Fresh Prints
These art-related new releases are chock-full of inspiration and intrigue
Me, Myself, and I
Slated for release March 20, Self-Portraits: From 1800 to the Present (Assouline, $160) boasts more than 60 self-portraits curated by art advisor Philippe Ségalot and studio manager Morgane Guillet. Presented chronology, the works cover a variety of mediums and makers—some ultra-famous, others lesser-known—providing a compelling visual narrative on the evolution of self-portraiture across recent history. assouline.com
Paper Trail
When does an object become art? Surrealism Through its Journals 1924-2024: Les Portes du Rêve (Skira, $40) proves there is little distinction. Released this year to mark the centennial of the first Manifeste du Surréalisme, this book of ephemera chronicles the Surrealist movement vis-à-vis its formative publications. By perusing the various chapters dedicated to historic art journals and periodicals that circulated Surrealist imagery, readers can gain a comprehensive understanding of Surrealism’s complexities and enduring appeal. artbook.com
Creative Process
Available for purchase April 9, The Inner Life of the Artist: Conversations from the Atelier (Phaidon, $30) seeks to spur the creative process via inspiring artworks, short essays, poignant quotes, and practical exercises. Herself a painter and educator, author Juliette Aristides illuminates the principles of classical instruction, with the goal of helping readers awaken their artistic minds and hone their technical skills. phaidon.com
Land Before Time
Immerse yourself in dreamlike landscapes in Damien Hirst:The Civilisation Paintings (Heni Publishing, $50). For those who couldn’t attend the 2024 exhibition of the same name at Phillips, London, this catalog-style tome includes 54 reproductions from Hirst’s series of oil paintings that capture the intersection of nature and human development. The book also features a foreword by art historian Norman Rosenthal and an interview between Hirst and journalist James Fox. artbook.com
Stroke of Genius
Dive into the emerging field of neuroarts in Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us (Random House Trade Paperbacks, $20). In this new book, Susan Magsamen (founder and director of the International Arts + Mind Lab at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine) and Ivy Ross (vice president of hardware design at Google) explore how the arts can impact the brain, body, and behavior. With input from such influential artists and performers as Renée Fleming and David Byrne, Your Brain on Art presents evidence—both anecdotal and research-based—for the vast benefits of engaging with the arts. penguinrandomhouse.com
