ONE OF BARACK OBAMA'S FAVORITE BOOKS OF 2022

A NEW YORKER “ESSENTIAL READ”

A NATIONAL BESTSELLER

NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE WASHINGTON POST, TIME, THE NEW YORKER, BOOKPAGE, AND KIRKUS REVIEWS

“Superb. . . . A celebration of a place and time when people held onto their own ways, and basked in ordinary joys even as outside forces conspired to take them away.” —New York Times

From the winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Literature, a sweeping, multi-generational saga of displacement, loss, and love, set against the brutal colonization of east Africa.

When he was just a boy, Ilyas was stolen from his parents on the coast of east Africa by German colonial troops. After years away, fighting against his own people, he returns home to find his parents gone and his sister, Afiya, abandoned into de facto slavery. Hamza, too, returns home from the war, scarred in body and soul and with nothing but the clothes on his back–until he meets the beautiful, undaunted Afiya. As these young people live and work and fall in love, their fates knotted ever more tightly together, the shadow of a new war on another continent falls over them, threatening once again to carry them away.

Arsenio Hall, America’s beloved late-night TV host, reveals the ups and downs of his remarkable career as a trailblazing pioneer with this behind-the-scenes, star-studded, no-holds-barred memoir of celebrity, race, and show business.

Arsenio Hall holds a uniquely prominent place in American culture—celebrated late-night host and comedic actor, famed for starring roles in the cultural touchstones Coming to America and Harlem Nights.

Now, he pulls back the curtain and takes us to a different time in Hollywood. Iconic scenes include: starting out as a young magician in Cleveland; hosting his first talk show in the basement of his apartment building when he was in elementary school; cutting his teeth at the world-famous Comedy Store in Hollywood, learning about comedy and life from legendary comedian Richard Pryor; forming lifelong bonds with legendary icons Muhammad Ali, Luther Vandross, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Eddie Murphy; tasting superstar success with Coming to America, the film that preceded The Arsenio Hall Show; conducting unforgettable, groundbreaking interviews with Magic Johnson, Bill Clinton, Tupac Shakur, Maya Angelou, Madonna, and Minister Louis Farrakhan; rescuing a family from a home-fire with Jay Leno; sharing hot sauces and blackjack with Patti LaBelle; and chilling with Prince.

And then, he made the difficult decision to walk away.

This bracingly candid memoir offers a new appreciation for this raw talent and gifted storyteller, who nightly, for six years, hosted what felt like a televised “party” that changed the landscape of late-night television and brought Black culture into living rooms across America.

With this book, he does it one more time.

Find out what goes on behind the scenes at a zoo in this illustrated nonfiction story by zookeeper and TikTok sensation Jawnie Payne. The perfect gift for kids who love animals or are going on a trip to the zoo!

Follow the story of several characters during a busy day―including zookeepers, a school trip, and some very mischievous animals! Along the way you will discover how the creatures are fed and kept entertained, as well as what goes on once the zoo shuts for the day!

Stunning illustrations by Susan Deming bring the world of a zoo to life–from the big cat enclosure to the penguin pool–with plenty of things to spot in the illustrations for eagle-eyed readers.

By the end of the book kids will have a newfound respect for all of the work that goes on to make every zoo experience memorable.

"A fascinating, easy-to-understand primer for anyone curious about horses."-- Kirkus

Set over a 24-hour period, meet fighting stallions, cute foals, and nosy donkeys in this nonfiction book for kids about the coolest wild horses in the world.

Race across prairies to follow the lives of horses and ponies as they whinny, neigh, and play their way through their day. Biology professor and horse owner Carly Anne York tells the story of the wild horses in the style of a nature documentary, including gentle science explanations perfect for future biologists. Witness incredible moments including:

- A brumby searching for a drink in the Australian outback
- Przewalski's horses exploring an abandoned city
- Zebras avoiding predators in the African savanna

Beautifully illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat and packed with animal facts, Horses (A Day in the Life) is a perfect book for horse-mad kids.

Also available: Bugs, Big Cats, Sharks

From tragedy to triumph, witness the rise of one of DC’s greatest minds in this gripping modern origin story of Mr. Terrific!

