The Ultimate Art Museum

Description

Visit the world’s greatest museum without leaving your home through this imaginary art museum – a visually spectacular survey of world art for middle-grade reader, curated in collaboration with a global team of experts and educators

This imaginary art museum is an educational and inspiring experience without the constraints of space and time. Discover beautiful reproductions from pre-history to the present, arranged in easy-to-navigate, color-coded wings, galleries, and rooms, each with an informative narrative guide. Marvel at its remarkable range of styles and mediums – from classic to contemporary, and from paintings and sculptures to photographs and textiles. With a fold-out museum map and floor plans to follow, and interactive cross-referencing activities, this museum-in-a-book spotlights the iconic and important works and movements in art history and provides the perfect introduction to the history of human creativity.

Curated in collaboration with the team of experts and educators behind Phaidon’s groundbreaking global bestseller The Art Museum, which won acclaim from the New York Times, The Times, NPR, Vogue, and more – and a starred Library Journal review. Every single piece in this book was selected to illustrate important historical, cultural, and artistic facts, not only in order to give children a comprehensive foundation in world art history, but to also share with them the idea that art history is a culmination of 40,000 years of people sharing themes, ideas, techniques and incredible creativity across time and space. With its lavish page size and over 300 wonderfully diverse artworks, this book is the ultimate resource for all art-hungry children and their parents.

Ages 8-12

Ferren Gipson is an art historian, writer, speaker, and educator. She is the host/writer/producer of the Art Matters podcast and doctoral researcher at SOAS, University of London. She has worked with institutions such as Tate, BBC, Pinterest, Lomography, and Esquire Magazine, as an art and design content specialist. Ferren lives in London with her husband and 4-year-old son.

Featured on Curbed’s ‘Best Gifts for Design-Minded Kids’

‘Like a tour guide who knows how to hold the attention of a gaggle of distracted school kids, Gipson, an art historian, does a fine job keeping the text fun, digestible and mercifully brief.’ –New York Times

‘A brightly colored, globe-spanning tome … in a book this big, there’s plenty to delight art partisans.’ – Wall Street Journal 

‘Playful and informative, with something for all ages.’ – Guardian

‘This children’s book balances the scales.’ – CNN Style

‘An accessible, well-organized, and solidly enjoyable foundation for anyone interested in art history.’ – Publishers Weekly

‘Extremely comprehensive…A thoroughly innovative approach to art history.’ – Booklist

‘A vibrantly illustrated book that … is broken down in digestible bites … this is one I’ll keep in the house for myself and young nieces.’ – Danielle Kwateng, Teen Vogue

‘For the art curious and aficionados.’ – New York Magazine’s The Strategist

‘This book is a museum. An excellent gift for a young art lover or even just someone who hasn’t made it to an in-person cultural experience in a while.’ – Book Riot

‘Travel through time and all over the world finding the most famous art of all time in this perfect coffee table book. With over 40,000 years of art, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.’ – Red Tricycle

‘The MOST impressive, well-organized, and beautifully designed art history book for children that I’ve EVER read!’ – Imagination Soup, STARRED review

‘[A] captivating art museum–in–a–book.’ – Domino

‘A recommended world art survey that can be utilized for art history instruction, school reports, and inquisitive browsing.’ – School Library Journal

‘A thoroughly innovative approach to art history.’ – Booklist

‘Ferren Gipson is ready to take you on an adventure … in this perfect coffee table book.’ – Tiny Beans

Additional information