Art Lover’s Gift Guide – Part 1

Posted on by The Wandering Art Historian

It is that time of year again and even though the 2020 holiday season looks a bit different, some things never change… like the stress that comes from trying to find the perfect gift!

If you need a little help finding the perfect gift for the art lover in your life, check out this list of art books that I have compiled just for you!  All the books on this list were published this year and cover a wide range of topics. I have also included a few suggestions to help you along the way!

***If your art lover enjoys a bit of snarky humor with their classical paintings, consider…

Men to Avoid in Art and Life by Nicole Tersigni

This comical look at art history will have you laughing out loud at the realization that some interactions between men and women haven’t really changed that much since the Renaissance.

***If your art lover appreciates how art begets art, consider…

Kusama by Elisa Macellari

This graphic novel is an illustrated love letter from one artist to another.  Heads up – some of the illustrations include nudity, so adults may want to preview this book before gifting it to a young person.

***If your art lover is an activist at heart, consider…

Guerrilla Girls: The Art of Behaving Badly by the Guerrilla Girls

This book chronicles the amazing 35-year-history of the anonymous collective known as “the conscience of the art world.”  And since there is more work to be done, a paper gorilla mask is included in the back of the book!

***If your art lover is also a museum enthusiast (like me!), consider…

Writing the Future: Basquiat and the Hip-Hop Generation, MFA Publications

This is the exhibition catalogue for the show of the same name currently on view at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.  The scholarly articles included in this catalogue are some of the most insightful I have ever read, and the images are phenomenal.  This one is a must have!

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I am writer and artist with a degree in art history who loves to talk to people about art. I have spent the last seven years building up The Wandering Art Historian “brand” as a way to connect with people who want to learn more about art. I give lectures and presentations and teach classes and host book club discussions with a creative or artistic connection. I also write about local artists, events, museums, and exhibitions to promote the arts in Central Florida. In 2021, I had a creative crisis. I struggled with authenticity in the art making process. I decided to make myself vulnerable and find out what a real, genuine Adrienne H. Lee artwork would look like. The process was challenging and emotional and revelatory. I learned that if necessity is the mother of invention, then authenticity is the mother of reinvention. I reinvented myself and learned an entirely new medium. The resulting artwork surprised me, and it will surprise you, too. Some people wish for a fairytale ending. For me, the fairy tale is only the beginning.