Before he was the world’s third-smartest man, Michael Holt was a grieving genius who lost everything. As Michael struggles to find purpose after a devastating tragedy, his journey from despair to heroism takes him from the depths of self-doubt to the heights of scientific discovery, while a sinister conspiracy threatens to rewrite his destiny. As Mr. Terrific investigates a mysterious new rift in the present, he uncovers a shocking connection to his own past, one that may be tied to the fate of Darkseid himself! Written by acclaimed storyteller Al Letson (Monarch: Legacy of Monsters) with stunning art by Valentine De Landro (Black Manta), plus sequences drawn by Edwin Galmon (Superman), this electrifying Year One tale redefines the legacy of a legend!

Collects Mr. Terrific: Year One #1-6

Galveston was the birthplace of Juneteenth.

Issued in Galveston on June 19, 1865, General Orders, No. 3 announced to the people of Texas that all slaves were free. It is one of the Island's most important historical moments. Although Juneteenth has now become the basis for a national holiday, many Americans wonder how and why this date emerged as the basis for the oldest continually celebrated commemoration of the end of slavery. To even begin to answer these questions, it is necessary to return to the historic roots of the event itself. The Galveston Historical Foundation's African American Heritage Committee tracks Emancipation Day observances through previously unknown images and untold stories which are also part of an interactive exhibit experience at Ashton Villa, the site of Galveston's city-wide Juneteenth celebration.

Sometimes, a single moment is the start of forever.

Everett

Legacy is carved into my bloodline, centuries deep.

Power, wealth, duty-none of it feels like a choice.

Now I wear the crown of LEVMARK, the empire my family built, and I'm tasked with creating what my mother once dreamed of-a fine jewelry line that will outlast us all.

But the designer I need is the one woman I should keep at a distance.

The woman I've already saved once, though she never knew my name.

River

Design is the language of my soul.

Metal, fire, and vision-I bend them into beauty, creating pieces that whisper of who I am and who I want to become.

But in this industry, ambition comes at a cost.

Blacklisted. Betrayed. Still, I rise.

And now my dream collides with him-the man who could shatter my defenses, or set everything I've built ablaze.

This is our story.

One night.

One secret.

One love.

A story forged in fire and etched in steel.

"Still" is a standalone, billionaire, contemporary Black romance.

Breaking things off with her college sweetheart seemed like the right choice at the time, but Amira never anticipated the heartache it would bring them both. Every day since she's regretted the decision that derailed her future. So, when Saleem reappears years later with an irresistible proposition, Amira is torn.

Walking away and not fighting for their relationship ate at Saleem more than he'd like to admit. He never wanted to end things, but he loved her enough to give her what she wanted. Life had taken them on different journeys, but when an opportunity presented itself to make her his wife, Saleem wasted no time trying to win her heart back.

This was supposed to be fake. Just a favor...

What starts as a practical arrangement quickly stirs up old feelings that never left, blurring the line between convenience and forever.

Amira and Saleem's love for one another was too deep to ignore, but will their past wounds keep them apart, or are second chances worth taking?

MEMPHIS
I’ve been a fighter all my life. I never back down.
I don’t fold.
But him?
One touch from him and my resolve instantly disintegrates.

BO
You might call me mean, evil, maybe even diabolical.
I’ll take all that because I only care about her.
Nothing and no one else.
She’s all that matters, and I’ll do anything to make her mine…again.

Memphis is an erotic dark romance with elements of suspense.

Adrian

Kiara has been my only desire since the moment I laid eyes on her. Radiantly beautiful and effortlessly kind, she resembled a goddess of the sun One smile, one conversation, one dance - one kiss was all it took for me to make my decision: Kiara was going to be mine. And now, with the perfect opportunity falling in my lap, I was going to claim her.

Kiara

Opening my own restaurant was always my dream. When it finally came true, I had no idea it would bring a living nightmare to my doorstep.The establishment I'd nourished and re-branded was deep in debt to one of the most dangerous families in the city, and the debt collector was no one other than the unhinged heir. This situation wouldn't be so bad if Adrian accepted payments. But, he doesn't want money - he wants me.

A beautiful, bold collection of more than 100 dazzling poems by Black poets for the whole family to treasure.

Discover classic favorites and new stars. This gorgeously illustrated children's anthology is the perfect introduction to poets such as Lucille Clifton, Langston Hughes, Benjamin Zephaniah, Gwendolyn Brooks, Maya Angelou, Amanda Gorman, Caleb Femi, and Joseph Coelho, and also features brand-new work by poets Nikki Grimes, Carole Boston Weatherford, and others.

Lovingly compiled by award-winning picture book writer and editor Traci N. Todd, this collection touches on a wide range of themes-hope and struggle, joy and pride, home and food, music and family. Each poem is paired with vibrant, inviting illustrations by Jade Orlando.

