Top 15 in Arts & Photography
Week of June 29, 2026

by Tom Ford, Bridget Foley
A celebration of Tom Ford's design work for both Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent from 1994 to 2004, created with the designer’s full cooperation. This colossal, slip-cased deluxe volume showcases 10 years of the most brilliant, most glamorous, most luxurious, and most provocative designs from one of fashion's great icons. In one decade, Tom Ford transformed a label known for providing clothing for traditional socialites into the sexiest, most decadent line imaginable. Sales exploded at Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent, creating the powerful luxury goods conglomerate that the Gucci Group is today. Ford brought a hard-edged style synonymous with 21st century glamour to his clothes, and every one of the thick, glossy pages in this collection reflect Ford’s exceptional taste. This is a chronicle not only of Ford's clothing and accessories designs for both Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent, but it’s also an exploration of Ford's grand vision for the complete design of a brand, including architecture, store design, and advertising. Fashion’s greatest photographers appear here as well, featuring more than 375 color and B&W photographs—including many previously unpublished images—by icons like Richard Avedon, Mario Testino, Steven Meisel, Helmut Newton, Herb Ritts, Terry Richardson, Craig McDean, Todd Eberle, and many other photographers. Originally published to coincide with his departure from Gucci, this is Ford's testament to a career of singular moments reinventing the boundaries of style and sensuality in clothing. With an introduction by former Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter and a foreword by Anna Wintour, Editor-in-Chief at Vogue.

by Frida Ramstedt
The new comprehensive bible of interior design, from a home styling guru who has coached an entire Scandinavian generation in the art of creating a harmonious home. Frida Ramstedt believes in thinking about how we decorate, rather than focusing on what we decorate with. We know more today than ever before about design trends, furniture, and knickknacks, and now Frida familiarizes readers with the basic principles behind interior and styling—what looks good and, most of all, why it looks good. The Interior Design Handbook teaches you general rules of thumb—like what the golden ratio and the golden spiral are, the proper size for a coffee table in relation to your sofa, the optimal height to hang lighting fixtures, and the best ways to use a mood board—complete with helpful illustrations. Use The Interior Design Handbook to achieve a balanced, beautiful home no matter where you live or what your style is.

by Will Schmid, Greg Koch
(Guitar Method). The Hal Leonard Guitar Method is designed for anyone just learning to play acoustic or electric guitar. It is based on years of teaching guitar students of all ages, and it also reflects some of the best guitar teaching ideas from around the world. Book 1 includes tuning; playing position; musical symbols; notes in first position; C, G, G7, D, D7, A7, and Em chords; rhythms through eighth notes; strumming and picking; over 80 great songs, riffs, and examples.

by Owen Knoll
Unlock the timeless beauty of handcrafted lace—one knot at a time. If you’ve ever admired intricate lacework and wondered, “Could I really make that?” this book is your answer. With a clear, structured 30-day approach, you’ll go from complete beginner to confident creator—no overwhelm, no confusion, just steady progress and stunning results. Inside, you’ll discover how simple tools and techniques can transform thread into elegant, heirloom-quality designs. This isn’t just a craft—it’s a calming, creative escape that rewards patience with beauty. What you’ll gain from this book: ✨ Step-by-step daily lessons that build real skill fast ✨ Clear, beginner-friendly guidance with zero guesswork ✨ Beautiful lace patterns you’ll be proud to showcase ✨ Techniques to create delicate, professional-quality designs ✨ A relaxing hobby that reduces stress and sparks creativity Whether you want to create handmade gifts, start a small craft business, or simply enjoy a mindful new hobby, this guide is designed for you. Perfect for: ✔ Absolute beginners with no prior experience ✔ DIY enthusiasts looking for a creative outlet ✔ Craft lovers eager to expand their skills ✔ Anyone seeking a relaxing, productive pastime By the end of 30 days, you won’t just understand the craft—you’ll be creating stunning lace pieces with confidence and precision. Start your journey today and turn simple thread into breathtaking works of art.

by Athena Calderone
From celebrated design expert and interior designer Athena Calderone, a look into how creatives decorate their spaces Beautiful design isn't just pleasant to look at; it improves the quality of our lives. In Live Beautiful, the highly anticipated design book by Athena Calderone, the EyeSwoon creator taps into her international network of interior decorators, fashion designers, and tastemakers to reveal how carefully crafted interiors come together. She also opens the doors to two of her own residences. With each homeowner, Calderone explores the initial spark of inspiration that incited their design journey. She then breaks down the details of the rooms--like layered textures and patterns, collected pieces, and customized vignettes--and offers helpful tips on how to bring these elevated elements into your own space. Filled with gorgeous photography by Nicole Franzen, Live Beautiful is both a showpiece of exquisite design and a guide to creating a home that's thoughtfully put together.

by Architectural Digest
A rich visual history of Architectural Digest, published for the magazine's 100th anniversary Architectural Digest at 100 celebrates the best from the pages of the international design authority. The editors have delved into the archives and culled years of rich material covering a range of subjects. Ranging freely between present and past, the book features the personal spaces of dozens of private celebrities like Barack and Michelle Obama, David Bowie, Truman Capote, David Hockney, Michael Kors, and Diana Vreeland, and includes the work of top designers and architects like Frank Gehry, David Hicks, India Mahdavi, Peter Marino, John Fowler, Renzo Mongiardino, Oscar Niemeyer, Axel Vervoordt, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Elsie de Wolfe. Also included are stunning images from the magazine's history by photographers such as Bill Cunningham, Horst P. Horst, Simon Upton, Francois Dischinger, Francois Halard, Julius Shulman, and Oberto Gili.

