The best arts and culture books to enjoy this festive season

Wonderful artist interviews, architectural histories and a good dose of pop culture all make our list of must-sees

Judy Chicago, Birthday Bouquet for Belen, Smoke Test, 2019. © Judy Chicago/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Artists in their own words

Enter the worlds of enthralling creative minds, whether it be the newest monograph from Toyin Ojih Odutola, who brings together stories of two aristocratic African clans through stunning drawings and hand-written notes, or Sean Scully’s enlightening conversations with his friend, the critic Kelly Grovier. Even more writing is collected in a new volume by the acclaimed artist and educator Phyllida Barlow, while famed feminist trailblazer Judy Chicago rewrites her own narrative in The Flowering. 

• On the Line: Conversations with Sean Scully, by Kelly Grovier (Thames & Hudson, £25) Click here for an exclusive discount for Arts Society Members and Supporters 
• Toyin Ojih Odutola: The UmuEze Amara Clan and the House of Obafemi, by Toyin Ojih Odutola (Rizzoli Electa, £45)
• The Flowering: The Autobiography of Judy Chicago, by Judy Chicago and Gloria Steinem (Thames & Hudson, £30)

Phyllida Barlow: Collected Lectures, Writings and Interviews, edited by Sara Harrison (Hauser & Wirth Publishers, £32)

Priya Kambli

Uncovering fabulous photography

Some of the world’s earliest photographs were made by women, yet many names, whether historical or otherwise, have become lost. Emma Lewis, assistant curator of international art at Tate Modern, aims to correct this with her wonderful new survey book, which spotlights everyone from Doris Derby to Arvida Bystrom. More forgotten images see the light of day in a collaborative book by Martin Parr and The Anonymous Project, which sees shots by the famed photographer shown alongside a found amateur snap, drawn from the organisation’s archive. 

• Déjà View, by Martin Parr and The Anonymous Project (Hoxton Mini Press, £22.95)
• Photography: A Feminist History, by Emma Lewis (Ilex Press, £40)

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Alex Webb, Baudrémont, France, 2000. © 2021 Alex Webb/Magnum Photo. Courtesy Thames & Hudson

For a dose of pop culture

Recall the amazing graphic art used to decorate a once ubiquitous marketing spot, the beer mat, in Adam Kimberley’s wonderful book, or else send a shiver down your spine with an illustrated guide to all things Gothic, from Victorian literature to sci-fi cinema. For something more comforting, Magnum’s compendium of dog pictures, taken by the agency’s esteemed photographers over the decades, is sure to delight. 

• Gothic: An Illustrated History, by Roger Luckhurst (Thames & Hudson, £25)
• Beer Stained Pulp, by Adam Kimberley (Unicorn Publishing, £12)
• Magnum Dogs, introduction by Jonny Clowes (Thames & Hudson, £16.99)
   

Burghley House, heaven room. The Burghley House Collection

Spotlighting illustrious histories

How did some of the most marvellous artworks in the world come into being? Both Norbert Wolf and Clive Aslet answer this question, with the former tracing the wonders of the Renaissance through three cities, in an enormous and lusciously illustrated book. Meanwhile, Aslet’s more portable text considers the origins of the English stately home, from medieval halls to modern mansions, through wondrous anecdotes and expert know-how. 

• The Renaissance Cities: Art in Florence, Rome and Venice, by Norbert Wolf (Prestel, £99)
• The Story of the Country House: A History of Places and People, by Clive Aslet (Yale, £18.99)

© Art Kane

For the fashion-forward

For die-hard fans, a new golden book archiving the complete collections of Gianni and Donatella Versace is sure to be a gaudy, extravagant treat that places the wonders of 80s and 90s excess at its centre. For a broader look at social history, engross yourself in the command of self-expression with Jason Jules’ brilliant chronicle Black Ivy, which considers the ‘preppy’ uniform utilised by Black American men – specifically key players in the civil rights movement – as a tool of aspiration and power.  

• Black Ivy: A Revolt In Style (Hardback), by Jason Jules (Reel Art Press, £39.95)
• Versace Catwalk: The Complete Collections, by Tim Blanks (Thames & Hudson, £55) 

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