Zak Parker
Does the depiction of beauty in the arts of ancient cultures seem vain to you?
Perhaps you could say so, but you will be missing the point: Ancient people that lived on not so comfortable times still found the time to immortalize that which they deemed beautiful and divine, the grandeur of their designs allows you to glimpse at the beauty that humanity is capable of producing, to appreciate what makes art great is truly an enriching spiritual journey across time.
Learn to appreciate art with these books.
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#1 Conversations With Artists by Heidi Zuckerman
Book recommendation by Lucy Lea Tucker from Aspen Art Museum
In this book of interviews with artists, Heidi Zuckerman, CEO and Director of the Aspen Art Museum, opens up the studios and practices of more than thirty prominent contemporary artists through personal and illuminating conversations.
A perceptive, sensitive interviewer, Zuckerman offers the reader refreshing insights and access to some of the most engaging artists making work this decade. Before arriving in Aspen in 2005, Zuckerman previously worked as a curator at the University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, and the Jewish Museum, New York. In Aspen, Zuckerman has transformed the Aspen Art Museum into a pioneering, risk-taking institution and made a name for herself as one of the leading museum directors in the US.
Conversations with Artists includes: Karin Mamma Andersson, Lutz Bacher, Darren Bader, Lynda Benglis, Walead Beshty, Huma Bhabha, Carol Bove, Andrea Bowers, Mark Bradford, Alice Channer, Simon Denny, Peter Doig, Cheryl Donegan, Tony Feher, Sergej Jensen, Liz Larner, Margaret Lee, Nate Lowman, Adam McEwen, Julie Mehretu, Shirin Neshat, William J. O’Brien, Laura Owens, Mai-Thu Perret, Susan Philipsz, Rob Pruitt, Pedro Reyes, Rachel Rose, Julian Schnabel, Gedi Sibony, Lorna Simpson, Frances Stark, Mickalene Thomas, and Fred Tomaselli.
Before buying a book make sure to compare price and outlet, we have included links below to several large book outlets for different regions in the world:
Read more reviews and buy the book here (Amazon)
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#2 1001 Art Masterpieces You Must See Before You Die by Stephen Farthing
Book recommendation by Lydia Anderson from The Quarto Group
With 1001 Art Masterpieces You Must See Before You Die, you hold in your hand the essential visual reference to sensational paintings from around the world. Accompany Professor Stephen Farthing on his personal guided tour of the paintings everyone should strive to see in a lifetime. Many are easily accessible—either in well-known galleries, such as the Louvre, in Paris, or MoMA, in New York, or in smaller, more intimate collections across the far reaches of the globe. Every one of them is worth planning to see.
Before buying a book make sure to compare price and outlet, we have included links below to several large book outlets for different regions in the world:
Read more reviews and buy the book here (Amazon)
Search for the audiobook here (Audible)
#3 Salvador Dali at Home by Jackie De Burca
Book recommendation by Lydia Anderson from The Quarto Group
Salvador Dalí at Home explores the influence of Catalan culture and tradition, Dalí’s home life and the places he lived, on his life and work. Fully illustrated with over 130 illustrations of his famous work, as well as lesser known pieces, archive imagery, contemporary landscapes and personal photographs, the book provides uniquely accessible insight into the people and places that shaped this iconic artist and how the homes and landscapes of his life relate to his work.
Before buying a book make sure to compare price and outlet, we have included links below to several large book outlets for different regions in the world:
Read more reviews and buy the book here (Amazon)
Search for the audiobook here (Audible)
#4 Living with Vincent van Gogh by Martin Bailey
Book recommendation by Lydia Anderson from The Quarto Group
Living with Vincent van Gogh sets out to examine the impact of the places where Van Gogh stayed, as well as the people he lived with, on his personal life and art. What effect did his series of homes and studios have on him? And what about the impact of the landscapes and cityscapes on his drawings and paintings? The book represents a concise biography, but one seen through the lens of the places where he worked.
Before buying a book make sure to compare price and outlet, we have included links below to several large book outlets for different regions in the world:
Read more reviews and buy the book here (Amazon)
Search for the audiobook here (Audible)
#5 The Da Vinci Legacy by Jean-Pierre Isbouts and Dr. Christopher Brown
Book recommendation by Jean-Pierre Isbouts and Dr. Christopher Brown from
To mark the 500th anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci’s death on May 2, 2019, Apollo Publishers will release a groundbreaking new study that lifts the veil on an enduring mystery: how did Leonardo, a painter of few works who died in obscurity in France while overshadowed by his rivals Michelangelo and Raphael, become the star icon that he is today? What propelled the incredible arc of his unlikely fame to make him the highest-selling artist today, while Salvator Mundi sold for nearly half a billion dollars?
Before buying a book make sure to compare price and outlet, we have included links below to several large book outlets for different regions in the world:
Read more reviews and buy the book here (Amazon)
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#6 Seven Days in the Art World by Sarah Thornton
Book recommendation by Caleb Backe from Maple Holistics
In this book, Sarah Thornton gives some insight into the world of art. From Christie’s auction house to the Basel Art Fair to Takashi Murakami’s studios, readers can better understand the nuances of this fascinating field. Thornton discusses the concepts of style, money, creativity and status, shedding light on various art institutions. She also shares material gleaned from countless interviews with professionals in the field, so it’s a great read if you really want to gain a deeper understanding of the art world.
Before buying a book make sure to compare price and outlet, we have included links below to several large book outlets for different regions in the world:
Read more reviews and buy the book here (Amazon)
Search for the audiobook here (Audible)
