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Fine Art

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The Library welcomes recommendations from staff and students, provided they are current editions and support the learning, teaching and research interests of the University. Make your request through the Collection Recommendation Service.

Featured Journals

Flash Art
Produced quarterly, it is a contemporary art magazine based in Italy and features art from around the world.
Art Monthly
Monthly UK based art magazine that features interviews, articles and reviews of exhibitions in the UK and beyond.

The library offers over 200,000 print and electronic books. Print books are arranged by shelf number, which are found using LibrarySearch and on the book binding, the most relevant numbers are -

Subject	Shelf Number
Drawing	741
Film	791.43
History of Painting	759
Individual Painters, A-Z by Name	759.092
Individual Photographers, A-Z by Name	770.92 and 779.092
Individual Sculptors, A-Z by Name	730.92
Journals and Sketchbooks	741.2
Modern Philosophy	1906
Performance Art	709.040755
Philosophy of Art	701
Photography Techniques	771
Printmaking	769
Sculpture	730
Video Art	777

Borrowing, Renewals and Accounts Finding and Accessing Collections Requesting Resources

Journals provide up to date research in your area of study, they may be available in print or electronic format and can be found using LibrarySearch. A list of all current journals can be found using the Journals A-Z, the most relevant are -

AngelakI
Publishes research in theoretical humanities, which represents the productive nexus of work in literary criticism and theory, philosophy and cultural studies.
Artforum International
Established in 1962, Artforum delivers informed and inspired criticism and analyses concerning the latest developments in modern and contemporary art.
Art in America (Print)
Art in America is an illustrated quarterly, international magazine concentrating on the contemporary art world in the United States, including profiles of artists and genres, updates about art movements, show reviews and event schedules.
Art Monthly
the UK’s leading magazine of contemporary visual art
ArtReview & Art Asia Review
Founded in 1949, ArtReview (and it's sister magazine, ArtReview Asia) is one of the world’s leading international contemporary art magazines, dedicated to expanding contemporary art’s audience and reach, and tracing the ways it interacts with culture in general.
The Blue Notebook
Writing on contemporary artists’ books
Critical Inquiry
Combining a commitment to rigorous scholarship with a vital concern for dialogue and debate, the journal presents articles by eminent and emerging scholars, critics and artists on a wide variety of issues in contemporary criticism and culture. Associated with no single school of thought, tied to no single discipline, Critical Inquiry is dedicated to providing a forum for cutting-edge thought while reconsidering traditional concepts and practices.
Cultural Politics
Moving beyond the boundaries of race, gender, and class, Cultural Politics examines the political ramifications of global cultural productions across artistic and academic disciplines. The journal explores precisely what is cultural about politics and what is political about culture by bringing together text and visual art that offer diverse modes of engagement with theory, cultural production, and politics.
Elephant Journal
Elephant takes a non-hierarchical approach to contemporary art, bringing together pop culture, music, graphic design, illustration and memes in their coverage.
Flash art.
Flash Art (International) breaks new boundaries with each issue. Featuring articles and interviews on new and emerging artists who will one day be the stars of the contemporary art market.
Horror Studies
Horror Studies is a peer-reviewed academic journal devoted to the rigorous study of horror in all its manifold cultural and historical forms. Includes articles on folk horror and the supernatural.
International artist
