Books by Norman Rosenthal

Jeff Koons: Conversations with Norman Rosenthal

by Jeff Koons, Norman Rosenthal

Jeff Koons engages with distinguished art curator Sir Norman Rosenthal resulting in a revealing portrait of the life and art of the most foremost international working artist today Here is what happens when Jeff Koons, one of the most important and controversial artists of the twenty-first century, sits down with distinguished art curator Sir Norman Rosenthal.

Published to coincide with his 2014–2015 retrospective, this new book provides the most revealing portrait that exists of Jeff Koons’ singular personality and artistic vision as he discusses works across his thirty-five -year career with his long-time friend and collaborator Rosenthal. Rosenthal’s masterful interviews, conducted over three years, give unparalleled access to the thoughts of one of the most influential minds in contemporary culture, disclosing the artist undistorted and in his own words. As well as examining all his major series in depth, from his first inflatables to his latest series on antiquities, the interviews shed new light on the artist’s interest in other artists’ works, reveal the significance of his youth and family life on his art, and explain the key concepts of his practice, such as his ideas on self-acceptance, ecstasy and sex. A book of historic importance, extensively and comprehensively illustrated throughout, it will become the reference point for all who want to understand Koons and creativity in the twenty-first century. 250 color illustrations

Damien Hirst The Civilisation Paintings

by James Fox, Norman Rosenthal, Damien Hirst

New paintings from British bad boy Hirst featuring urban environments and lush vegetation

Turner Prize-winning British artist Damien Hirst (born 1965) has long been known for audacious formal experiments, but in the striking catalog The Civilisation Paintings, Hirst offers Impressionist-inspired oil paintings that vividly capture the complexities of modern urban landscapes. Vibrant trees and flowers weave through the scenes, serving as poignant reminders of nature's resilience amid human development. Realistic elements are contrasted with pointillist techniques and thrown paint. Hirst also overlays the compositions with colored spots arranged in grids, recalling his spot paintings. Hirst infuses the series with deep emotion, compellingly contrasted by his use of AI tools, showcasing his ongoing fascination with science and technology. This beautifully designed catalog features 54 full-color reproductions of the complete series, both in its entirety and in its detail, and includes a foreword by art historian Norman Rosenthal and an in-depth interview with Hirst by journalist and author James Fox.