4 New Art Criticism Books Reshaping the Field in 2025

The Theater of Refusal revisits a pivotal 1993 exhibition curated by Charles Gaines and Catherine Lord that challenged how Black artists are framed within mainstream art criticism. This edition not only reproduces the original essays and roundtable discussions but enriches them with new dialogues and a fresh essay by Fred Moten, offering a layered exploration of race, art, and critical discourse. You’ll gain insight into how historical and contemporary perspectives intersect through works by artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat and Lorna Simpson, making it essential for those interested in understanding the complexities of Black art beyond conventional narratives. The book suits scholars, critics, and anyone looking to deepen their grasp of art criticism's evolving relationship with race and identity.

Nora N Khan explores the uneasy entanglement of big tech and art institutions in a rapidly evolving AI art landscape. She scrutinizes how traditional humanist art criticism struggles to keep pace with machine learning’s impact on creative production and critical evaluation. Through detailed analysis, you’ll gain insight into how institutions attempt to historicize AI art while navigating tech funding influences, and how this shifts the critic’s role towards collective, shared evaluation frameworks. This book suits anyone eager to understand the implications of AI on art critique, especially those interested in the intersection of technology, culture, and critical theory.

This tailored book explores the forefront of art criticism as it unfolds in 2025, diving into the latest developments and evolving dialogues that reshape how art is understood today. It examines emerging themes such as technological influence, cultural shifts, and new critical paradigms, offering a focused exploration that matches your background and interests. By addressing your specific goals, this personalized volume helps you navigate and engage with breakthrough insights, ensuring you stay ahead in interpreting contemporary art's complex social and aesthetic landscapes. The book reveals how the latest discoveries challenge traditional critique, encouraging a fresh perspective aligned with your unique focus areas.

What started as Dave Hickey's lifelong engagement with art and culture became a vivid exploration of beauty, value, and human experience through his essays spanning two decades. Hickey’s sharp wit and diverse literary styles take you through critical reflections on artists ranging from Andy Warhol to Ed Ruscha, revealing how aesthetic and moral dimensions intertwine in art appreciation. You’ll find distinctive perspectives on how art criticism can connect disparate worlds, challenging conventional boundaries and deepening your understanding of artistic impact. This collection suits those invested in contemporary art discourse, offering fresh insights without pretension or jargon.

This isn't another art criticism book promising neutral judgment; Mira Dayal and Josephine Heston challenge the idea that criticism can ever be free from agenda. Drawing from their extensive editorial experience, they offer concrete methods for writing and editing that embrace political and social commitments to reshape the art world. The book begins with a clear breakdown of editorial processes and moves into diverse case studies and manifestos that explore ethical and technical decisions in criticism. If you're looking for a guide that equips you to write criticism with awareness and impact, this handbook delivers practical frameworks and thoughtful perspectives.