The 10 Best Black Art Books for Your Coffee Table

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Take a glimpse at any interior put together by someone with great taste, and there are a few items you’ll often see. There’s usually a mixture of materials (burl wood alongside chrome, a hint of leather, glass, cane, and bouclé, for instance), a robust lighting setup (Akari Noguchi UF3-Q floor lamp, Castiglioni Snoopy table lamp, Serge Mouille wall sconce), an array of art and personal knickknacks, a great high-pile rug—and a distinctive coffee table.

Examine the coffee table, and you’ll often see a specific pattern or format followed to achieve a stylish tableau: a fragrant luxury candle or incense, an artisanal vase, tchotchkes and objects from the host’s travels, and the most important element of all: a curated selection of coffee table books. Whether displayed strategically or simply stacked, coffee table books can make a huge aesthetic impact. And they double as tangible portals of exploration and information, while adding a punch of color to your space.

In honor of Black History Month, scroll on to discover our curated selection of coffee table books focused on Black creatives, running the gamut of art, fashion, and interior design to help you curate your sit-down area.

Portraits At The Frick

Barkley L. Hendricks Portraits At The Frick is like a fashion history mood board in book form. The famed painter revolutionized the art of portraiture, centering Black subjects and Black style. This book spotlights his contributions to the canon with 160 pages of dynamic figures, masterful painting, and style inspiration.

Kerry James Marshall: The Complete Prints: 1976–2022

The contemporary master painter Kerry James Marshall's work is truly transcendent. In addition to being on display at the world's most prestigious institutions, his work has fronted magazine covers and fashion capsules (like for Wales Bonner in 2022) and inspired countless editorials, all due to the stylish nature of his painted figures. Although known for his paintings, this book chronicles his art practice through his print works.

Ann Lowe: American Couturier

For all the fashion history aficionados, this one is for you. This book chronicles the significant contributions of one of fashion's luminaries and often unsung heroes, Ann Lowe. This volume takes you through the life and career of Lowe, offering stunning photos of her couture gowns and artisanal embroidery and craftsmanship.

Micaiah Carter

From magazine covers and glossy editorials to documenting some of the biggest stars, Micaiah Carter is among today's top image makers. This monograph (with a moving foreword by Tracee Ellis Ross) encapsulates the span of his commercial career while offering an intimate look into how his family photo album informed much of the work. Flip through for intimate portrayals of Black life and expression.

Simone Leigh - by Eva Respini (Hardcover)

This book marks the first major monograph for the acclaimed multimedia artist. Leigh's beautiful sculptures depicting the Black femme form and diasporic life are on full display in this 365-page edition. Pages upon pages of her signature vessels, large-scale activations, research and inspirational imagery, and documentation of her historic survey from the 59th Venice Biennal — it's art for your coffee table.

Grace Wales Bonner: Dream in the Rhythm

Coinciding with Bonner's exhibition 'Artist's Choice: Grace Wales Bonner-Spirit Movers,' this volume explores the multimedia designer's curatorial practice and approach to the show. The book explores the relationship between pictures and poems, featuring images of the nearly 80 works from The Museum of Modern Art's collection, alongside text from prolific Black voices. Between Lorna Simpson, Glenn Ligon, and Ming Smith, every page is a snapshot of some of the most monumental names in Black contemporary art.(Grace Wales Bonner-Spirit Movers is currently on display at MoMA until April 7).

Pharrell: Carbon Pressure & Time

The multi-hyphenate artist and designer has aesthetically inspired the masses for decades through his music, personal style, clothing brands, and now at the helm at Louis Vuitton Men's. Alongside his penchant for bags, clothes, and accessories was his infinity for jewelry. From collaborations with maisons like LV and Jacob & Co., Pharrell's exploration of jewelry and personal collection is front and center. This book perfectly showcases the long-standing relationship between hip-hop and luxury.

The Black Yearbook

Multi-hyphenate artist Adraint Khadafhi Bereal is on a mission to chronicle Black collegiate life. Inspired by the lack of dynamic representation of the Black student body at his alma mater, the University of Texas at Austin, this expansive volume offers an intimate look at the lives of Black college students nationwide. Stories, essays, and personal testimonies accompany the engaging portraits.

Awol Erizku: Mystic Parallax

This book, the first monograph from multi-disciplinary artist Awol Erizku (widely known for his 2017 maternity portraits of Beyoncé), chronicles his multi-format art practice across film, image-making, installation, and video. Aside from the aesthetically pleasing cover, the interior is just as striking, with vibrant pages of Erizku's work, which often reimagines Black contemporary culture and history.

Livable Luxe

In the world of interior design, there is one name that reigns supreme: Brigette Romanek. The Los Angeles designer's extensive client list boosts some of the most famous names in the world (Gwyneth Paltrow, Demi Moore, Beyoncé, and Jay-Z), and this beautiful book gives the reader (or scanner) a glimpse into those A-list projects. It's a great resource for interior inspiration or simply just daydreaming.

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