Books by Hettie Judah

Lapidarium: The Secret Lives of Stones

by Hettie Judah

Inspired by the lapidaries of the ancient world,this book is a beautifully designed collection of true stories about sixty different stones that have influenced our shared history

The earliest scientists ground and processed minerals in a centuries-long quest for a mythic stone that would prolong human life. Michelangelo climbed mountains in Tuscany searching for the sugar-white marble that would yield his sculptures. Catherine the Great wore the wealth of Russia stitched in gemstones onto the front of her bodices.

Through the realms of art, myth, geology, philosophy and power, the story of humanity can be told through the minerals and materials that have allowed us to evolve and create. From the Taiwanese national treasure known as the Meat-Shaped Stone to Malta’s prehistoric “fat lady” temples carved in globigerina limestone to the amethyst crystals still believed to have healing powers, Lapidarium is a jewel box of sixty far-flung stones and the stories that accompany them. Together, they explore how human culture has formed stone, and the roles stone has played in forming human culture.

Acts of Creation: On Art and Motherhood

by Hettie Judah

Exploring maternity through the work of artists from prehistory to the present day, Acts of Creation addresses the abiding mother-shaped hole in art history. Long taboo, lived experience of motherhood―and all that accompanies it―has become the subject of urgent discussions within the art world. Acts of Creation: On Art and Motherhood proposes the artist mother as an important cultural figure, though one long overlooked. Modern and contemporary artists such as Berthe Morisot, Barbara Hepworth, Jenny Saville, Paula Modersohn-Becker, Betye Saar, Suzanne Valadon, Louise Bourgeois, Carrie Mae Weems, and many others, address motherhood as a creative enterprise, albeit one tempered variously by ambivalence, exhaustion, and grief. Renowned author and critic Hettie Judah also addresses the conventions and expectations of motherhood through the lens of queer theory, environmental anxiety, and alternative family models. Acts of Creation reflects on the work of a new generation of artists examining the meaning of maternity and the ongoing struggles surrounding reproductive rights. From ancient goddess artifacts to contemporary interpretations of pregnancy in popular culture, this captivating, accessible, and well-illustrated narrative challenges perceptions and illuminates the complexities of motherhood in our ever-changing world. 150 color illustrations

The Secret Lives of Stones: Fascinating stories of gemstones, rocks and minerals

by Hettie Judah

Unearth the secret lives of stones in this dazzling cabinet of curiosities exploring the fascinating stories of 25 spectacular rocks and gems.

Delve into a world of gemstones, rocks, and minerals to discover the golden amber that once dripped as liquid resin in prehistoric forests, capturing ancient creatures for eternity. Find out how deep-blue lapis lazuli has been prized for thousands of years and used to make a rare paint pigment by artists during the Renaissance and discover the amazing magnetic properties of lodestone, and how this helped Chinese sailors navigate the oceans over 2,000 years ago.

Covering geology, history, myth, and folklore, renowned art-critic Hettie Judah brings the stories of stones to life, with beautiful illustrations by award-winning artist Jennifer N R Smith. All stones have a story to tell―stories that teach us about the history of the planet and our human past.

Readers will also get to:

• Explore Greek cities with gleaming-white temples made from marble.

•Travel to Earth's satellite and uncover the secrets of moon rock.

• Unearth the mystery of how a Greek monster created coral.

•Meet the civilization that prized green jade over gold.

Harland Miller: XXX

by Harland Miller, Hettie Judah, Tim Marlow

The first book to focus exclusively on Harland Miller's popular series of Letter Paintings

Infused with irreverent wit and shaped by his love of language, Harland Miller's playful and graphically vernacular paintings have an enduring appeal.

With references spanning music, literature, self-help manuals, and medieval iconography, his artwork has garnered an enthusiastic following.

The first book to focus exclusively on Miller's popular series of 'Letter Paintings', XXX includes more than 100 artworks alongside new photography of the artist in his studio, offering a unique view into Miller's world.