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9 best new art books to read or gift this Autumn 2025

  • Writer: maxwell museums
    maxwell museums
  • 31 minutes ago
  • 3 min read

Autumn 2025 is shaping up to be a vintage season for art and museum publishing. From dazzling exhibition catalogues to revealing artist biographies, and with accessible introductions for newcomers thrown in too, these are the best new art books to read or gift this autumn.


Whether you’re after something scholarly or just beautiful to leaf through, this expert-curated list covers the standouts you shouldn’t miss, including some accompanying some of London's biggest exhibitions this season.


Quick picks of the best new art books autumn 2025:


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Book cover titled "HOW TO ART" by Kate Bryan, features bold red letters and a pink eye design. Includes a review and mentions David Shrigley.

This is a book on a mission to help everybody discover art. Penned by Soho House’s Chief Art Director and judge of Sky Portrait Artist of the Year, it’s “the definitive 'how to' guide to not being intimidated by the world of art” according to Tate’s Director. Plus it’s illustrated throughout by David Shrigley.




Marie Antoinette Style by Sarah Grant


Portrait of a woman in ornate jewelry, with "Marie Antoinette Style" text. Background shows pink lace and leopard print pattern.

The most anticipated London exhibition of the autumn (now open at the V&A) is accompanied by what Observer art critic Laura Cumming calls “this year’s most sumptuous catalogue.” This ground-breaking volume reconstructs the life and style of the captivating yet tragic French queen, before considering afresh the legacy of a complex and mis-understood figure





Theatre Picasso by Natalia Sidlina and Rosalie Doubal


Text "Theatre Picasso" in bold black font on a textured beige background, with a small "Tate" logo in the corner.

Marking the centenary of one of Pablo Picasso’s most famous paintings — The Three Dancers — and published to accompany Tate’s new exhibition, this book brings to life Picasso’s performative persona and his interest in dance, music and theatre. It promises to addresses head-on some of the complexities of Picasso’s life.





Bright yellow book cover for "Great Art Explained" by James Payne features famous art pieces in a circular collage. Text: "An Instant Classic."

Great Art Explained is a YouTube sensation, with 1.75m subscribers. Now its creator brings his no-nonsense analysis to this perfect Christmas gift, which sheds new light on thirty different masterpieces from around the globe. It reveals what makes them truly timeless works of art, and Stephen Fry calls it “an instant classic.”





Sepia-toned book cover shows a close-up of a woman's face. Text reads "BRITISH BLONDE" and "Lynda Nead," with subtitle below.

The definitive account of how American glamour swept into war-torn Britain in the 1950s, as told through the stories of four iconic blondes: Diana Dors, Ruth Ellis, Barbara Windsor and Pauline Boty. This is a story of image-making, and how paintings, film, advertising and photography shape our perspectives.




Holbein: Renaissance Master by Elizabeth Goldring


A woman in ornate medieval attire stands against a blue background. The text reads "HOLBEIN" and "Elizabeth Goldring."

This landmark biography examines the artist who has shaped our view of the Tudor court. Holbein’s images of Henry VIII, Thomas More and Thomas Cromwell are so familiar, we forget his genius. Rich but accessible, readers will see new archival discoveries and the latest scientific research.





Book cover on a white background featuring dynamic figures and bold colors. Text: "Comrades in Art," "Artists Against Fascism 1933-1943," "Andy Friend," and "Frances Spalding."

This compelling group biography explores the political forces that shaped the development of modern art in Britain, tracing how artists set aside aesthetic differences and mobilized on an unprecedented scale to resist fascism and campaign for cultural freedom. It features some of the best-known names in art — from Barbara Hepworth to Pablo Picasso.





Wright of Derby: From the Shadows by Jon King and Christine Riding


A group of people in dim light, with one holding a raised bird. A glass container and instruments on the table. Text reads "Wright of Derby From the Shadows."

Published to accompany the first ever exhibition to focus on the ‘candlelight’ series of works by Joseph Wright of Derby (opening at the National Gallery in November 2025), this landmark publication explores the social and artistic context of these pictures, positioning them as outstanding examples of European painting.





Book cover with a colorful, abstract eruption illustration. Text reads "Modern Japanese Printmakers," "New Waves and Eruptions," and "Malene Wagner."

This captivating exploration of the vibrant world of post-World War II Japanese printmaking is written by one of the world’s leading authorities. Readers will go beyond Hokusai to discover 100 extraordinary images from 44 modern artists. Designed to complement the striking aesthetic of the prints themselves, this book is a visual feast.




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