While the Renaissance is primarily associated with the development of linear perspective and the rediscovery of the antique within European contexts, it was also a period of global multi-sensory exchanges: perfumes and spices were traded over land and by sea, while chocolate, gold, silver, cochineal, ivory, and lapis lazuli were extracted from Africa, Asia, and the Americas for consumption and transformation into a multitude of objects – with both productive and destructive results. Renaissance Wonders: Art & The Senses, which focuses on the ‘long’ Renaissance (c.1450-c. 1650), highlights global connections within Europe and between Europe and other cultures in order to investigate how new navigational technologies and the ambitions of exploration led to an exponential growth in the exchange of works of art and other crafted artifacts, as well as of materials, technologies, skills, and ideas. 

During World War II, art was plundered on an immense scale. From the occupied territories, the Nazis hauled art off to Germany to build ambitious collections. For the first time, that story is being told for Belgium. How could paintings by Memling, Van der Weyden, Brueghel, Jordaens, and Cranach simply leave the country? After ten years of research, Geert Sels pieces together the puzzle from evidence he found in archives all over Europe.

Through rigorous detective work, he maps out the routes along which the art was taken away. After the war, paintings from Belgium found their way to the Louvre, Tate Britain, the Getty Museum, and the Yale Art Gallery. The Netherlands, France, Germany, and even Russia turn out to still hold art that should have been returned to Belgium. That makes the Belgian story an international one. Other works did come back and now are on display in Belgian museums – but without any effort to trace their rightful owners. Why did that never happen? Unlike other countries, Belgium has remained painfully passive on the issue of Nazi-looted art. Art for das Reich presents an uncomfortable truth and serves as a stress test for government policy.

Built in the heart of Paris between the 12th and 14th centuries, Notre-Dame de Paris is one of the most iconic monuments in the history of France. Standing over the Île de la Cité, it has weathered eras, revolutions, wars, and the capital’s many transformations while remaining a universal symbol of French heritage. This book traces the major stages of its construction, the richness of its architecture, and the key events that have marked its history, up to the 2019 fire and its subsequent rebirth.

Written by Armelle Le Gendre, an art historian, journalist, and teacher, this richly illustrated book offers a fascinating immersion into the history of one of the greatest masterpieces of Gothic art.

The present publication is an essential part of the narrative of Wayne Higby’s retrospective exhibition – focusing on the concept of the artist scholar – at ASU Art Museum, in Spring 2013. It documents his ceramic work with over 150 images of 50 seminal works and gives context to the story behind the artwork. Wayne Higby’s international reputation both as an artist, a scholar and teacher will be explored in the contributions to this book that includes a detailed chronology of Higby’s life and career as well as highlights and excerpts from his well known writings on ceramic art. Essays on the American Landscape and American landscape art as the inspiration behind Higby’s work as well as his important, influential explorations into contemporary vessel aesthetics are included along with an essay that chronicles his central role in the development of contemporary Chinese ceramic art. Additionally, Higby’s recent, dramatic, late career move to large architectural installations is explored in detail. Born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Wayne Higby received a B.F.A. from the University of Colorado at Boulder, in 1966, and an M.F.A. from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, in 1968. Since 1973, he has been on the faculty of the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, Alfred, NY. Wayne Higby is recognized as one of the most important and influential ceramic artists of the late 20th, early 21st, century. In particular, his work is celebrated for its innovative use of the language of landscape. Contents: Helen Williams Drutt – Foreword; Peter Held – Overview/Statement; Henry Saye – The American Landscape; Tanya Harrod – The Vessel in Contemporary Art; Ezra Shales –The Artistic Scholar; Mary McInnes – Architectural Work; Carla Coch – China Journal; Appendix; Chronology; Biography; Works in Public Collections; Bibliography; Artist Statements; Artist’s Acknowledgements.

Maple, birch, walnut, lemonwood and palisander are just a few of the woods from which Liv Blåvarp (b. 1956) creates exceptional one-off jewelry pieces. The rigidity or softness of the wood plays just as much of an important role in the selection process as its structure or texture. The works are comprised of numerous single elements, which fuse together to become sculptural volumes tactile creations that come alive when touched. Yet at the same time Blåvarp’s expressive and colorful pieces remain flexible and wearable. Their forms are not clearly defined; associations to organic growth, animals and plants, light and shade, water and waves all come to mind. With around 55 works from 2002 to 2017 Liv Blåvarp presents the first comprehensive review of her creative output. Text in English and German.

