A celebration of pastel as an art medium, Swiss-born artist Nicolas Party’s Pastel exhibition at NYC’s The Flag Foundation was a delightful, immersive experience. For those who didn’t have the opportunity to wander the venue—with its Rococo-inspired murals, patterned walls and rich, elaborately framed paintings—the book Pastel commemorates the show. The 216-page hardcover serves as a look through the exhibition (featuring artists like Mary Cassatt, Edgar Degas, Toyin Ojih Odutola, Jean-Baptiste Perronneau and others) and includes words from Nicolas Party, Glenn Fuhrman, Robin F Williams, Louis Fratino, Loie Hollowell and Billy Sullivan.
From LA-based independent publisher (and coffee roaster) Deadbeat Club comes this limited run 2022 calendar, featuring photography, color washes, custom lettering and personal doodles by contemporary artist and professional skateboarder Ed Templeton. Measuring 12 by 13 inches, with a Wire-O binding, the pages within vary between full color and black-and-white duotone offset artworks.
Produced by Peachy Kings and printed on heavy paper stock, this Tom of Finland 2022 wall calendar includes 13 of the pioneering queer artist’s figurative illustrations. Classic Tom of Finland characters—some clothed, others nude, all bulging—make each month an extraordinary one.
Packed with thoughtful notes, important astrological dates, monthly moods and ideas for inspiration, Wilde House Paper’s Intentional Wall Calendar doubles as a way to organize time and a reminder to be your best self. Made from 100% recycled paper, the calendar is completed with a relaxed, minimalist typeface—the perfect composition for its beautiful messages.
With 365 typefaces from 248 type designers across 35 countries, this calendar—created by Lars Harmsen and Raban Ruddigkeit—is a well of inspiration for lettering enthusiasts and designers. In a lilac box (that also doubles as storage for archiving favorite fonts), Typodarium 2022 marks each day with edgy, eye-catching, fancy and fresh fonts, from ornamental script to noble serifs. On Sundays and holidays, the featured font has been handmade—crafted from scissors, pencils, stamps or tape. Price is in Euros.
From Luca Antonucci and David Kasprzak’s Colpa—a collaborative art practice, publishing house and curatorial team—comes NY Rave Flyers 1990-1995 Volume 2, a 76-page collection of clever, often colorful vintage imagery. Measuring 5.5 by 8.5 inches, the book acts as a design documentary of rave culture at the time, and the posters within the slender volume often surprise.
Biannual magazine SALIMA tackles art and culture with an intersectional feminist perspective, meaning they center the voices of Black people; Indigenous people; people of color; queer, trans or nonbinary individuals; and those with low incomes or disabilities. To that end, their magazine is pay what you can, and they offer issues in three different price points ($18, $28 and $48) to be accessible for those with less funds and provide ways for those with extra income to help cover the cost of someone else. In their second issue, the magazine found contributors who are 19 or younger to meditate on the theme of unplugging. Reports from TikTok, an interview with all-girl punk rock band The Linda Lindas, poetry and an insightful essay about emotional disconnection are just some of the critical work that constitutes this sophomore release.
When artist Judy Chicago was researching and developing her iconic 1974–1979 work, The Dinner Party, which commemorated influential women throughout history, she studied early goddess-worship within various cultures. This large, gloriously curved candle—A Goddess Glow—stands 10 inches tall and promises some 100 hours of burn time. Made in an edition of 1500 by Prospect New York, the goddess will change form through use, but remains a beautiful object even unlit.
Edited by Gagosian director Antwaun Sargent and published by the non-profit arts organization Printed Matter, Young, Gifted and Black: A New Generation of Artists considers works from the newest generation of Black artists as a whole. With an interview between Bernard Lumpkin and director of the Studio Museum in Harlem, Thelma Golden, and other contextualizations by curators and experts, this book outlines what it means to be young, gifted and Black in the contemporary art world.
Imbued with Misaki Kawai’s bold and playful style, this plush keyring is colorful, textured and sweet. The fluffy planet has been embroidered with the word “home” in Kawai’s trademark, childlike lettering. While it doesn’t resemble Earth, or even another familiar planet, it’s a nod to the idea that home isn’t a place, but a feeling.
Published by Phaidon, with text by Kellie Jones and Roxane Gay, this exquisite hardcover monograph is the first extensive study of pioneering Black visual artist Mickalene Thomas. Across 288 pages, Thomas’ powerful art unites to form an empowered dialogue about gender, sexuality, race and beauty. Thomas worked closely with Gay and Jones on this comprehensive volume, which coincides with her first-ever multi-part international exhibition, Beyond the Pleasure Principle.
Celebrating the humble but glorious hand-painted sign, this Los Angeles County Museum of Art tote features artwork by Ben Klevay’s She Chimp. The full address and phone number for the museum appears on one side and their LACMA acronym is on the other. Made from 100% cotton that is fabricated and printed in Southern California, this bag is a sturdy and comfortable option for carrying essentials.
This two-in-one brush and pencil carries the New Museum’s new mission statement, “New Art New Ideas,” through text emblazoned on the implement’s side. The statement underscores the museum’s ethos that contemporary art can act as a social and political force, capable of advancing society. To that end, this nifty utensil can be used to explore creative ideas through painting, sketches or a mix of both.
Part of the Welcome to the Museum series published by Big Picture Press, Fungarium is an imaginative foray into the world of fungi for middle grade readers. Written by Gaya Ester, with illustrations by Katie Scott, the hardcover book ventures from the humble mushroom’s place in the supermarket to the category’s role in the history of medicine. Sure to empower the next generation of mycologists, this beautiful book delivers awe and the unexpected.
After an art show was cancelled due to the pandemic, artist, writer and performer Annie Bielski combined different pieces of paintings that were meant for the exhibition to construct the layered, abstract work “Outside” (2020). As part of the Fort Makers’ Dreamscapes series, a limited edition print of this visual promises 50% of its proceeds to Henry Street Settlement Food Access Initiative, an emergency food pantry organization for those affected by food insecurity.
In this limited edition collaboration, iconic photographer and artist Cindy Sherman teams up with fashion designer Narciso Rodriguez to create a graphic, black and white T-shirt, with all proceeds benefitting Planned Parenthood of Greater New York. Sherman—who is revered for her use of costumed and theatrical effects that critique gender and identity—lends one of her dramatic and visceral images to this classic fit, which is available in size XS to XXL. Planned Parenthood of Greater New York provides crucial services and education, while also lobbying at local, state and federal levels regarding access to sexual and reproductive healthcare.
