Resources in Print

Notes on Researching Artists and Architects

When searching for an artist's name as a subject heading in the library catalog, correct spelling is essential. If you are unsure of the spelling, check one of the biographical dictionaries listed below. If the online catalogue does not list a book or exhibition catalogue on the artist, try a keyword search that describes the artist's time period, style, and/or nationality such as IMPRESSIONISM, AMERICAN, or RENAISSANCE SCULPTURE, then browse that section of the Art Collection. For help with pronunciations, see Pronunciation Dictionary of Artists' Names (1993) ART REF 703 k14 1993.

Resources for Writing the History, Theory, and Criticism of Art
Selected Art and Architecture Resources on Microform
Architectural Serials

Bibliographies
Biographical Dictionaries
Artists' Statements
Information on Contemporary Artists

Bibliographies

To learn about the history of bibliographies on individual artists and groups of artists, read Artists' Bibliographies and Research Guides, written by Russ Clement for the July-August 2005 issue of Choice magazine.

Prominent individual artists are often the focus of research guides and bibliographies. To check if your artist has received specialized bibliographic treatment, do a subject search in NUcat under the artist's name and see if there are entries under –BIBLIOGRAPHY. For example, GAUGUIN, PAUL—BIBLIOGRAPHY. Check also for bibliographies on groups of artists and movements, such as DE STIJL (ART MOVEMENT)—BIBLIOGRAPHY.

Some examples of bibliographies:

  • Abstract Expressionist Women Painters: An Annotated Bibliography (1996) ART REF 016.75913 P984a
  • Art Books: A Basic Bibliography of Monographs on Artists (1997) ART REF 016.70922 F866a
  • The Artists of De Stijl: A Guide to the Literature (2000) ART REF 016.70949 L284a
  • Early Netherlandish Painting (1400-1500): A Bibliography (1984-1998) (1998) ART REF 016.75994 M9654e
  • Four Artists of the Stieglitz Circle: A Sourcebook on Arthur Dove, Marsden Hartley, John Marin, and Max Weber (2002) ART 759.1309 H291f
  • Four French Symbolists: A Sourcebook on Pierre Puvis de Chavannes, Gustave Moreau, Odilon Redon, and Maurice Denis (1996) ART REF 709.4409 C626f
  • The Women Impressionists: A Sourcebook (2000) ART REF 016.7594 C626w

Biographical Dictionaries

These provide brief summaries of an artist's life and basic information on nationality, birth and death dates:

  • A Biographical Dictionary of Artists (1983) ART REF 709 E56 v. 2
  • Contemporary Artists (1989) ART REF 709.22 C761 1989
  • Dictionary of Contemporary American Artists (1994) ART REF 703 C971d 1994
  • Grove Dictionary of Art ART REF 703 D554 (also online Northwestern Community Only (Restricted Access Resource))
  • St. James Guide to Black Artists (1997) ART REF 709.2396 S774
  • Who Was Who in American Art, 1564-1975 (1999) ART REF 709.22 F191w 1999
  • Who's Who in American Art (1985) ART REF 709.22 F191w
  • Who's Who in Art ART 703 W6283
  • Allgemeines Künstler-Lexikon (1983- ) ART REF 709.22 A435
  • Allgemeines Künstlerlexikon (1999- ) ART REF 709.22 A4352
  • Allgemeines Lexikon der Bildenden Künstler (1907-62) MAIN REF L 703 V924a (v. 2-3 available in ART)
  • Dictionnaire critique et documentaire des peintres, sculpteurs, dessinateurs et graveurs (1999) ART and MAIN REF 703 B465 1999

Artists' Statements

For statements and writings by artists, search NUcat using the terms STATEMENTS or QUOTATIONS, or INTERVIEWS, combined with the artist's name.

Compilations of artists' statements may be found in the following sources:

  • American Artists on Art from 1940 to 1980 (1982) ART 700.973 A512
  • Artists in Their Own Words: Interviews (1979) ART 709.22 D971a
  • Artists on Art, From the XIV to the XX Century (1966) ART and CORE 704 G624a.3
  • Conversations with Artists (1957) ART and CORE 709.73 R693c
  • A Dictionary of Art Quotations (1989) ART 700 C941d
  • Inside New York's Art World (1979) ART 709.22 D537I
  • Originals: American Women Artists (2000) ART 709.22 M9680 2001
  • Readings in American Art Since 1900 (1968) ART 709.73 R795r
  • Theories and Documents of Contemporary Art (1996) ART 709.04 S856t
  • Twentieth-Century Artists on Art (1996) ART REF 016.70092 R651t 1996

Information on Contemporary Artists

Contemporary artists (variously defined as since 1945, since 1970, or in the last five years) are generally introduced in exhibition reviews and in journal literature; books and exhibition catalogues appear after they become established.

In NUcat, search the artist as a subject heading (last name first). Also try the name as a title and keyword. If you know of an exhibition in which the artist was included, search by keywords in the exhibition's title (e.g. BIENNIAL and EXHIBITION and WHITNEY).

If an artist has exhibited at a few galleries or in group shows, search newspaper indexes for that city to contact the gallery or artist's dealer directly. Search the following databases ( restricted to users with an NU NetID and password):

Consult reference works on contemporary artists, such as:

  • Contemporary Artists ART L759.13 c393zv
  • Contemporary Artists (1989) ART REF 709.22 C761 1989
  • Contemporary Masterworks (1991) ART REF 709.04 C761
  • Contemporary Photographers (1995) ART L 770.922 C761 1995
  • Contemporary Women Artists (1999) ART REF 709.22 C7616
  • Dictionary of Contemporary American Artists (1994) ART 703 C971d 1994
  • World Artists, 1950-1980 (1984) ART REF and CORE REF 709.22 M346w
  • World Artists, 1980-1990 (1991) ART REF 709.22 M346w 1980-1990
  • Annual Bibliography of Modern Art, 1986-1998 (1998) MAIN REF L016.7 M986a
  • Artwords: A Glossary of Contemporary Art Theory (1997) MAIN 701.09045 P298a
  • Contemporary Art Trends, 1960-1980 (1993) ART 016.70904 B433
  • Postmodernism: A Bibliography, 1926-1994 (1995) MAIN REF 016.7009 M183p

 
Last reviewed: August 28, 2007