Image via Complex Original
Art books aren't just items for your coffee table. Most of these titles are full of rich, rare imagery and text meant to be learned from. Often, we aren't as aware of books coming out, since we have become increasingly accustomed to reading online; however, the experience of reading and viewing incredible images cannot be replaced. Peep this list of 25 New Must-Read Art Books to get ideas for what could make your wish list this holiday season. From titles about the punk movement and tattooing to books by Pharrell and M.I.A., there's something for everyone.
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LCD
LCD
Authors: Ruvan Wijesooriya and James Murphy
Released: December 11, 2012
LCD contains images by photographer Ruvan Wijesooriya, who documented LCD Soundsystem for seven years on the road, in the studio, and everywhere in between. Ruvan explained his 10 favorite images of the book with us here.
JR and José Parlá: Wrinkles of the City, Havana, Cuba
JR & José Parlá: Wrinkles of the City, Havana, Cuba
Authors: Clara Astiasarán, Janet Batet, José Parlá, and JR
Released: October 31, 2012
JR and José Parlá's collaboration for the latest iteration of Wrinkles of the City documents their huge mural installation in Havana, which depicts 25 senior citizens who had lived through the Cuban revolution. It's a stunning collection of images showing their collaborative process and the final product.
Kate: The Kate Moss Book
Kate: The Kate Moss Book
Authors: Kate Moss, Fabien Baron, Jess Hallett, and Jefferson Hack
Released: November 6, 2012
While not specifically an "art book" per se, this book documents Kate Moss' rise as a model. Throughout, she's been captured by legendary photographers, many who have work in the book organized by Kate herself.
Erik Parker: Colorful Resistance
Erik Parker: Colorful Resistance
Author: Monica Ramirez-Montagut, Peter Saul, Angela Stief, and KAWS
Released: July 17, 2012
Painter Erik Parker gets his first retrospective title in Erik Parker: Colorful Resistance, which features his pop-surrealist imagery. It's a must-have for any Erik Parker enthusiast.
Punk: An Aesthetic
Punk: An Aesthetic
Authors: Jon Savage, William Gibson, Linder Sterling, and Johan Kugelberg
Released: September 18, 2012
Punk: An Aesthetic contains an incredible collection of punk art and ephemera from all over the world.
Architecture Concepts: Red is Not a Color
Architecture Concepts: Red is Not a Color
Author: Bernard Tschumi
Released: October 30, 2012
Architecture Concepts: Red is Not a Color is the first comprehensive (and autobiographical) treatment of Bernard Tschumi's architecture.
Tattoos Hornets Fire: The Millennium Stockholm
Tattoos Hornets Fire: The Millennium Stockholm
Authors: Christopher Makos and Paul Solberg
Released: October 2012
Tattoos Hornets Fire: The Millennium Stockholm takes the viewer on a journey through Stockholm in 2012, from its daylife to its food, nightlife, and rich past. Read more about it in our review here.
Balthazar Korab: Architect of Photography
Balthazar Korab: Architect of Photography
Author: John Comazzi
Released: August 1, 2012
Balthazar Korab was one of the most influential architectural photographers of the 20th century. The book is as much about his impact in this specific subgenre as it is about the undeniable connection between photography and architecture.
Weiwei-isms
Weiwei-isms
Author: Ai Weiwei
Released: December 5, 2012
Weiwei-isms has quotes from artist Ai Weiwei, which he's deemed "Weiwei-isms," spanning art, politics, and life in contemporary China.
The Kiss: A Celebration of Love in Art
The Kiss: A Celebration of Love in Art
Author: Serge Bramly
Released: September 4, 2012
The Kiss: A Celebration of Love in Art is a well-written and researched account of "the kiss" throughout art. It examines the cultural implications of kissing throughout time and various mediums. Read more about it in our review here.
Cinelli:The Art and Design of the Bicycle
Cinelli: The Art and Design of the Bicycle
Authors: Lodovico Pignatti Morano, Antonio Colombo, Felice Gimondi, and Barry McGee
Released: October 23, 2012
Cinelli: The Art and Design of the Bicycle is an illustrated survey of over 65 years of work by Cinelli. It's as much an ode to their history as it is to biking history and design as a whole.
Murakami: Ego
Murakami: Ego
Authors: Takashi Murakami and Massimiliano Gioni
Released: October 23, 2012
This new Murakami book explores his iconic work in painting and scupture throughout the years. Even the most avid Murakami fan will learn something new from this title.
