South Africa the art of a nation, London, Thames & Hudson, 2016
I wrote this book with John Giblin to accompany the exhibition of the same name which we co-curated at the BM from 2016-17 Like the exhibition, it attempted to tell a history (selective, of course) of South Africa through works of art, from 3 million years ago to the present day. African Art in Detail, London, BMP, 2009 African Art close-up, London, BMP, 2015 Both
African Art close-up, London, BMP, 2015
An introduction to the global phenomenon of African artistic traditions, also a thinly disguised guide to the African Galleries at the British Museum and the rationale underpinning the displays there.
AFRICAN TEXTILES TODAY, London, British Museum Publications, 2012, £30, ISBN 978-0-7141-1559-7
A new look at the past and present significance of African textile traditions across the continent and beyond, their influence on some of Africa’s foremost photographers and contemporary artists - and on artists and designers throughout the world. The book provides a fascinating insight into the social, political, religious and educational use of a wide range of textiles – and their global significance. The book
African Art in Detail, London, BMP, 2009
An introduction to the global phenomenon of African artistic traditions, also a thinly disguised guide to the African Galleries at the British Museum and the rationale underpinning the displays there.
Angaza Afrika: African Art Now , 2008, published by Laurence King, 350 colour illustrations, 336 pages ISBN 13: 978-1-85669-548-0).
‘While it is very likely that many other emerging artists did not make the final cut for this particular book, Angaza Afrika provides us with a much needed introduction to artistic practice on the African continent today. We can only hope that it is the first of many more such publications to come.’ Surface Design Journal (spring 2009: 68) Winner: Art Book Award 2009 Judges’
Silk in Africa, London, BMP, 2002
My second collaboration with Julie and a modest attempt, given the restrictions of the Fabric Folio series of which it was a part, to look at silk weaving and embroidery across a continent not normally associated with these textile arts.
African Textiles London, Studio (Random House), 1997
This is a later edition of my first published book in 1989 and precipitated my ongoing love of the many and various textile traditions, both hand and machine made, from across the continent.
North African Textiles, London, BMP, 1995
This was the first of my two collaborations with my friend and colleague Julie Hudson. It was written as an accompaniment to our co-curated exhibition Display and Modesty from 1995-6 at the Museum of Mankind. In many ways it filled a gap which was missing from the book African Textiles by John Picton and John Mack which only touched on the textile traditions from North
African Arms and Armour, London, British Museum Press, 1993
This book accompanied my exhibition Power of the Hand which ran from 1993 – 1995 at the Museum of Mankind in London. It remains the only account of arms and armour from all regions of Africa.