Reading Room
The Altenbernd Foundation Reading Room is a growing collection of books selected to encourage curiosity, deepen engagement with contemporary art, and make art education more accessible. The online Reading Room is an early step toward the Foundation's long-term vision of establishing a publicly accessible art library within our physical space.
Explore publications on artists, exhibitions, art history, criticism, collecting, museums, and the ideas shaping contemporary culture.
Whether you are beginning your exploration of contemporary art or expanding an existing area of study, the Reading Room offers a place to discover new artists, perspectives, and ways of seeing. Over time, we hope to expand this resource through reading lists, book discussions, artist and author conversations, multilingual materials, and partnerships with libraries and cultural organizations. This list will continue to grow. Please check back for new additions.
Note: The inclusion of a book does not constitute an endorsement of every opinion expressed by its author, publisher, or distributor. Selections are provided for educational and informational purposes.
Explore the Collection
Browse our recommended books by subject and theme. Each title includes links to borrow it through the Orange County Library System (or your local public library), purchase it through Bookshop.org, or find it on Amazon. We encourage readers to borrow books whenever possible and to support independent bookstores.
Art History and Criticism
How to Be an Artist, Jerry Saltz. A working critic's guide to the mindset and practice of making contemporary art. Library · Bookshop.org
Seven Days in the Art World, Sarah Thornton. A close look at the institutions, fairs, and figures shaping the contemporary art market. Library · Bookshop.org
Ways of Seeing, John Berger. A foundational text on how meaning is constructed in images and art. Library · Bookshop.org
Get the Picture, Bianca Bosker. A journalist's immersive account of the contemporary art world, written for newscomers. Library · Bookshop.org
The Story of Art, E. H. Gombrich. A widely used introduction to the history of Western art. Library · Bookshop.org
Art as Experience, John Dewey. A philosophical account of art's relationship to everyday life. Library · Bookshop.org
Museums, Collections, and Curatorial Practice
Ways of Curating, Hans Ulrich Obrist. A curator's reflections on exhibition-making and the role of the curator. Library · Bookshop.org
The Curator's Handbook, Adrian George. A practical guide to the principles and practice of curating. Bookshop.org
Creativity and the Artistic Process
The Creative Act: A Way of Being, Rick Rubin. A meditation on creative practice and the conditions that make it possible, drawn from decades of work across artistic disciplines. Library · Bookshop.org
You Are an Artist, Sarah Urist Green. A collection of hands-on creative assignments from the creator of PBS's The Art Assignment. Bookshop.org
Books for Young Readers
Pantone: Colors, Pantone. A high-contrast introduction to color for infants, published in partnership with the Pantone Color Institute. Library · Bookshop.org
This Little Artist: An Art History Primer, Joan Holub. A board book introduction to art history and major artists for the youngest readers. Library · Bookshop.org
Suggest a Book
The Reading Room will continue to grow as we discover new publications and receive recommendations from artists, educators, curators, researchers, and members of our community.
To recommend a book for consideration, contact us.
Please include the book's title, author or editor, publisher, and a brief explanation of why you believe it would be valuable to our readers.
Affiliate Disclosure
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you purchase a book through one of these links, the Altenbernd Foundation may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Proceeds help support the Foundation's educational programming and mission.