Excited for Exhibitions: The books  & online resources

If you have been perusing our Instagram the past few months you will have noticed a new series of posts emblazoned with the sticker ‘Excited for Exhibitions’. We acquire various exhibition catalogues from upcoming or ongoing exhibitions hosted by British art galleries, including the Tate, the Whitechapel Gallery and the Photographers’ Gallery.  

The images in these books are exquisite and a great opportunity to catch up on exhibitions that you were perhaps unable to go to or that you went to and wished to refer back to or take inspirations from. The photos are often accompanied by interviews and essays about the images, artists, and displays. 

A recurring catalogue we receive is the Deutsche Borse Photography Prize books. The prize is an annual competition hosted at the Photographers’ Gallery by the Deutsche Borse Photography Foundation that grants a prize of £30,000 to the winner of the four shortlisted artists. Beyond the prize money, it is an opportunity to showcase contemporary photographers’ works and is a prestigious award for anyone in this field.    

Every year before the winner is announced, an exhibition catalogue of work by the short-listed artists is published and the library has every copy of the series from 2006 onwards. A great opportunity to check out 19 straight years of contemporary photography. The prize is open to a contemporary photographer from any background or country who has contributed to the medium of photography in the past year, offering an interesting perspective on trends and developments in the medium 

All 19 books can be found at 759.069 on the second floor of the Harrison Library.  

Other art catalogues in the library collection provide an eclectic mix of artists and mediums across the ages with varying themes. 

 A sample of our recent exhibition books include:  

• A World in Common – photography by contemporary African artists aiming to challenge historic stereotypes and western images of an ‘exotic other’. It brings together various artists to examine themes of spiritualism, climate change, and urbanism among others.  
• When Forms come alive – examines 60 years of sculpture, and how they sprawl and flow through a gallery space, inspired by movement and flux.  
• RE/SISTERS – examines gender and ecology and the relationship between the oppression of women, particularly those who are trans, black or indigenous, and the degradation of the planet and how this relates to activism.  
• Nicole Eisenman: What happened – exhibition based on the work of Nicole Eisenman spanning over 30s years and mediums such as print-making, drawing, and sculpture.  
• Now you see us: Women artists in Britain 1520-1920 – examines 400 years of paintings by women artists from a period they are often neglected or ignored as artists in their own rights.  

All of these and more can be viewed on the University of Wolverhampton library catalogue by searching for ‘ACC Art books’ or if you search ‘Exhibition catalogues’ then you can view all the items in this collection and any additional exhibition catalogues we hold at Wolverhampton.  

Alongside our physical collection we also have a range of online resources including a.n who are the UKs largest artist membership organisation providing professional information, resources and support. You can use this online resource for the latest news, reviews as well as for research and practical advice. 

You can browse the tabs at the top to see the latest news, research, reviews and blog post or enter a search term in the box. The A-N 40 tab takes you to their newsletter and includes a series of interviews  ‘40 YEARS 40 ARTISTS’ 

Check out the latest issue to read a guide on Degree Shows including an article on a University of Wolverhampton student.