by Paul Sterry, Christopher Perrins, Sonya Patel Ellis
An informative and eye-catching reference book for beginner and intermediate backyard bird enthusiasts The Backyard Birdwatcher's Bible is that rare type of book, one that is as packed with information as it is pleasing to look at. The latest in a successful line of "bibles," following The Beekeeper's Bible and TheBotanical Bible, this new volume has the broadest appeal yet. An elegant aesthetic is paired with practical tips on identifying, attracting, and caring for backyard birds, as well as crafting bird-friendly gardens and bird houses. With additional sections focused on everything from the bird life cycle to bird behavior, symbolism, and meaning in art, this authoritative book is brimming with engaging answers to all of your birdwatching questions.

by Ernest Norling
Perspective is easy; yet, surprisingly few artists know the simple rules that make it so. Remedy that situation with this simple, step-by-step book, the first devoted entirely to the topic. 256 illustrations.

by Lise Herzog
Learn how to draw cool creatures, awesome wildlife, and all your favorite animals with over 150 step-by-step illustrations! Follow along with your sketchbook, pens, and pencils as this easy-to-follow instructional book teaches you how to illustrate your favorite animals. With more than 150 step-by-step illustrations, Drawing Animals is the perfect guide for aspiring artists. Each chapter starts off simple, with how to draw basic animal body shapes. You will then learn how to adapt these bodies to create various species as you go along, including: *Dolphins *Horses *Insects *Birds *Cats *and even Dinosaurs! In addition to creating lifelike animal illustrations, you'll also develop your technical drawing skills by learning which drawing tools will produce thin and thick lines, different levels of shading, and softer edges. Then you'll be able to use this knowledge to create the perfect finishing details for your animals, from scales to feathers to shaggy fur.
by Elisabeth Vincentelli, Insight Editions
Filled with gorgeous illustrations and concept art from the hit Netflix series, The Art and Making of Arcane is an immersive journey behind the scenes of the Emmy Award-winning Animated Series! The Art and Making of Arcane takes readers through the visual journey of Riot Games’ and Fortiche's revolutionary animated series. Featuring early art styles, evolving character designs, and jaw-dropping worldbuilding artwork, this volume is the definitive compendium of Arcane’s creative process and vision. Arcane and League of Legends fans alike will be amazed by the visual development of fan-favorite champions, the breathtaking cityscapes of Piltover and Zaun, and the riveting inventions of hextech and Shimmer.
by Mason Currey
"Mason Currey is the undisputed master of finding, in the messy lives of great artists and thinkers throughout time, deeply human lessons about cultivating meaning in our current age." —Cal Newport, New York Times bestselling author of Slow Productivity and Deep Work Daily Rituals author Mason Currey weaves together delightful, illuminating stories and reflections about how famous artists, writers, musicians, and filmmakers throughout history have managed to successfully (or not) support a creative life. Many of us are drawn to a life in the arts but daunted by how to balance that ambition with the very real need to pay rent and put food on the table. It is impossible to become an accomplished painter, composer, or novelist without spending time experimenting, making false starts, absorbing criticism, reading, talking, and moping about the house. All this time must be purchased, one way or another. Is the history of art and ideas just a history of rich kids? The answer, of course, is no. William Carlos Williams was a family doctor. Franz Kafka was an insurance man, as were Charles Ives and Wallace Stevens. Grace Hartigan temped. James Joyce mooched off his brother; Christopher Isherwood ingratiated himself with a wealthy uncle. Virginia Woolf and Louisa May Alcott were determined to make their writing pay no matter what. And their material circumstances had an impact on all of their creative outputs. From family money to jobs to colorful schemes, Mason Currey, author of the acclaimed Daily Rituals, explores both the well-worn and unlikely paths forward for the up-and-coming artist. Making Art and Making a Living is an entertaining and thought-provoking examination of the collision of creative ambitions with real-world necessities and of the messy, glorious, torturous compromises that gifted individuals have patched together when facing the eternal dilemma of an artistic life.

by Daniele Bott
Contains images, photographs, and drawings that showcase traditional and reinterpreted designs representative of Chanel style, grouped in the themes of the suit, the camellia, jewelry, fragrance and makeup, and the black dress.
by Amber Lewis, Cat Chen
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • The trendsetting designer known for her effortless style shares the secrets of the art of layering, with more than 250 gorgeous photographs of her signature interiors. “Livability is my true north. The materials I use time and again all change with age and wear. Not only is that okay, it’s how you achieve more than a re-creation of what you’ve already seen, or what somebody else has done. You can do this, too—I promise.”—from the introduction Designing a room with all the vibes comes down to how you layer your décor. The more you can mix the elements of your room—your pillows, objects, patterns, and lighting—the more finished it’ll feel: not too new, not too old, but just right. Known for her eclectic approach that stems from her California cool, Amber Lewis trains your eye in Made for Living, offering friendly advice on everything from nailing that perfect shade of paint to mismatching patterns with wild abandon to choosing a stone finish for new countertops. These pages will help you design a home that's made to be lived in.
by O-Young Lee
Containing photographs of everyday, antique objects along with insightful commentary, Things Korean is a useful guide to traditional life in Korea. O-Young Lee, former Korean Minister of Culture gives us a survey of native objects from Korea, from totems(Changsung) to hair-pins(binyo), crock pots(Changdokdae) to temple bells(Jong), scissors(Kawi) to graves(mudon) explaining their significance and place in everyday Korean life. Each item in the book is listed under its English and Korean name; a glossary is provided to further assist the reader. Lavishly illustrated with more than 100 color illustrations, Things Korean is a magnificent celebration of Korean culture.