Beginning with the renaissance of gemstones in jewelry design since the 1970s, Ute Eitzenhöfer, Theo Smeets, Lothar Brügel (ret. 2014) and Eva-Maria Kollischan (since 2014) successfully established the Hochschule Trier in Idar-Oberstein as a creative European jewelry centre. To mark the exhibition in the Stadtmusem Simeonstift in Trier on thirty years of the Gemstone and Jewellery Department, the publication shows an exciting selection of works from the last ten years. Works in creative design and photography accompany diverse approaches that exemplify the contemporary use of a reputedly ‘outmoded’ raw material. In exploring the aesthetic characteristics of the material and the experimental confrontation with its physical qualities, the gemstone’s potential for design comes entirely into its own. Within current discourse it comments ironically, on the one hand, on the unilateral societal ascription as a luxury item; on the other, it functions as a charming and noble object of nature.

Text in English and German.

Trained at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-arts de Paris in the atelier of Georges Jeanclos, Elsa Sahal quickly focused on working with ceramics for their sensuality and fragility. Former resident at the Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts, in 2013 (Helena, MT), at Alfred University, New York State College of Ceramics, in 2009-2010 (Alfred, NY) and at the Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres (2007-2008), Elsa Sahal has also taught at the Haute École d’Art et de Design in Geneva and at the École Supérieure d’Arts Décoratifs in Strasbourg.

She experiments in particular with the idea of volume and balance in sculpture, while returning to an exploration of the themes of the body and femininity. Ambiguous, dense, sensual and colorful, her works oscillate between anthropomorphic landscape and the landscaped body, taking up Cézanne’s dream of uniting women’s curves with the shoulders of hills. Elsa Sahal conceives, kneads and then produces complex and disturbing forms sustained by dense colors and sublimated through enamel.

Winner of the MAIF prize for sculpture, in 2008, and the contemporary sculpture prize awarded by the Fondazione Francesco Messina, in 2007, Elsa Sahal has presented her work in one-woman shows and group exhibitions in numerous museums around the globe: at the Bonnefantenmuseum, ‘Ceramix, Ceramic art from Gauguin to Schütte’, in 2015 (Maastricht); at the MAD Museum, ‘Body and Soul, New International Ceramics’, in 2013 (New York); at the Fondation d’entreprise Ricard, ‘Sculptures’, in 2008 (Paris); and at the Incheon Women Artists Biennale, in 2008 (Korea).

Text in English and French.

The Barbier-Mueller Collection of Pre-Columbian art, recently auctioned at Sotheby’s, is the most comprehensive collection of its kind. Comprising some 300 works from Mexico, Central, and South America – wood and stone sculptures, ceramics, textiles, and ritual objects – it spans 1200 BC to AD 1500. The Barbier-Mueller Collection, one of the most important and wide-ranging art collections in the world, was begun by Josef Mueller in Paris in 1908 with the purchase of works by Hodler and Cézanne; the Swiss Mueller then looked beyond Western art and bought his first pre-Columbian piece, an Aztec stone water goddess, in 1920. Today, Mueller’s daughter and son-in-law, Monique and Jean Paul Barbier-Mueller, continue to collect Western, African, Oceanic, and Cycladic art, which is frequently on loan to museums around the world. Text in English and French.

This book presents a personal collection of ancestor sculpture and protective deities, following the ancient migratory and trade routes of the Austronesian, Southeast Asian Bronze Age, and Hindu-Buddhist peoples. The author, Thomas Murray, has spent a lifetime studying this art through his endeavors as a peripatetic dealer, collector, and field researcher. The objects illustrated come from a swath of widely varied cultures from Nepal eastward to Hawaii, with the overwhelming majority from Indonesia and Southeast Asia. Murray’s eye is highly informed and based on an unusually large sampling of objects to which his experience and research have exposed him. The artworks documented represent some of the top examples he has acquired and retained over the course of a long career. They are characterized by sculptural balance and a harmony of line, as well as a rare quality of expressiveness. Each ranks high in terms of aesthetics and desirability within its own particular style as perceived by the art market and by other western aficionados.

