50 Contemporary Artists You Should Know


Book Description

This survey of great contemporary artists is the perfect introduction to the exciting world of art today. Artists working after the Second World War faced a confounding array of challenges, as stylistic barriers were broken, technology advanced, and issues of sexuality and race came to the forefront. From painters and photographers to sculptors and performance artists, fifty of the most influential contemporary artists are profiled in this colorful and engaging book that traces the various artistic movements and radical changes of the second half of the twentieth and early twentyfirst centuries. Presented chronologically, each artist is featured in 2 or 4-page spreads that include brilliant reproductions of their most important works, an illuminating biography, key dates in their career, and informative background on major developments in the art world. Throughout the volume a timeline places each artist within the context of contemporary art. As diverse and inspiring as the artists themselves, this book is a voyage of discovery into art's cutting edge.




50 Modern Artists You Should Know


Book Description

Now available in a new edition, this chronologically arranged volume covers a century and a half of masterpieces which beautifully capture the development of art in the modern age.Now available in a new edition, this chronologically arranged volume covers a century and a half of masterpieces which beautifully capture the development of art in the modern age. Starting with James Abbott McNeill Whistler and ending with Matthew Barney, nearly every prominent figure in Modern art is represented in vibrant double-page spreads that show how these artists redefined norms and challenged tradition. Fascinating biographical and anecdotal information about each artist is provided alongside large reproductions of their most celebrated works, stunning details, and images of the artists themselves. From the Impressionists to the Surrealists, Cubists to Pop artists—readers will find a wealth of information as well as hours of enjoyment learning about one of the most popular and prolific periods in art history.




50 American Artists You Should Know


Book Description

Profiles the careers of fifty American artists, presented chronologically from colonial limners from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, to Kara Walker, born in 1969, and includes time lines and reproductions of their work.




50 Women Artists You Should Know


Book Description

Now available in a new edition, this book offers more than 500 years of achievements in art by women. This beautifully produced, richly detailed, and comprehensive survey of fifty influential women artists from the Renaissance to the Post-Modern era details their vast contributions to the art world. From the Early Baroque painter Artemisia Gentileschi and the seventeenth-century illustrator Maria Sibylla Merian to Impressionist Mary Cassatt and Berthe Morisot, and to modern icons such as Frida Kahlo, Georgia O’Keeffe and Louise Bourgeois, the most important female artists are profiled in this book in chronologically arranged double-page spreads. There is a succinct biography for each artist, together with information outlining her accomplishments and influence, additional resources for further study, and, best of all, brilliant full-color reproductions of the artist’s works. Packed with information, this stunning and absorbing book showcases the remarkable artistic contributions of women throughout history.




50 Artists You Should Know


Book Description

Now available in an updated edition, this attractive, useful, and entertaining collection of great artists and great art is a course in art history for readers of all ages. This bestselling reference guide profiles 50 major artists alongside their representative works. The entries are presented in an eye-catching format that features superb illustrations, brief biographies, and critical analyses. A glossary of important terms is also included in the book. Arranged chronologically, the selection of artists includes every major artistic movement and development since the Gothic period, giving readers a clear understanding of the evolution of the visual arts. Perfect for casual reading or easy reference, this accessible overview is a fun and practical art history lesson that everyone can enjoy.




Surrealism


Book Description

This accessible book on the Surrealist movement features paintings, drawings, sculptures, photography, film stills, and architecture, displaying the enormous breadth and variety of Surrealism. The Surrealist movement that developed in Europe following the devastation of World War I swept energetically through all kinds of media as artists found expression in an imaginative pictorial language. This introduction to Surrealism shows 50 unique artworks that have lost nothing of their irresistible attraction to this day. Each work is featured on a beautifully illustrated spread. An informative text highlights each work’s classic characteristics, its unusual aspects, and its significance in the Surrealist movement. Including brief biographies of the artists, this book is a beautifully illustrated primer to Surrealism.




50 Paintings You Should Know


Book Description

Now available in an updated edition, this generously illustrated book is a tour of the most important Western paintings since the Renaissance. Spanning seven centuries, this selection of 50 iconic paintings offers readers a crash course in art history while presenting gorgeous color reproductions that are a pleasure to contemplate. Starting with Giotto’s Arena Chapel frescoes and continuing through Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus, da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring as well as works by Monet, van Gogh, Cassatt, Cézanne, Dalí, Kahlo, Hopper, Pollock, Rothko, and O’Keeffe, nearly every important painter is represented in this book.




50 Contemporary Women Artists


Book Description

This one-of-a-kind compendium serves as a reminder of women's strength in the contemporary art market place, and acts as testament to the innovation, power, and necessity of women's art and its influence. Featuring a select group of living women artists and architects who have made significant and groundbreaking contributions to contemporary art, the volume profiles an international cross-section of women artists--from emerging to established--who address critical, social, environmental, psychological, historical, and social issues through their art. Included are works by five MacArthur Foundation Fellows. Ultimately, this book promotes women artists in an ongoing dialogue through the exploration of their work and process, while offering fresh perspectives on feminism and notions of cultural power. Readers receive a unique glimpse of seminal works such as Judy Chicago's The Dinner Party, as well as brand new pieces inspired by The Women's March on Washington in 2017. Complete with a foreword by Elizabeth Sackler, PhD, this compilation is ideal for educators, students, curators, collectors, and all those who support the arts.




You Are an Artist


Book Description

“There are more than 50 creative prompts for the artist (or artist at heart) to explore. Take the title of this book as affirmation, and get started.” —Fast Company More than 50 assignments, ideas, and prompts to expand your world and help you make outstanding new things to put into it Curator Sarah Urist Green left her office in the basement of an art museum to travel and visit a diverse range of artists, asking them to share prompts that relate to their own ways of working. The result is You Are an Artist, a journey of creation through which you'll invent imaginary friends, sort books, declare a cause, construct a landscape, find your band, and become someone else (or at least try). Your challenge is to filter these assignments through the lens of your own experience and make art that reflects the world as you see it. You don't have to know how to draw well, stretch a canvas, or mix a paint color that perfectly matches that of a mountain stream. This book is for anyone who wants to make art, regardless of experience level. The only materials you'll need are what you already have on hand or can source for free. Full of insights, techniques, and inspiration from art history, this book opens up the processes and practices of artists and proves that you, too, have what it takes to call yourself one. You Are an Artist brings together more than 50 assignments gathered from some of the most innovative creators working today, including Sonya Clark, Michelle Grabner, The Guerrilla Girls, Fritz Haeg, Pablo Helguera, Nina Katchadourian, Toyin Ojih Odutola, J. Morgan Puett, Dread Scott, Alec Soth, Gillian Wearing, and many others.




50 Portraits You Should Know


Book Description

This wide-ranging collection of 50 iconic portraits includes works by many of the world’s most renowned artists, each with their own style, technique, and story to tell. Throughout the history of art, most of the world’s greatest artists have produced portraits at some point in their careers, whether commissioned by rulers or magnates; created to preserve a cherished friend or relation; or even to capture the artist’s own likeness. Arranged chronologically, each of the 50 masterworks in this book exemplifies a moment in history, or a turning point in the artist’s career. Van Eyck’s A Man in a Turban, Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring, Sargent’s Madame X, Kahlo’s Self-Portrait with Necklace, Warhol’s Marilyn, and many more world-famous paintings are featured in exquisite full-page reproductions accompanied by engaging and enlightening texts. An introductory essay on the history and importance of the portrait in art history and brief biographies of each artist round out this survey that provides valuable information in an attractive and affordable package.