In each issue of International Artist magazine, we take you inside the studios of the world’s best artists. They tell you the thought processes behind their creative methods and reveal their painting techniques.
International Journal of Arts Management
Provides a forum for challenging and debating theories and their application in cultural and arts practice.
It's freezing in LA! (Print)
Critically-acclaimed platform for climate writing and images. We have built a space that fuses art, politics and science while platforming brilliant emerging and under-represented writers and illustrators in the climate movement.
Journal of Contemporary Painting
A discursive peer-reviewed publication concerned with the practice of contemporary painting in its broadest sense. JCP treats painting as a context for discussion, exploring its sphere of influence, rather than as a medium-specific debate and is particularly interested in research emerging from practice-based projects.
Journal of Visual Art Practice
The Journal of Visual Art Practice (JVAP) is a forum of debate and inquiry for research in art. JVAP is concerned with visual art practice including the social, economic, political and cultural frames within which the formal concerns of art and visual art practice are located.
Modernism / Modernity
Modernism/modernity focuses on the methodological, archival, and theoretical approaches particular to modernist studies. It encourages an interdisciplinary approach linking music, architecture, the visual arts, literature, and social and intellectual history.
Mono Kultur (Print)
mono.kultur is a quarterly magazine publishing interviews with creatives in the arts and culture in a wider sense. Each issue features a single in-depth interview and dedicates the entire issue to the interviewee. With this radical focus on only one feature the editorial design adapts to the theme of the interview...
New Left Review
New Left Review analyses heterodox art and aesthetics, world politics, the global economy, state powers and protest movements; contemporary social theory, history and philosophy; cinema and literature.
Raw Vision (Print)
Raw Vision remains the world's only international journal of the art of the "unknown geniuses" who are the creators of Outsider Art. Untrained, unschooled and uninfluenced by the art world, the work of these artists continues to stun and amaze. They invent their own forms, techniques and create private worlds.
Resurgence & Ecologist magazine (Print)
Resurgence & Ecologist magazine addresses the environmental, social, and spiritual challenges and opportunities of our time. It provides a voice for change that is driven not by fear, but by a love of the Earth and its many life forms. Recognising the interconnectedness of the crises we face; it seeks to inform and inspire a just and thriving future for all. Contains photographs, illustrations, conversations with artists and articles on ethical journalism.
Tate etc.
Tate Etc. is an arts magazine produced within Britain's Tate organisation of arts and museums. Tate's mission to increase the public’s enjoyment and understanding of British art from the 16th century to the present day and of international modern and contemporary art.
Third Text
Third Text has established itself as the leading international journal dedicated to the critical analysis of contemporary art in the global field. It has brought with that analysis a particular focus on both the impact of globalisation on cultural practices and the lessons of postcolonial theory.
Turps Banana (Print)
Turps Banana is an bi-annual magazine about painting put together by a small group of painters in London
V&A magazine (Print)
The official magazine of the Victoria and Albert museum in London. V&A Magazine covers all aspects of the visual arts -architecture, design, craft, photography, fashion and fine art - taking the V&A’s exhibition and display programme as its starting point. V&A Magazine aims to be as accessible, intelligent, entertaining and visually appealing as the museum itself.

