Akademie X, Phaidon, 35 USD
The scenario is all too common: young professionals in the arts trying to break into their respective career fields, but lack sound advice or resources to help them advance. Luckily, Akademie X is a book with seemingly all of the answers. Esteemed writers and artists, including Marina Abramovic, Joan Jonas, Miranda July and Richard Wentworth, share unique lessons and advice they've learned throughout their lives.
Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Decisive Moment, Steidl, 125 USD
Henri Cartier-Bresson is widely considered to be the founder of photojournalism, developing and mastering the ethos of street photography in France at the start of the 20th century. Specifically, Cartier-Bresson's The Decisive Moment—a vast monograph originally released in 1952, now worth thousands of dollars—showcased his best and most iconic work, which subsequently influenced generations of photographers globally. As the only reprint since the original edition, this book features hundreds of photographs as well as a history of Cartier-Bresson's work.
Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera: Mexican Modernism, Skira Rizzoli, 35 USD
One of the art world's most influential, albeit tumultuous, power couples is undoubtedly Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. Specifically focusing on their influence in the Mexican modernist art movement, this monograph includes more than 30 masterworks between the two, all of which reflect their progressive and experimental ideals regarding indigenous Mexican culture. The book coincides with the Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale's upcoming exhibit on the duo, slated to open on February 26.
The Wes Anderson Collection: The Grand Budapest Hotel, Abrams, 35 USD
Wes Anderson enthusiasts from around the world, unite and rejoice! To coincide with the director's latest pastel laden film, The Grand Budapest Hotel, a supplementary companion to the original The Wes Anderson Collection (2013) has been released, giving readers complete behind-the-scenes access to the making of the film. A select sampling of the wonders you'll find? In-depth interviews with Anderson, composer Alexandre Desplat, and actor Ralph Fiennes, amongst a plethora of photos and ephemera—all of which provide insight into the inspirations and themes of the Oscar-nominated film.
Man Ray: Human Equations, Hatje Cantz, 60 USD
Man Ray's surrealist series "Shakespearean Equations" seamlessly links together Shakespeare, art, and mathematics. Investigating the artist's development throughout his formative years for answers, Hatje Cantz's new volume on the artist Human Equations reveals the inspirations and common threads behind Man Ray's eclectic aesthetic, including oil paintings he created in California and mathematical drawings he sketched in Paris. Be sure to check out the accompanying exhibit at the Phillips Collection in Washington D.C. that opens on February 7.
The Weegee Guide to New York, Prestel, 39.95 USD
Roaming the streets of Manhattan in the 1930s, the photographer and photojournalist Weegee (pseudonym of the European-born Arthur Fellig) wasn't afraid of taking stark black-and-white photos of the city's least glamorous environs. He thrived in documenting less than desirable aspects of the city, such as gruesome murders, overcrowded tenement houses, and street thugs. This small volume is divided into 11 mapped-out neighborhood sections that feature new and old photographs from the darkly cynical master.
