Graphic Passion: Matisse and the Book Arts

A new exhibition at The Morgan, NYC explores Matisse's love (and meticulousness) for book design

In contrast to MoMA’s recently concluded exhibition of Henri Matisse’s cut-outs, The Morgan Library & Museum’s new “Graphic Passion: Matisse and the Book Arts” fills just one room and hones in on the French artist’s lesser-known passion for books. He loved the collaborative production between everyone involved (while maintaining that the artist should not be subservient to the author, but express kindred spirit and solidarity), …

Indoor Green: Living With Plants

Full of bright and cheery photography by Lauren Bamford with words by Mr Kitly owner Bree Claffey, “Indoor Green: Living With Plants” is a hardcover tome that celebrates the power of flora. Showing off homes all over the world, the book reveals the complicated and stupidly-simple ways in which a little greenery can transform an interior. And, if you can’t keep a plant alive, you …

The Surprising History Behind Typographic Symbols

It’s fascinating to think that younger generations will grow up only knowing “pound signs” as “hashtags”—yet, before that, did you know they were actually referred to as “octothorpes”? This continuous evolution of language affects all of us, and it’s the focal point of Adriana Caneva and Shiro Nishimoto’s new book “Glyph.” From ampersands to slashes, interrobangs and manicules, there’s a wide world of typographic symbols …