Whenever I’m stuck in a reading rut, I find that art books of any kind are the only ones that can rescue me. This time, it’s Kory Stamper’s True Color, a transfixing story about the man who originated Merriam-Webster Dictionary’s definitions for colors. A begonia, for him, was “bluer than fiesta, and bluer and stronger than sweet william,” and scotch gray was “duller than mermaid.” What a mind.
Hers is just one of the captivating titles on our summer art reading list, complete with fiction, catalogs, photo books, and a graphic novel about stories themselves. Check out the full pile below, and let me know what you’re reading this summer by replying to this email. Titles, and tips for digging oneself out of a reading slump, are always welcome!
12 Art Books to Kick Off Summer
Beach reads are officially back, and it feels like nature is finally inviting us to bring our books outdoors again. In between your escapist fantasy novels and trendy memoirs, dip into an essay collection by critic Megan O’Grady on art as a necessity as vital as the air we breathe, or a graphic novel that captures the magic only books can wield.
O’Keeffe-isms
Drawn from her published writings, letters, interviews, and other sources, the quotes in O’Keeffe-isms provide insights into Georgia O’Keeffe’s artistic philosophy, creative process, and profound connection to the desert landscapes of New Mexico and the American Southwest.
Museum Mysteries From the Archive
How a Gauguin Painting Went From Real, to Lost, to Fake
The Case of the Disappearing Gauguin is an art detective mystery, a behind-the-scenes look at provenance research, a psychological analysis, and a critical commentary on the art market. | Michelle Young
The Case of the Disappearing Gauguin: A Study of Authenticity and the Art Market (2024) by Stephanie Brown
The Stories of Art History’s Detectives
The provenance researcher must be a detective, figuring out alternative ways to get at information that major participants in the trade are often unwilling to disclose. | Erin L. Thompson
Let Us Now Not Boast of Our Worldly Possessions: Provenance Stories from the San Antonio Museum of Art (2022) by Lynley J. McAlpine
Early 2026 Art Books From Yale University Press
Biographies of Anni Albers and Dorothea Tanning, The Met’s blockbuster “Raphael,” Edward Steichen and his flowers, and more books for art lovers. Shop the annual sale this May.
Books on View
Shoot the Shit With Jack Kerouac
In NYC, an exhibition of cherished letters, photographs, and talismans brings us into the daily life of the reluctant Beat Generation icon. | Greta Rainbow
Getting Messy in the Archive at LA’s Art Book Fair
This year’s edition of the annual Printed Matter show unearths and remixes historical media, collapsing time and giving the past new relevance. | Matt Stromberg
