Art and expression are one of the most defining qualities of being human, and our celebration of creativity and identity remains one of our biggest collective achievements. But, keeping up with the latest trends and goings-on worldwide can be a tall order. Thankfully, we here at What We Reading have you covered with our list of the best art books published in 2023. From celebrations of indigenous traditions to strolling through the world’s biggest galleries after closing time, join us today for the best memoirs, biographies and art books from 2023!
An Indigenous Present – Jeffrey Gibson
Jeffrey Gibson kicks off our list of the best art books from 2023 with his collection of more than 60 artists, musicians, writers photographers and others paying tribute to Indigenous concepts, forms and mediums.
An Indigenous Present was conceived by Gibson, a renowned artist of Missippi Choctaw and Cherokee descent, and is one of the best guides for understanding the flair and development of North American expression. The book not only focuses on individual practices but also embraces the shared histories and traditions, for a reading experience that is designed to entertain, connect and inspire. Artists featured in the book include Wendy Red Star, Jaune Quick-to-See Smith and Brad Khalhamer.
Monet: The Restless Vision – Jackie Wullschlager
The Financial Times’ chief art critic, Jackie Wullschlager, gives readers our first major biography of Claude Monet in her 2023 biography. Throughout his long and creative life, Monet revolutionised the world of art, helping to found the impressionist form and leaving behind some of the most iconic images in Western art. Having been misunderstood and mocked throughout the majority of his early life, he overcame near starvation to become one of the leading figures in Paris’ bubbling cultural scene.
Yet, beyond the art, Wullschlager reveals the man who was also volatile and nervous and still very much unknown and misunderstood to this day. Monet: The Restless Vision is based on thousands of never-before-translated letters and unpublished sources that bring the man’s complex private life to light. The result is an enthralling and moving biography that completely flips our understanding of Monet as a man, and puts the fullness of his achievements firmly into perspective.
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Venice: City Of Pictures – Martin Gayford
Critic and art historian Martin Gayford takes readers on a breathtaking five-century journey through the city known as ‘La Serenissima’ in his 2023 book, Venice: A City of Pictures. From its rich history as a maritime power to its significant role in the Renaissance, Venice continues to mesmerise and enchant thousands of art-loving tourists every year.
Whether inspired directly by a stroll through its streets or indirectly through its wider influence on the world of art, Gayford explores what makes Venice’s identity so unique and how it has spread so powerfully across history. Featuring 186 colour illustrations, readers can sample works by artists ranging from Giorgione, Tintoretto and Paolo Veronese, as well as more recent outsiders inspired by the city such as William Turner and John Singer Sargent.
See What You’re Missing: 31 Ways Artists Notice The World – And How You Can Too – Will Gompertz
Have you ever found yourself wondering if artists come from another planet? How they’re able to make sense of and see things you can’t? If that sounds anything like you, Will Gompertz and his 2023 book, See What You’re Missing, are the only teachers you need!
One of the best art books from 2023, See What You’re Missing takes readers into the minds of artists, ranging from old veterans to the latest rising stars, to demonstrate how they look at and experience the world around them. Energetic and engaging throughout, Gompertz demonstrates how Frida Kahlo can help us see through pain how Rembrandt can help us unlock ourselves, and how combining these lessons enables us to feel truly more alive.
Thunderclap: A Memoir Of Art And Life And Sudden Death – Laura Cumming
Named a Best Book of 2023 by both The New Yorker and the Financial Times, Laura Cumming combines art history with a deeply personal memoir in Thunderclap. In 1654 the Thunderclap, an enormous explosion in a gunpowder store, rocked the city of Delft, killing hundreds of people, including the renowned artist Carel Fabritius.
Bestselling author, historian and art critic Cumming frames the story around Fabritius, framing this extraordinary moment in the history of art and tying it in with an exploration of her father, a fellow painter. Presented with a stunning array of Dutch paintings, Cumming’s distinctive eye for detail and remarkable delivery help showcase how the tiniest details in art can impact a painting, but also shape and inspire a view of the world.
All The Beauty In The World: The Metropolitan Museum Of Art And Me – Patrick Bringley
All the Beauty in the World is a fascinating exploration of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the treasures it houses by Patrick Bringley, who spent a decade as a museum guard. Millions of people visit the museum every year, but only a select few have unrestricted access to every nook and cranny of its full two million square feet, and all of the beautiful art within.
Bringley describes how he found himself as one of the Metropolitan’s guards, quickly finding it to be the ideal solace away from the mundane clamour of daily life. Readers follow him as he guards treasures from Egypt to Rome, strolling through the dizzying labyrinths beneath the galleries and across the stunning array of artworks, creators and identities all under his care. One of the most stunning workplace memoirs published in recent times, All the Beauty in the World is a surprising and intimate portrait of one of the world’s best museums, its hidden treasures and all the creators and individuals who make it tick.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
