<Five new art books to look out for this spring, including key artist biographies and the tale of an artistic rivalry — Art News
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article culture calendar_today Tuesday, January 6, 2026

Five new art books to look out for this spring, including key artist biographies and the tale of an artistic rivalry

Five new art books are set for release this spring, including a biography of 17th-century painter Michaelina Wautier, a study of Louise Bourgeois using unpublished archival material, a dual biography exploring the rivalry between Michelangelo and Titian, a catalog accompanying the Frida Kahlo exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and Tate Modern, and a volume on Francis Bacon’s literary influences housed at the Hugh Lane Gallery.

These publications offer fresh scholarly perspectives on both historical and modern artists, deepening public understanding of their lives and creative processes. The books also highlight ongoing efforts to recover overlooked figures like Wautier and to contextualize iconic artists such as Kahlo and Bacon through new research and exhibition tie-ins.