Mark Rothko: The Decisive Decade: 1940 - 1950
Mark Rothko: The Decisive Decade: 1940 - 1950
Authors: Todd Herman, Christopher Rothko, Harry Cooper, and David Anfam
Released: September 11, 2012
There's never been a book written about Rothko's formative years (the 1940s), so this is a welcomed addition to the collection of any fan of his work.
Terrywood
Terrywood
Authors: Jeffrey Deitch, Al Moran, and Terry Richardson
Released: November 30, 2012
Terry Richardson's second book, Terrywood brings you into the world of the famed photographer. It contains images of Hollywood and its aesthetic from his successful 2012 exhibition Terrywood at OHWOW gallery in Los Angeles.
Forever: The New Tattoo
Forever: The New Tattoo
Authors: Matt Lodder and Nick Schonberger
Released: August 2012
Forever: The New Tattoo documents a tattoo underground that has emerged in recent years, finally coming out of the shadows and ready to leave its mark. It features a series of image and text portraits that will impress tattoo enthusiasts and casual observers alike.
Instant: The Story of Polaroid
Instant: The Story of Polaroid
Author: Christopher Bonanos
Released: September 26, 2012
Polaroid has had a long and complex history of rising and falling in the photography industry. This book spotlights Polaroid's founder, Edwin Land, and the legacy he and his company have left despite no longer existing. Read an exclusive excerpt from it here.
Jork Weismann: Asleep at the Chateau
Jork Weismann: Asleep at the Chateau
Authors: Jork Weismann and Bret Easton Ellis
Released: November 30, 2012
Jork Weismann's photographs showcase some of the quieter moments at the infamous Chateau Marmont. Featured sleepers include Juergen Teller, Frankie Raydar, Patti Smith, and Bret Easton Ellis.
New York at Night: Photography After Dark
New York at Night: Photography After Dark
Authors: Pete Hamill, Adam Gopnik, Vince Aletti, and Norma Stevens
Released: December 4, 2012
The greatest city in the world after dark photographed by Diane Arbus, Nan Goldin, Ryan McGinley, Bruce Davidson, and more does not disappoint.
The Disappearance of Darkness
The Disappearance of Darkness
Author: Robert Burley
Released: November 7, 2012
The Disappearance of Darkness documents the disappearance of analog photography through...you guessed it...photographs. These photographs are stunning, though, and the accompanying essays highlight the disappearance of film factories worldwide. Read an exclusive excerpt from it here.
Pharrell: Places and Spaces I've Been
Pharrell: Places and Spaces I've Been
Authors: Pharrell Williams, Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Nigo
Released: October 16, 2012
Pharrell's book has been talked about a lot this year. It contains a history of his artistic collaborations plus conversations between him, Jay-Z, Zaha Hadid, Nigo, and others. Read more about it in our review here.
Dennis Hopper: The Lost Album
Dennis Hopper: The Lost Album
Authors: Petra Giloy-Hirts, Dennis Hopper, and Brooke Hayward
Released: September 25, 2012
Dennis Hopper: The Lost Album is a fantastic collection of Dennis Hopper photographs that weren't discovered until after his death in 2010.
M.I.A.
M.I.A.
Author: Maya Arulpragasm
Released: October 23, 2012
M.I.A.'s new self-titled book is a document of her career as a fine artist before she decided to become a musician. It also contains the journey of her aesthetic throughout her three albums. Read more about it in our review here.
Milk and Honey: Contemporary Art in California
Milk and Honey: Contemporary Art in California
Author: Justin Van Hoy
Released: October 15, 2012
Milk and Honey: Contemporary Art in California highlights emerging artists alongside icons who all call sunny California home. It includes work from Ed Rushca, Ye Rin Mok, Ed Templeton, and many others.
Barry McGee
Barry McGee
Authors: Alex Baker, Lawrence Rinder, Dena Beard, and Barry McGee
Released: October 31, 2012
Barry McGee contains two decades of work from the legendary artist Barry McGee aka Twist aka Ray Fong.
Buy It Here
Electrical Banana: Masters of Psychedelic Art
Electrical Banana: Masters of Psychedelic Art
Author: Norman Hathaway, Daniel Nadel, Mati Klarwein, and Paul McCartney
Released: February 29, 2012
Electrical Banana: Masters of Psychedelic Art is a very thorough overview of the international language of psychedelia. Artists featured include Mati Klarwein, Tadanori Yokoo, Martin Sharp, and more, and it has a foreword by Paul McCartney.