“The well-judged employment of classical detail in a new home has an additional significance that cannot be underestimated. It is an expression of an informed personal choice and an evocation of the delight in the human senses. This is true of all the houses featured in this book.” Jeremy Musson
“The architects and craftsmen that Phillip has featured in this wonderful book all have a love for classical detail. The art is alive and well, as can be attested to in these pages.” David Easton
In The Art of Classical Details, Phillip James Dodd takes a close-up look at some of the finest examples of contemporary classical architecture. The book consists of two chapters: The Essays and The Projects. Starting with a foreword by renowned decorator David Easton, The Essays are written by some of today’s most sought after architects, scholars and craftsmen. Accompanied by sumptuous full page photographs and renderings that illustrate a use of fine materials, intricate detailing, and superb artisanship, these insightful texts are essential reading for anyone with an interest in the theory, practice and craft of classical design. The Projects presents an illustrated look at 25 of today’s finest classically-designed homes. Employing the theories prescribed in the writings of the first chapter, this portfolio of contemporary buildings exhibits the work of some of the most recognizable and celebrated architects in Great Britain and the United States. The work featured in within this book demonstrates the timeless beauty of classicism, and delights in the role that superbly crafted details play in creating art.

“Adimoolam’s work, in addition to being inherently attractive, is also intriguing for its unusual deviations off regular artways. Mapin Publishing’s The Art of Adimoolam is a show-and-tell of this journey and largely succeeds in giving readers/viewers an idea of the geography of Adimoolam’s routing in art and art’s forms and locations. Sinha’s writing maintains a sensitive balance of technical and human-interest angles….” -The Hindu K. M. Adimoolam’s art resists easy categorization. He brings to his work a genuine spirit of inquiry, and a continually rejuvenating wonder at the generative cosmic possibilities of art. He makes profoundly aesthetic choices, bringing to his abstract painting and apparently realistic drawing sheer, unambiguous artistic skills. Adimoolam is primarily optimistic; his paintings resonate with a pleasure in the sensuality of the medium of oil, its dexterity and movement, and its ability to translate emotion into color. What all the works have in common is his preoccupation with presences and fields outside his immediate perception, and a graded move towards the ideal space of pure abstraction. This for Adimoolam is the vivid, magnetic Other, the field of consciousness-energy or citsakti-one that is not personalized in any way, but which hints at the possibility of the deepest realization.

The Kabbalistic idea of creation, as expressed through light, space, and geometry, has left its unmistakable mark on our civilization. Drawing upon a wide array of historical materials and stunning images of contemporary art, sculpture, and architecture, architect Alexander Gorlin explores the influence, whether actually acknowledged or not, of the Kabbalah on modern design in his unprecedented book Kabbalah in Art and Architecture. Gorlin brings light to the translation of the mystical philosophy into a physical form, drawing clear comparisons between philosophy and design that will excite and exalt. Comprising ten chapters that each outline key concepts of the Kabbalah and its representations, both in historic diagrams and the modern built environment, Kabbalah in Art and Architecture puts forth an unparalleled and compelling reinterpretation of art and architecture through the lens of the Kabbalah and Jewish mysticism. A chapter on the Golem, and an epilogue that discusses German artist Anselm Kiefer’s powerful interpretations of the Kabbalah, complete this unique book.

“The well-judged employment of classical detail in a new home has an additional significance that cannot be underestimated. It is an expression of an informed personal choice and an evocation of the delight in the human senses. This is true of all the houses featured in this book.” Jeremy Musson
“The architects and craftsmen that Phillip has featured in this wonderful book all have a love for classical detail. The art is alive and well, as can be attested to in these pages.” David Easton
In The Art of Classical Details, Phillip James Dodd takes a close-up look at some of the finest examples of contemporary classical architecture. The book consists of two chapters: The Essays and The Projects. Starting with a foreword by renowned decorator David Easton, The Essays are written by some of today’s most sought after architects, scholars and craftsmen. Accompanied by sumptuous full page photographs and renderings that illustrate a use of fine materials, intricate detailing, and superb artisanship, these insightful texts are essential reading for anyone with an interest in the theory, practice and craft of classical design. The Projects presents an illustrated look at 25 of today’s finest classically-designed homes. Employing the theories prescribed in the writings of the first chapter, this portfolio of contemporary buildings exhibits the work of some of the most recognizable and celebrated architects in Great Britain and the United States. The work featured in within this book demonstrates the timeless beauty of classicism, and delights in the role that superbly crafted details play in creating art.