This beautiful gift book is a remarkable and moving tribute to the rich literary history and bright future of Black writing.

A gift-worthy hardcover edition reexamining Kahlo's most subversive yet heart-wrenching self-portrait

In 1940, in the wake of a divorce from her husband Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo (1907–54) turned to self-portraiture to express her deepest emotional and psychological impulses, and completed a painting inscribed with the lyrics of a popular folk song, "La Pelona": "Look, if I loved you it was for your hair. Now that you're without it, I no longer love you." In Self-Portrait with Cropped Hair, Kahlo's usual lively and saturated palette is supplanted by neutral hues, her Tehuana dress by a man's suit and her plaited hair by shorn locks that appear to wriggle up from the floor and around her chair, strangely alive. Nevertheless, the painting remains unmistakably Kahlo's, intensely felt, dreamlike and displaying references that encompass both popular culture and details from the artist's private life. In this richly illustrated volume, which includes the artist's most celebrated self-portraits and other related images, art historian Jodi Roberts situates the painting in the context of the Mexican Revolution, the Surrealist tradition and Kahlo's own changing of her artistic identity. This expanded hardcover edition includes additional illustrations and photographs, and features a die-cut on the front cover.

A groundbreaking guide to understanding-and transforming-the psychological impact of being Black in America.

Despite centuries of systemic trauma, Black communities continue to demonstrate unmatched resilience, creativity, and strength. Yet the emotional burden of navigating race, identity, and survival in modern America remains one of the most overlooked public health issues of our time.

Healing While Black offers a compelling, research-informed look at how trauma shows up-and how to heal from it. Combining modern psychology, historical analysis, and culturally grounded practices, this book provides a practical roadmap for improving mental health, building resilience, and strengthening overall well-being.

Inside, readers will learn:

* How generational trauma affects the brain, body, and behavior
*
* The psychological effects of racism and systemic inequity
*
* Evidence-based tools for emotional regulation and stress recovery
*
* Culturally relevant healing practices backed by science
*
* How to transform personal healing into empowerment and legacy
*

Engaging, accessible, and deeply relevant, this book is designed for individuals, families, educators, therapists, and organizations committed to supporting Black mental health.

Whether you're looking to understand your own healing, support a loved one, or build healthier communities, this book delivers clear insights and actionable strategies for long-lasting change.

This work reminds you of one truth: Healing is your birthright - and reclaiming it is revolutionary.

The first thrilling novel in a new adult romantasy duology following a young woman who finds herself the Chosen One to two conflicting prophecies—from the author of Lore of the Wilds.

Magic has always been something at the periphery of Audra’s life. As a human, she knows that magic exists, but it is something that is beyond the mist. Until one day the mist comes to shore, bringing with it the all too real Fae and upending Audra’s life entirely.

She is kidnapped from her home and taken to a school to be trained as a soldier by the Priestesses, Fae beings who are an ominous presence with a cult-like mentality. Audra must band together with a group of other prisoners to survive their new world filled with guilds, magic, and danger. The Priestesses are searching for the mythical Heir of Prophecy who will save them from an eternal winter. They know the Heir is among the student prisoners at the school and are getting more and more desperate to flush out him or her.

What Audra needs to know is what exactly it means to be the Heir... because she’s pretty sure it’s her. Her magic is wonky in exactly the way it was foretold. As she tries to hide her true nature, something strange keeps happening. A vision, a very hot and very underwordly vision comes to her. And what he has to say will put her life in even more danger and force her to make a decision that puts the fate of the entire world at risk.

The latest in writer and visual artist Renee Gladman’s ever-expanding body of imaginative investigation is a sui generis novel of queerness and art-making, philosophy and sex.

The narrator of My Lesbian Novel is Renee Gladman, an artist and writer who has produced the same acclaimed body of experimental art and prose as real-life Renee Gladman, and who is now being interviewed by an unnamed interlocutor about a project in process, a seeming departure from her other works, a lesbian romance. 
 
Between reflections on art making and on the genre of lesbian romance—“though aspects of the formula drive me crazy . . . people who write these stories understand how beautiful women are”—a romance novel of her own takes shape on the page, written alongside the interview, which sometimes skips whole years between questions, so that time and aging become part of the process. 
 
The result is a beautifully orchestrated dialogue between reflection and desire, or clarity and confusion, between the pleasures of form and the pleasures of freedom in the unspooling of sentences over time.

