the transformative power of art in the tumultuous political and emotional landscape of the 21st century. Drawing from her career’s work, Laing explores art’s role as a force of resistance and healing, profiling figures like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Georgia O’Keeffe, and David Bowie, while delving into themes of loneliness, technology, and the body. She also interviews notable writers like Hilary Mantel and Ali Smith, weaving a narrative that celebrates art’s capacity to challenge conventions and foster emotional connection.
With compassion and originality, Laing refutes the notion that art is powerless, demonstrating how it challenges inequalities, reshapes perspectives, and offers new ways of living. By celebrating the intersection of art and activism, she shows how creativity can serve as both a refuge and a catalyst for change in a world marked by uncertainty. Through her vivid writing, Laing inspires readers to believe in the potential of art to not only reflect the times but to transform them.
Ways of Curating by Hans Ulrich Obrist
Hans Ulrich Obrist curated his first exhibit in his kitchen when he was twenty-three years old. Since then he has staged more than 250 shows internationally, many of them among the most influential exhibits of our age.
Ways of Curating is a compendium of the insights Obrist has gained from his years of extraordinary work in the art world. It skips between centuries and continents, flitting from meetings with the artists who have inspired him (including Gerhard Richter, Louise Bourgeois, and Gilbert and George) to biographies of influential figures such as Diaghilev and Walter Hopps. It describes some of the greatest exhibitions in history, as well as some of the greatest exhibitions never realized. It traces the evolution of the collections from Athanasius Kircher's 17th-century Wunderkammer to modern museums, and points the way for projects yet to come. Hans Ulrich Obrist has rescued the word "curate" from wine stores and playlists to remind us of the power inherent in looking at art―and at the world―in a new way.
The Medium is the Massage by Marshall McLuhan
The Medium is the Massage by Marshall McLuhan, enriched by Quentin Fiore's inventive graphic design, bridges communication theory and visual art, making it a unique addition to this list. While the book falls primarily under communication studies, examining how media technologies reshape human perception and society, its presentation transforms it into an art object in itself.
Building on McLuhan's iconic theory that "the medium is the message," the book argues that the characteristics of a medium, rather than its content, profoundly alter our scale, pace, and patterns of interaction. The integration of bold visuals, striking layouts, and innovative typography brings McLuhan's ideas to life, making the theory not just conceptual but also visceral and immediate. The book's design amplifies the core idea that "the medium is the message," as its visual structure mirrors the disruptive effects of media on sensory and cultural experiences. This harmony between content and form is what compelled me to include it here—not just as a scholarly work, but as a visually stunning exploration of communication that feels right at home in an art-focused collection.
Peggy Guggenheim: The Shock of the Modern by Francine Prose
Francine Prose’s Peggy Guggenheim: The Shock of the Modern explores the bold, restless life of Peggy Guggenheim, who amassed one of the 20th century’s greatest art collections. Guggenheim opened her first gallery, Guggenheim Jeune, in London in 1938, guided by advisors like Marcel Duchamp. She famously vowed to buy a painting a day in 1939 and, during World War II, helped both artworks and friends escape Europe, even while seemingly in denial of her own peril. After fleeing Paris just before the German invasion, she eventually settled in New York, where she founded the groundbreaking Art of This Century gallery in 1942. Later, her art and legacy found a permanent home at the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni in Venice, now the Peggy Guggenheim Collection.
Through vivid anecdotes, Prose highlights Guggenheim’s daring efforts to rescue art and friends from Europe during World War II, her groundbreaking New York gallery, and her lasting legacy in Venice. The book also delves into Guggenheim’s tumultuous personal life, marked by dramatic love affairs and a complicated relationship with her wealth and independence. Prose captures the relentless energy that fueled both Guggenheim’s cultural achievements and her deepest heartbreaks, painting a compelling portrait of a woman who never stopped redefining herself and the art world.
The Psychology of an Art Writer by Vernon Lee
Vernon Lee, the pseudonym of Violet Paget, was a trailblazing feminist writer and one of the most significant female aestheticians of 19th-century England. Though renowned for her supernatural fiction, Lee's pioneering contributions to aesthetics, the philosophy of empathy, and art criticism remain underappreciated. Her writings, influenced by Walter Pater, reflect an unparalleled psychological sensitivity and an intense focus on personal responses to art.
This book reveals Lee’s profound insights into how mood shapes art appreciation and includes vivid accounts of her encounters with great paintings and sculptures. Combining philosophical depth with evocative descriptions, her writings solidify her place as one of the most sensitive and innovative art writers of her time.