There’s more to the South of France than sun, beaches, palm trees and the azure blue sea. For over a hundred years, it has been the favorite destination of many artists, who find themselves drawn to the superb light and the pleasant climate. The South of France for Art Lovers will show you what the area between Collioure and Menton has to offer in terms of surprising and remarkable art and cultural treasures. Journalist and art connoisseur Eric Rinckhout (Knack Magazine a.o.) selected more than 350 exceptional places: from the chapel decorated by Louise Bourgeois to the studio of Matisse and the apartment of Nabokov, from Eileen Gray’s modernist Villa E-1027 to architect Frank Gehry’s most recent design, from the oldest cinema in the world to street art in Marseille. Discover the best and most unique spots in inspiring lists such as contemporary sculpture gardens on wine estates, in the footsteps of painters and writers, chansonniers and rock stars, sleeping inside art, gardens that are artistic gems and much more.

“This beautifully produced book will be inspiring to botanical artists and all those who are captivated by the orchid.” — Leisure Painter

“Through these paintings, stories of high stakes orchid breeding and exhibiting are explored, with a cast of characters who helped shape the horticultural world we know today, alongside the dedicated artists who still support their endeavours.” — Lovely Books

Orchids have long held a place of esteem and fascination in the horticultural world. In the 19th century, orchid collecting reached new fanatical heights, with explorers dispatched to every corner of the globe in search of new varieties that could be auctioned at extravagant prices, and orchids are still one of the most popular flowers to breed and buy to this day. These beautiful, diverse flowers are one of the two largest families of flowering plants, with over 30,000 species and over 181,500 hybrids and cultivars.

The RHS Orchid Committee have commissioned watercolors of over 7,000 award-winning hybrids that demonstrate particular value in their fabulous array of colors, patterns, sizes and shapes. Through these paintings, stories of high stakes orchid breeding and exhibiting are explored, with a cast of characters who helped shape the horticultural world we know today, alongside the dedicated artists who still support their endeavors.

Punjab, and especially Sikh art, has taken multiple forms ranging from scriptural manuscripts, floral adornments to illustrations and illuminations. This family collection showcases varied forms of jewelry, textiles, arms, coinage, along with construction of religious places and monuments. Murals and frescoes, paintings from Mughal, Punjabi and Pahari styles as well as calligraphy; all enhance the culture and add to its beauty. In addition, foreign artists such as Emily Eden, Shoefft, Soltikoff and other Europeans have left their imprint. The Khanuja Family believes encouragement of art is an essential element in enriching cultural heritage, upliftment of the human spirit, which eventually results in understanding, tolerance and interconnecting us all. This collection is a labor of love which started with an interest in listening to the history of Punjab from elders and subsequently reading about it. Over time with the help of Dr P Khanuja’s daughter, Jasleen it evolved into this expensive passion of collecting artifacts and paintings over the last 14 years.

Gilbert & George created Dark Shadow in 1974 as a ‘living sculpture book,’ the ‘result of our past three years of earnest daily thoughts, shadows, deeds, cares, and pleasures.’ Hurtwood’s limited re-edition of 2,000 marks its fiftieth anniversary.

Featuring original text and artwork by Gilbert & George, the publication offers an unparalleled perspective on the early career of one of the twentieth century’s most significant artistic duos. Like their art, Gilbert & George’s writing is irreverent, rebellious, often funny, and deeply poetic. The book includes a letter to their readers and photographs by the artists of themselves, their home in East London, and their pictures.

Dark Shadow is structured into eight chapters, which elaborate on the inspirations behind Gilbert & George’s work, such as London life and British culture, including, of course, Gordon’s Gin. As is emblazoned on the cover, Dark Shadow is a continuation of their lifelong agenda ‘Art for All’, and each book is a piece of art in itself, uniquely bound in the UK with hand-marbled cloth.

