2025's Best Art Books for Holiday Giving (and Getting!)
Each year, I put together a list of new art books that stand out for their insights, clarity, and sheer pleasure to read. These are books that illuminate the artist, the moment, or the discipline in ways that feel fresh. And this year, I’m adding three exceptional choices for young readers—books that introduce children to art with intelligence and imagination.
Listen to the accompanying Reading the Art World podcast episode below.
By Amy Newman
Published by Princeton University Press
A revelatory portrait of a radical thinker before he became a painter.
Why I picked this: A rare biography that deepens our understanding of Newman’s intellect, politics, and artistic convictions long before he made the paintings we now consider essential. An extraordinary contribution to scholarship and a compelling read.
By Hal Foster
Published by MIT Press
Forty essays from one of the sharpest critical minds of the last fifty years.
Why I picked this: Foster’s breadth is unmatched—moving from Johns to Shermans to Pendleton with insight and precision. Essential for anyone who wants to understand the evolution of contemporary art and criticism.
By Jackie Wullschläger
Published by Knopf
A major new biography that reframes Monet’s life through newly translated letters and unpublished sources.
Why I picked this: A vivid, deeply researched portrait of an artist who changed the course of modern painting. Fresh detail, beautifully written, and illuminating even for readers who know Monet well.
By Stephanie D'Alessandro and Stephen C. Pinson
Published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The first in-depth study of Man Ray’s rayographs—those extraordinary camera-less photographs.
Why I picked this: A rigorous, beautifully illustrated book that connects the rayographs to Man Ray’s entire practice. A fascinating look at experimentation, chance, and the avant-garde imagination.
By Nicola Moorby
Published by Yale University Press
A dual biography that reveals the unexpected parallels between two giants of British art.
Why I picked this: Smart, balanced, and full of new insight. Moorby dismantles the familiar myths and shows how both artists shaped the future of landscape painting.
By Stephanie L. Herdrich
Published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Distributed by Yale University Press
A study of Sargent’s formative years in the city that shaped his artistic identity.
Why I picked this: A beautifully produced catalogue that traces the early brilliance of Sargent’s technique and sensibility. A must for anyone who admires his work.
By Emily A. Beeny
Published by Yale University Press
A close look at one of the most meaningful artistic relationships of the Impressionist era.
Why I picked this: A thoughtful and intimate exploration of influence, rivalry, and admiration between two artists who helped define modernism. Insightful, elegant, and richly illustrated.
By Matthew Affron
Published by the Philadelphia Art Museum / Distributed by Yale University Press
A sweeping, lively survey marking the centennial of Surrealism.
Why I picked this: A vibrant overview that moves beyond Paris to show Surrealism’s global reach. Great range, strong scholarship, and a wonderful gift for anyone drawn to the movement.
Edited by Christopher Green and Nancy Ireson
Published by the Barnes Foundation / Distributed by Yale University Press
A rare reunion of Rousseau’s works from the Barnes and beyond.
Why I picked this: An immersive look at a self-taught visionary whose influence continues to ripple. The catalogue brings together works long separated and offers new ways of seeing them.
By Margaret Andera, Rashid Johnson, Tom Teicholz
Published by Hatje Cantz
Longo’s monumental charcoal drawings responding to the political and cultural ruptures of our time.
Why I picked this: Urgent, powerful, and impeccably produced. A compelling record of an artist engaging deeply with the visual language of contemporary life.
Books for Young Readers
By David Hockney and Martin Gayford
Published by Abrams Books
A clear, engaging journey from cave painting to the digital age.
Why I picked this: Never simplistic—this book truly teaches children how artists see, think, and invent. Wonderful for family reading.
By Amy Guglielmo and Heather Alexander
Published by Penguin Random House and The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Charming, intelligent introductions to great artists and the worlds that shaped them.
Why I picked this: Smartly written, beautifully illustrated, and a perfect entry point for young readers who are beginning to look closely.
By Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers
A poetic, beautifully illustrated history of one color’s global story.
Why I picked this: Thoughtful, visually rich, and surprisingly expansive. A lovely choice for children—and adults who appreciate great picture books.