Best Artist Biographies Books for Teens & Young Adults of 2025

Women in Art: 100 Postcards is a collection of 100 postcards featuring 50 pioneering female artists, each illustrated in Rachel Ignotofsky's unique style. From Frida Kahlo to Mary Edmonia Lewis and Nampeyo, this collection showcases diverse artists from different backgrounds. It is perfect for art enthusiasts who want to display their favorite artist on their wall, or for sending inspiration to friends and family. Overall, Women in Art: 100 Postcards is a beautiful and empowering collection that celebrates the achievements of female artists throughout history.

The Wreck It Journal for Teens Girls is a creative diary designed to help readers reduce anxiety and stress while exploring their artistic side. This journal offers a space where ideas can flow unrestricted and encourages the breaking of conventionality to find new inspirations. With thick and durable pages, you can write, draw, tear, and color without fear of making mistakes. This diary is perfect for those looking to improve their creativity, problem-solving abilities, and manage stress better. Overall, the Wreck It Journal for Teens Girls is a unique and fun way to unleash your imagination.

Liberated: The Radical Art and Life of Claude Cahun is a graphic biography by cartoonist Kaz Rowe that brings to life the inspiring story of Surrealist artist Claude Cahun and her partner Marcel Moore. The book follows the couple's radical journey of Surrealist collaboration, challenging gender roles and championing freedom at a time when strict societal norms meant that the truth of their relationship had to remain secret. Featuring ten photographs by Cahun and Moore, Rowe weaves together historical photos, direct quotes, and lyrical imagery to tell the tale of this brave queer icon to great effect. Overall, Liberated is a wonderful read that invites us to fall in love with - and alongside - Cahun.

Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers is a touching story of brotherly love that shaped both brothers' lives. Deborah Heiligman beautifully portrays the deep and enduring friendship between Vincent and Theo Van Gogh, drawing on the 658 letters Vincent wrote to Theo during his lifetime. This meticulously researched book is a remarkable achievement, winning several awards, including the Printz Honor Book and the YALSA Nonfiction Award. The author's vivid descriptions of Vincent's artwork and life give readers a unique and riveting exploration of art, artists, and brotherly love. Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in the iconic painter and the bond between siblings.

Yayoi Kusama: From Here to Infinity! is a colorful book that tells the story of the famous artist Yayoi Kusama. The book, written by Sarah Suzuki, a curator at The Museum of Modern Art, features reproductions of Kusama's instantly recognizable artworks and covers her journey from her childhood dream of becoming an artist to traveling the world and covering it with her signature polka dots. This book is an excellent choice for young adults interested in art and the inspiring story of a woman who never gave up on her dreams.

Maybe an Artist is a touching and funny graphic memoir by Liz Montague, one of the first Black female cartoonists to be published in the New Yorker. The book narrates Liz's journey from childhood to college, navigating life in a predominantly white New Jersey town, overcoming dyslexia through art, and finding the confidence to pursue her passion. With pitch-perfect clarity and insight, Montague captures the age-old adolescent questions of "who am I?" and "what do I want to be?" in a refreshing and inspiring way. The book is a must-read for young readers who feel unheard and for anyone who loves a good coming-of-age story.

The 200 Deep Questions book is an interactive journal that encourages readers to reflect on life's big questions. Divided into two parts, the book features a list of "THE FIRST" and general questions about oneself. The book provides a safe space for individuals to record their secrets and personal thoughts. Upon completion, the book recommends tearing, burning, or smashing it. This book is an excellent gift for those who enjoy self-discovery. The high-quality matte cover and premium design make it an attractive addition to any bookshelf.

La Terapeuta Necesita Terapia is a practical guide that aims to help people deal with depression and anxiety. The book is divided into six chapters, each narrated from a different perspective. The author's autobiographical and metaphorical accounts are combined with playful elements to make the content more relatable. The chapters are accompanied by workbooks to help readers put what they've learned into practice. The book's unique approach emphasizes the importance of breaking down problems to find small solutions and making small connections that lead to significant changes.

Photographic: The Life of Graciela Iturbide is a poetic and deeply personal graphic biography of the iconic photographer Graciela Iturbide. Mixing original illustrations, first-person prose, and lyrical interludes with gorgeous reproductions of Iturbide's work, the book reveals the many angles of the artist. The nonlinear style of the graphic novel format allows readers to follow Iturbide's photographic journey throughout her native Mexico, the United States, India, and beyond. Overall, this mesmerizing book conveys profound ideas about art as a process and the importance of being seen, specifically in regard to indigenous communities in Mexico and Mexica. It's a must-read for anyone interested in photography and art in general.

"It's My Whole Life" by Susan Wider is a gripping middle-grade biography of Charlotte Salomon, an artist who created thirteen hundred paintings between 1940 and 1942 while in hiding from the Nazis. The paintings document her life before and during the war, from her prosperous childhood in prewar Berlin to her struggle to come to terms with the darkness falling around her. Wider illuminates Charlotte's work in a distinctive first biography for young readers, making this book a must-read for anyone interested in art, World War II, and the Holocaust."