Penguin Random House Australia

February 2020

ISBN 9783760896357

Imprint: Puffin

RRP $24.99

No matter if you are looking for something biographical and ‘easy’ or as an introduction to outstanding and diverse artists or to supplement your Mighty Girl collection this is a very welcome addition.

These are the women who, in each of their disciplines, have turned the art world around to bring their gender into the forefront. Some names will be known such as Frida Kahlo and Georgia O’Keefe but others like Jaune Quick-to-See Smith and Betye Saar may be new to readers. It’s wonderful to see Australian artist Mirka Mora is included in this stellar array.

Covering painting, sculpture, textiles, drawing and more each double spread features an artist with salient facts and summed up in one word such as ‘D for Dots’ (Yayoi Kusama) and ‘U for Unique’ (Alice Neel).

At the end of the book further biographical details on each artist featured along with intriguing and provocative discussion questions and art prompts make this a superb teaching resource as well as just a pleasurable excursion into the world of these amazingly talented women.

The illustrations in a naïve style are riotously colourful and redolent of each artist’s individuality further providing inspiration for readers.

It may be an ‘ABC’ book but truly it is far more than that and lends itself easily to art classes for all from very young to senior readers.

Highly recommended for inclusion in your collection and very much to be shared with your art faculty.  I’ll bet you’d like your own copy so to celebrate its release I have a give-away for you! Comment on this post and all names (Australia only) will be entered into a random draw!