Tabish Khan's Summer Reading List: Top Art Books for 2026
Art critic Tabish Khan has curated a list of recommended art books for summer reading, covering true crime, sculpture, textiles, career advice, printmaking, space exploration, symbolism, queer art, Tudor history, botanical drawing, and art interpretation. Titles include 'The Art Thief' by Michael Finkel (Simon & Schuster), 'Totem: The Untold Story of Sculpture' by Jo Baring (Canongate Books, September), 'The Story of the Bayeux Tapestry' by David Musgrove & Michael J. Lewis (Thames & Hudson, September), 'Working in Art' by Alexandra Steinacker-Clark (Ilex), 'How to Enter the Art World…' by Hettie Judah (Hoxton Mini Press), 'The Story of Printmaking' by Holly Black (Yale University Press), 'Space Journal' by Dallas Campbell (Thames & Hudson), 'The Symbols of Art' by Susie Hodge (Frances Lincoln), 'Queer Art' by Mollie E. Barnes & Gemma Rolls-Bentley (Thames & Hudson), 'The Tudor Heart' by Rachel King (The British Museum), 'Beyond Botanical' by Daniel the Gardener, and 'Framing the Invisible' by Gita Joshi. The list highlights diverse topics and includes interviews with gallery directors and content creators.
Key facts
- Tabish Khan is the @LondonArtCritic.
- 'The Art Thief' is based on a true story of a prolific art thief who stole for love of artworks.
- 'Totem' by Jo Baring is published by Canongate Books in September.
- 'The Story of the Bayeux Tapestry' is timed to coincide with the tapestry's arrival at The British Museum.
- 'Working in Art' includes interviews with gallery directors and content creators.
- 'How to Enter the Art World…' by Hettie Judah is published by Hoxton Mini Press.
- 'The Story of Printmaking' highlights women instrumental in printmaking history.
- 'Queer Art' features Frida Kahlo, Keith Haring, Jeffrey Gibson, Zanele Muholi, Cornel Bradascu, and Del LaCrace Volcano.
- 'The Tudor Heart' was secured for the nation and is shown at The British Museum.
- 'Beyond Botanical' is by a professional artist and tattoo artist Daniel the Gardener.
Entities
Artists
- Tabish Khan
- Michael Finkel
- Jo Baring
- David Musgrove
- Michael J. Lewis
- Alexandra Steinacker-Clark
- Hettie Judah
- Holly Black
- Dallas Campbell
- Susie Hodge
- Mollie E. Barnes
- Gemma Rolls-Bentley
- Rachel King
- Daniel the Gardener
- Gita Joshi
- Frida Kahlo
- Keith Haring
- Jeffrey Gibson
- Zanele Muholi
- Cornel Bradascu
- Del LaCrace Volcano
Institutions
- Simon & Schuster
- Canongate Books
- Thames & Hudson
- Ilex
- Hoxton Mini Press
- Yale University Press
- Frances Lincoln
- The British Museum