For the past five years, the Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire has been organizing Quand fleurir est un art (The Art of Flower Arranging), a captivating event where renowned flower artists and designers from around the world unleash their creativity in the majestic rooms of the castle, creating stunning arrangements ranging from the most daring to the most classic. The Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire’s previous (and last private) owners, the Prince and Princess de Broglie, were avid plant enthusiasts. They took pride in their impressive collections of orchids and exotic green plants, which earned them numerous awards in horticultural competitions during the Belle Époque. Today, the Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire is committed to carrying on this rich legacy, inviting talented floral artists to showcase their artistry and expertize, creating a harmonious fusion of art and nature in the pursuit of beauty. This book offers a nice overview of some of the best creations that were on view during the event. Discover some of the amazing designs made by renowned floral designers such as Makoto Azuma (J), Clarisse Béraud (F), Timo Bolte (D), Rudy Casati (I), Tomas De Bruyne (B), Sébastien Dossin (B), Frédéric Dupré (F), Max Hurtaud (B), Pascal Mutel (F), Julian Paris (F), Gilles Pothier, Charline Pritscaloff (F) and the École nationale des Fleuristes de Paris (F).

Text in English and French.

Taking four themes as its starting point, this book reveals the strong interconnectedness of Ukraine’s turbulent history, the country’s permanent social and political unrest and the work of Ukrainian artists. Against Oppression, Forgotten Histories, Spaces of Freedom and Thoughts on the Future each reflect the dynamic between the drive for freedom and the mechanisms of oppression.

From illuminated manuscripts to two fried eggs and a kebab (and all the paintings in-between). What’s so great about Hogarth? Why should we care about an unmade bed? And who on earth is Banksy? Well, this book won’t answer all your questions, but it will tell you everything you need to know, and nothing that you don’t. Featuring 50 of the very best and most interesting British artworks from the dawn of history to the present day, alongside color reproductions and pithy explanations of key movements and terms, this guide tells the story of British art as you’ve never heard it before. The first book in a new series of Opinionated Guides on art movements, mediums and ideas which builds on the success of Hoxton Mini Press Opinionated Guides to London.

A visit to a museum is an extraordinary opportunity for imagination, liberation from the mundane routines of daily life, and opening the door to a world of diversified perspectives. In the last two decades, an artistic network has flourished along the scenic banks of Shanghai’s Huangpu River and Suzhou Creek, both prominent waterways in the city. As of 2023, the 6.3-kilometer waterfront along Suzhou Creek has been transformed into an awe-inspiring canvas housing more than 100 vibrant art spaces. Meanwhile, the Huangpu River has become a hub of artistic expression, featuring renowned cultural areas like the Bund, the “West Bund Cultural Corridor” project, initiated in 2010, and the post-Expo venues.

Roaming Shanghai’s Art Museums guides readers through every path that leads to the most important 15 art museums in Shanghai. This book unveils a comprehensive treasure trove of art museum insights, accompanied by precious photographs, and engaging dialogues with directors and architects. From industrial relics to architectural masterpieces by Pritzker Award winning architects like David Chipperfield, Jean Nouvel, and Tadao Ando, it takes readers to a world of art. Embrace the journey of artistic exploration, where each museum visit becomes a transformative and enriching encounter with creativity and human expression.

Text in English and Chinese.

D*Face, born Dean Stockton, is a British artist known for his distinctive blend of pop art and punk culture in street art. Drawing inspiration from American comics, he creates street art and exhibits globally, contributing to the rise of contemporary street art alongside artists like OBEY and BANKSY.

The purpose of this book is to give a wider insight into the practice of working within the streets and the public domain. What people most often see of street art is actually the middle point of an artwork’s lifespan, the clean image of a recently finished mural or a freshly peeled sticker but that’s not the whole picture. Not only is there a whole process leading up to the creation of a mural but there also exists a journey of change after work has been left to the streets. Paint fades, tags appear, stickers peel and crack – all these are part and parcel of what it means to work within the street. This book aims to tell that story.