Turning tips into memories

Best coffee table books about art

By Emily Spicer on 10/9/2019

There's nothing quite like a coffee table book to dip in and out of when you've got a minute to yourself. With large glossy images curated to guide you through art, photography and fashion, these examples will provide inspiration, illumination and hours of escapism.

William Blake

The poet, painter and maverick William Blake captures our imaginations like few other artists can. His illustrations of biblical and mythological stories were completely out of their time, and largely unappreciated until after his death. The success of the William Blake exhibition at Tate Britain, has seen renewed interest in the revolutionary master and the glossy images in the accompanying book does his work justice.

Great Women Artists

Even now women are told that they cannot paint as well as men. To counter this millennia old bias, a whole flurry of exhibitions have been held this year, showcasing the works of female artists who have been overshadowed by their male contemporaries. And now Phaidon are helping to redress the balance with this encyclopaedic volume that examines 500 year of great art by great women artists. 400 names are included here, hailing from 50 different countries, each represented by their most iconic image. No self-respecting art lover should be without a copy.

The Word is Art

Published by Thames and Hudson, this book examines contemporary artworks from around the globe that use the written word. In these digital, information saturated times, artists are taking words and distilling them down, repatriating poetry and meaning. Tracy Emin lights her deeply personal phrases in neon, Bob and Roberta Smith taps into the era of hand painted signs and Jeremy Deller uses spider diagrams, to name but a few.

Basquiat

When Jean-Michel Basquiat was asked about his subject matter he replied “royalty, heroism and the streets.” He was born in Brooklyn, New York and typified urban cool in the 1980s with expressive paintings, peppered with caustic remarks that criticised inequality and racism. He was a good friend of Any Warhol's – the two collaborated – and enjoyed a meteoric rise until his untimely death from an overdose. Basquiat's work continues to be hugely relevant and influential and with this XXL monograph, you can explore his vibrant art for yourself.

Bauhaus

Marking 100 years since the foundation of the short-lived, but playful Bauhaus art school, Taschen is launching an updated version of its ultimate guide, which includes 550 illustrations. The Bauhaus school combined craft with fine arts, exemplifying practical, but stylish design for all. The school came to a premature end under the Nazis, but its ideals spread beyond Germany and live on in design to this day.

Leonardo Da Vinci: The Graphic Work

This year marks the 500th anniversary of the death of Leonardo da Vinci. A blockbuster exhibition at the Queens's Gallery, Buckingham Palace has opened to widespread acclaim. But don't worry if you can't make it, we've got the next best thing. Leonardo Da Vinci: The Graphic Work is full of glorious images of the Renaissance master's anatomical studies and incredible inventions. There are 663 drawings included in this sizeable tome, which you can pore over in you own time.

100 Painters of Tomorrow

If you like to keep one eye on the future, this book is the perfect indulgence. Showcasing the best of the freshest talent in painting from across the globe, 100 Painters of Tomorrow has been curated by some of the biggest names in contemporary art and includes a broad range of painters who work in every conceivable style.

Through a Different Lens: Stanley Kubrick Photographs

Stanley Kubrick is easily one of the most iconic directors of the 20th century, but before he turned his visionary genius to moving images the American auteur cut his teeth as a staff photographer for Look Magazine. With previously unseen images of Kubrick's native New York and tear sheets from the magazine, Through a Different Lens give a fascinating insight into the formative years of a filmic genius. The book is published by Taschen, who are also sponsoring the Design Museum's exhibition exploring Kubrick's relationship with London.

Van Gogh: The Complete Paintings

If Tate Britain's exhibition Van Gogh and Britain has put you in the mood for more from the Dutch master, you can't do better than this hefty tome, which brings together his 871 paintings alongside letters and essays. It is the definitive book for Van Gogh fans and at £30, excellent value for money.

Frida Kahlo: Fashion as the Art of Being

Last year the V&A launched Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up, an exhibition that explored the artist's unique sense of fashion. This year the Brooklyn Museum in New York followed suit with Frida Kahlo: Appearances Can Be Deceiving. If you missed the V&A show, can't get to NYC, or simply want some of Frida's inspiring style in your own home, consider Frida Kahlo: Fashion as the Art of Being, a colourful celebration of the Mexican artist's influencial image.