10 Art Books Every Kanye West Stan Should Own

Image via Complex Original

Author: Kanye West

Buy it on: Amazon

Price: $69.98

Relive Yeezy's widely-successful “Glow in the Dark” tour with this book, which includes hundreds of high-quality photographs of Kanye's best on and offstage moments, taken by Nabil Elderkin. The book includes an exclusive CD that has chilling instrumentals from tour performances. It's worth buying for the intro interview between Kanye and director Spike Jonze alone.

Author: Takashi Murakami

Buy it on: Amazon

Price: $84.50

Together, Kanye West and Takashi Murakami have bridged the gap between music, art, and culture, while also becoming good friends and collaborators in the process. Murakami did the album artwork for Graduation, and Kanye also used to continually post Murakami's work on his blog, Kanyeuniversecity. This book is a glimpse inside the mind of one of the most important, influential living artists.

Authors: Mardges Bacon, Barry Bergdoll

Buy it on: Amazon

Price: $49.68

In an interview with The New York Times discussing the Yeezus album, Kanye said, “You know, this one Corbusier lamp was like, my greatest inspiration.” As a pioneer of what is now known as modern architecture, Le Corbusier is one of dozens of artists who have influenced Kanye and his music. Apparently Kanye would get private access to the Louvre at night in order to see a particular Le Corbusier exhibition. You wouldn't be a true Yeezy fan without this one your shelf.

Authors: Alexandra Polier, Jeffrey Deitch, Riccardo Lisi

Buy it on: Amazon

Price: $79.94

Controversial performance artist Vanessa Beecroft is known worldwide for her often shocking and provocative work, but lately the artist has also been noticed for her relationship with Kanye West. Over the past few years, West has recruited Beecroft to help out as art director for an 808s and Heartbreak listening session and his “Runaway” film, in addition to serving as choreographer for the dancers in the “Yeezus” tour. This book documents her 2006 exhibition at the opening of Louis Vuitton store in Paris, where she had 30 naked models sit silently on shelves alongside classic Louis Vuitton handbags and luggage.

Authors: Arthur Danto, Chrissie Iles

Buy it on: Amazon

Price: $35.84

Back in 2013, Kanye West compared himself to esteemed performance artist Marina Abramovic in an interview with Power 105. He said, “I'm like Marina Abramovic. This is like performance art.” Learn a little bit more about the artist Kanye compares himself to with this book, which surveys more than four decades of Abramovic's work. Maybe you can draw some similarities between the two.

Author: Oliviero Toscani

Buy it on: Amazon

Price: $36.95

Guy Bourdin is an icon in the world of fashion photography and is known by many as the man who brought “sexy” back to the industry. With Kanye's clear influence in the fashion world (sorry Kelly Cutrone), it's no wonder why Bourdin is not only an inspiration but an idol for Kanye. Check out this book that includes a rare selection of 98 Polaroids by Bourdin and see just why Yeezy is one of Bourdin's biggest stans.

Editor: June Newton

Buy it on: Amazon

Price: $97.29

Photographer Helmut Newton is another pioneer in the world of fashion photography, so much that Yeezy once tweeted about wanting to be in one of his lookbooks. With Helmut Newton: SUMO, you'll have the perfect coffee table book to make any other so-called Yeezy stan jealous.

Contributors: Buzz Aldrin, Tom Sachs, Louise Neri, Arthur C. Danto

Buy it on: Amazon

Price: $65

Visual artist Tom Sachs has attracted notable celebrity fans, and Yeezy is one of his most avid ones. This book documents Sach's journey to realize his own life-size space program, and if the connection to Yeezy isn't enough, the 797 full-color images it includes make it an eye-catching read.

Authors: Ralph Rugoff, Laura Hoptman, Will Self, George Condo, David Means

Buy it on: Amazon

Price: $45

When the album cover for Kanye's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy record was released in 2010, fans and haters alike were all wondering who the mystery man behind the provocative cover art was. That man is none other than contemporary painter George Condo. This book provides readers with images and information about the artist's career from 1982 to the present day.

Authors: Norman Bryson, Alison M. Gingeras, Dave Eggers

Buy it on: Amazon

Price: $100.05

John Currin is just one of many visual artists who Kanye West introduced to his fan base through his old blog. Currin's erotic paintings of exaggerated female bodies coupled with his classic, Renaissance style attract art lovers like Yeezy worldwide. Maybe this book will make you a fan, too.