Rachel Harrison's recent exhibition "The Friedmann Equations" at Greene Naftali in New York was a highlight of 2025, featuring her signature brainy, oblique, and funny sculptures and drawings. The show included works alluding to Marcel Duchamp and his alter-ego Rrose Sélavy, as well as drawings riffing on Hans Holbein's portraits of Henry VIII and his court. During a visit to the gallery, Harrison's dealer Carol Greene handed the author a copy of Harrison's new children's book, "Hold Still, Henry!", which reproduces those Holbein-inspired drawings in a board-book format for young readers. The book is published by Rookie Books, a small press founded in 2022 by artist Camillo Paravicini of Basel, Switzerland, who has previously worked with artists like Monster Chetwynd, Martin Parr, and Nathalie Du Pasquier.
This matters because it highlights the unexpected crossover between contemporary art and children's publishing, showing how a conceptually challenging artist like Harrison can adapt her work for a young audience without losing her distinctive vision. The article also spotlights Rookie Books, a niche publisher producing limited-edition artist books for children, which represents a growing trend of artists engaging with children's literature. Additionally, the piece underscores the playful, irreverent spirit of Harrison's practice and the enduring influence of historical artists like Holbein on contemporary art.