Finding and Accessing Collections Journals A - Z Requesting Resources

Databases bring together specialist collections of articles, images and electronic books. A list of all current databases can be found using the Databases A-Z, the most relevant are -

a-n artists This link opens in a new window
Provides information for working artists, including the full text of the Code of Practice for the Visual Arts, exhibition reviews and previews, the full text of the current issue of a-n magazine, artists talking image bank.
Art Full Text This link opens in a new window
Indexes and provides the full text of journal articles on art, design, advertising, architecture, crafts, interior design, photography, textiles, television and video.
Google Scholar This link opens in a new window
Google Scholar is a freely available search tool that helps you to find academic articles and books on the web. It searches publishers’ websites, university research repositories and other kinds of scholarly sites. It provides a broad and interdisciplinary search and includes the ability to track the number of times an article has been cited by other authors as well as direct links to UCA online collections. For more information see - Using Google Scholar.
JSTOR This link opens in a new window
An archive of scholarly journals covering the visual arts, including architecture, film studies, fine art, art history, the performing arts, religion, folklore and language, 1884-2009.
RHS Digital Collections This link opens in a new window
RHS Digital Collections spans over 500 years of gardening history and science. As part of a commitment to improving access many collections are now freely available to view online, to students, researchers and the general public.

Finding and Accessing Collections Databases A-Z Requesting Resources

Moving Image Resources

BoB This link opens in a new window
BoB is on demand TV and radio service for education which allows staff and students to record programmes from over 75 free-to-air channels; and search our archive of over 2.2 million broadcasts. See - Using BoB to learn more about how to setup and use BoB.
BFI Player This link opens in a new window
The BFI video on-demand streaming service, showing critically acclaimed classic, cult and archive films.
To create or reactivate an account go to the Academic Subscription Page
See the FAQ for further instructions on creating an account.
Kanopy This link opens in a new window
Kanopy is a video streaming service with a Netflix-style interface which can be accessed via the link above or using the Kanopy mobile app for Android and iOS.
Login required off campus to watch films (log in with your UCA details to create a Kanopy login).
Screen Online This link opens in a new window
Video clips from the BFI National Film and Television Archive; stills, posters and press books; interviews with film and television personalities. 1900 to the present. All materials available on the site are either owned by the BFI, or have been licensed by the owners to the BFI for inclusion. On campus access only.
Stash This link opens in a new window
Stash is an online video library of animation, visual effects and motion design from around the world. The site is produced by Stash Media, a Canadian-based company.

Podcast Resources

The art of...
From love and creativity, to failure and protest, each episode explores how art reflects universal experiences. Hear from creatives, curators, gallery visitors and even comedians as they chat about art and how it's relevant to our lives today.
BBC Arts and Ideas Podcasts
Leading thinkers discuss the ideas shaping our lives – looking back at the news and making links between past and present.
Dialogues -The David Zwirner Podcast
What we talk about when we talk about art. Exceptional makers and thinkers across art, literature, film, fashion, music, and more come together to talk about what it means to make things today.
The Great Women Artists
Katy Hessel interviews artists on their career, or curators, writers, or general art lovers, on the female artist who means the most to them.
Scratching the Surface
Scratching the Surface is a podcast about design, theory, and creative practice. Hosted by Jarrett Fuller, each episode features wide-ranging, in-depth conversations with designers, architects, writers, academics, artists, and theorists about how design shapes culture. New episodes every other Wednesday.
Talk Art
This podcast from Actor Russell Tovey and gallerist Robert Diament is dedicated to the world of art featuring exclusive interviews with leading artists, curators & gallerists.
This Week in Art
Features breaking news and insider insights to exhibitions and events around the world, from the team at The Art Newspaper.

Image Resources

Britannica ImageQuest This link opens in a new window
Over 2.5 million rights-cleared and high quality images from 46 of the world's leading collections.
VADS This link opens in a new window
Over 140,000 images from over 300 art and design collections in the UK, free for use in education. For more information about searching, viewing and saving images see - VADS.

Finding and Accessing Collections Requesting Resources

Archives offer access to rare and unique insight into the work of artists and creators, and often include original letters and artwork. Details of all the collections can be found in the ArchiveSearch, the most relevant for fine art are -

Artists Books
Are works of art in a book, or book-like form. The appearance and production of the work is determined by the artist as a limited edition.
Digitised front covers can be viewed in ResourceBank

bookRoom
The bookRoom is a research cluster based in Farnham since 2004, under the leadership of Emmanuelle Waeckerle. The bookRoom collection consists of publish artists books and editions works that operates across various time-based media, photography, moving image, writing and performance.
A selection of digitised books can be viewed here

Drew Gallery Projects
Evidence of the earliest developments in East Kent of the role of public art and regeneration between 1980s and 90s. Sandra Drew curated temporary art and sculpture exhibitions alongside the Canterbury Festival - the collection documents its history through posters, reviews and photographs.

Herbert Read Gallery Archive
The archive consists administrative and publicity material generated by the gallery between 1983-2007 - exhibiting artists include Yoko Ono, Jeremy Deller, Mike Nelson, Fischli & Weiss, Adam Chodzko, Susan Hiller.

Stour Valley Arts
An arts organisation which engaged the public through commissioned art projects in the context of King’s Wood, Ashford, Kent from 1994 to 2015 - inspiring resource for those studying sculpture, land art, and art in the public realm.

Tessa Boffin Archive
Photographer and performance artist, this collection reflects her artistic practice developed around LGBTQ, gay and lesbian culture and producing work in response to HIV/AIDS. A selection of digitised archives are available on ResourceBank.

Archives & Special Collections ArchivesSearch