5 Books About Contemporary Art

Books on a shelf at the Morgan Library in New York

As arts professionals and educators, we need to be well-versed in how the arts are evolving and developing.
To help you stay fresh and up -to-date, so you can create, view and teach art from an informed perspective, I’ve created a list of 5 must read books for you.

Note that the target audience for this post is teachers and professional artists.. As some of the artworks discussed in the books deal with mature content, parents and teachers should thumb through the books to see if they find the artworks appropriate for their kid or teen..

1. In the Making: Creative Options for Contemporary Art by Linda Weintraub

2. What Art Is by Arthur C. Danto

3. Women, Art and Society by Whitney Chadwick

4. Vitamin T: Threads and Textiles in Contemporary Art

5. Themes of Contemporary Art: Visual Art After 1980 by Jean Robertson and Craig McDaniel

Check out my Recommended Reading List for more!

Note - These are affiliate links, and I may earn commissions on qualifying purchases made through these links.