The gift? Agood read
These books were chosen by editors of the New York Times to please even the most discriminating lovers of the arts and pop culture.
Young Black artists
Collecting work by contemporary artists of African descent, “Young, Gifted and Black: A New Generation of Artists,” edited by Antwaun Sargent, features names like Kerry James Marshall and David Hammons, as well as commentary by curators. $49.95; artbook.com
A trailblazer’s story
Great news for fashion lovers: Naomi Campbell’s original $3,000 signed, oversize book, “Naomi,” has been repackaged into a much less bank- and backbreaking edition. It tells the story of one of the first Black supermodels through the spreads and campaigns that made her an icon. $150; taschen.com
Honoring a legacy
After Christo’s recent death, this updated career retrospective, “Christo and Jeanne-Claude — 40th Anniversary Edition,” by the artist and his wife and collaborator, offers readers a new look at their largescale environmental installations. $25; taschen.com
Faces of the world
In “Humans,” Brandon Stanton, the ethnographer behind the “Humans of New York” photoblog, widens his lens to include portraits and stories of individuals from all over. $35; us.macmillan.com
His starry nights
For lovers of art and tortured genius, “Vincent van Gogh: A Life in Letters,” edited by Nienke Bakker, Leo Jansen and Hans Luijtene, features selections from the artist’s correspondence, illuminating his creative process and personal relationships. About $39; thamesandhudson.com
Superbook of superheroes
Reproducing classic tales of Spider-Man, Iron Man and the Eternals,
“Marvel: The Bronze Age 1970-1980,” by Roy Thomas, includes a facsimile of the original X-Men from1975. $225; foliosociety.com
The artists behind liftoff
Since 1958, NASA has employed visual artists to depict its technologies crucial to space exploration, and their work is gathered in “The Art of NASA: The Illustrations That Sold the Missions,” by Piers Bizony. $50; quartoknows.com
Lennon at length
In the decade after the Beatles’ 1970 breakup, John Lennon’s artistic output shifted. “The Complete John Lennon Songs: All the Songs. All the Stories. All the Lyrics. 1970-80,” by Paul Du Noyer, is a deep dive into a bygone era. $35; weldonowen.com
The fine print
Annie Atkins, the Irish designer who has created graphic props for films like “Joker” and “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” illuminates her meticulous art in “Fake Love Letters, Forged Telegrams, and Prison Escape Maps: Designing Graphic Props for Filmmaking.” $35; phaidon.com
Here and queer
How would you express yourself within an empty white space? Given that prompt, people identifying as LGBTQ and their allies created an humorous, political and intimate journey in Magnus Hastings’ “Rainbow Revolution.” $40; chroniclebooks.com