Art Work
On the Creative Life
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Penguin Books Ltd
Publishing:9th Sep '25
£25.00
This title is due to be published on 9th September, and will be despatched as soon as possible.
Art Work, by photographer and writer Sally Mann, offers a spellbinding mix of wild and illuminating stories, practical (and some impractical) advice, and life lessons for artists and writers—or anyone interested in the creative path. Written in the same frank, fearless, and occasionally outrageous tone of her bestselling memoir, Hold Still, this new book reaffirms Mann as a unique and resonant voice for our times and is destined to become a classic.
Illustrated throughout with photographs, journal entries, and letters that bring immediacy and poignancy to the narrative, Art Work is full of thought-provoking insights about the hazards of early promise; the unpredictable role of luck; the value of work, work, work, and more hard work; the challenges of rejection and distraction; the importance of risk-taking; and the rewards of knowing why and when you say yes. In sparkling prose and thoughtfully juxtaposed visuals and ephemera, Art Work is a generous, provocative, and compulsively readable exploration of creativity by one of our most original thinkers.
It seems unfair that an artist so gifted behind the camera should also be possessed of such a magnificent literary talent -- John Banville
I love this book. It’s not just about art – if anyone’s asking me – it’s about being a human. And it is really wise about that business. -- James Rebanks
If it’s possible to learn fearlessness—or cussedness or dust-yourself-offedness or stick-to-itiveness—Sally Mann is the one who could teach it to you. Sally Mann may be the only one who could teach it to you. This book will make you brave -- Margaret Renkl * author of The Comfort of Crows *
In this erudite, frank, and funny book, Mann gives us wonderful new insights into her photography and her life as an artist. Full of inspiration and sage advice, it should be required reading for young artists setting out to work in any medium -- Amor Towles * bestselling author of A Gentleman in Moscow and The Lincoln Highway *
Art Work is an important book with one clear message for artists: stay true to your vision, whatever happens. By following Mann's tough and hard-won example, we learn that short-cuts and gimmicks will never lead to lasting success. Art Work is written in language of great beauty - poetic and direct - and artists will turn to it as their manual - their bible, even - for years to come -- Celia Paul
Highly readable … This is a book as much about the art of living as a life in art from the warm, spirited and thoughtful artist and photographer -- Simon Armstrong * The Bookseller *
ISBN: 9780241774540
Dimensions: 240mm x 156mm x 28mm
Weight: 500g
288 pages