“Jasmine Reid writes a shapeful, theoretical work involved in the rigorous attending to emergent selves and the languages made in calling them into being.” —aracelis girmay

Interlocutor Goddess explores the creation of a trans language for selfhood within an exilic state of "ecstatic grief."

Reid's experimental work challenges societal norms, particularly the family as a political construct while reflecting on the trans experiences of a queer Black woman. The poems grapple with oppressive systems of separation and colonial legacies, rejecting extractive, empire-driven paradigms, and gender essentialism. Within her collection, Reid envisions alternative, ethical ways of being, rooted in unity and wholeness and finds kinship with the rhythms and lifeways of the natural world—soil, stars, and water. 

Her poetry employs a trans-lyricism, weaving together dual meanings through homonyms, homophones, and portmanteaus to create a layered, fugitive language that resists rigid classifications. At its core, Interlocutor Goddess is an act of transfiguration, a celebration of girlhood, and a reclamation of wholeness for all who exist beyond imposed boundaries.

Winner of the 2003 Lambda Literary Award for Fiction Anthology

Showcasing the work of literary giants like Langston Hughes, James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, Alice Walker, and writers whom readers may be surprised to learn were "in the life," Black Like Us is the most comprehensive collection of fiction by African American lesbian, gay, and bisexual writers ever published. From the Harlem Renaissance to the Great Migration of the Depression era, from the postwar civil rights, feminist, and gay liberation movements, to the unabashedly complex sexual explorations of the present day, Black Like Us accomplishes a sweeping survey of 20th century literature.

She's the figure skater. He's the hockey player. And the only thing more dangerous than falling for each other is the truth buried beneath the ice.

Welcome to Valcérre. An elite university in the middle of the snowy mountains with the best hockey and figure skating programs in the world...and secrets no one talks about.

Luna Del Sol is the new figure skater trying to prove she belongs. As a Black Latina, she's used to pressure. She's fought for every opportunity she's ever had.

She came here to focus on skating, not to get distracted by Valcérre's broody hockey star, who calls her an ice princess on her first day, like she's just another pretty face. She hates him for it.

Zayden Aldenhurst is the coach's son, a legacy hockey star, and the only Black player on the team. Everyone thinks he has it all, but he's just good at pretending. Until Luna walks in like a storm and reminds him of the things he tried to bury and everything he shouldn't want.

They're supposed to hate each other. But an anonymous message leads them to a hidden rink where a student died five years ago.

No matter how hard they try to stay away, they are drawn back together like magnets. And the closer they get, the thinner the ice beneath them becomes. One crack, and everything could shatter.

For fans of ICEBREAKER meets A GOOD GIRL'S GUIDE TO MURDER-at an elite, gothic university with buried secrets.

In Gauthier, love isn’t just found. It’s forever.

Phylicia “Phil” Simmons has built her life around restoring the past. Her craftsmanship and eye for beauty have made her one of Louisiana’s most sought-after artisans, but taking on the renovation of Belle Maison, a once grand bed and breakfast in her hometown, means more than reviving an old house. It means facing Jamal Johnson, the ambitious architect whose bold ideas test her patience as much as they stir something she isn’t ready to name.

He believes in innovation. She believes in preservation. But the more they clash over blueprints and late-night plans, the harder it becomes to fight the pull between them.

In the heart of a small Southern town where history lingers and hearts rarely rest, two people on opposite sides of a dream begin to blur the line between rebuilding what was lost and reaching for something that could last always and forever.

In Gauthier, love isn't just found. It's forever.

Shayla Kirkland traded her perfectly planned West Coast life for late-night homework sessions, carpools, and a coffeehouse on Main Street in her Louisiana hometown. Raising her two young nieces wasn't part of the plan, and neither was butting heads with Xavier Wright, the cocky new ER doctor who accused her of faking her niece's illness just to meet him. The man is infuriating, presumptuous, and way too attractive for her peace of mind.

Xavier took a traveling physician contract to escape memories he'd rather forget, not to become the object of small-town fascination. But when the beautiful, fierce woman who thoroughly put him in his place storms back into his life asking for help with a community wellness program, he sees his chance to make amends and maybe discover what it feels like to want something again.

In a town where everyone knows your business and second chances come with an audience, these two must decide if the spark between them is worth the risk. Because in Gauthier, forever isn't just a promise. It's a way of life.

In Gauthier, love isn’t just found. It’s forever.

Tamryn West, Ph.D., did not plan to swap Boston lecture halls for dirt roads, a failing radiator, or a surprise motorcycle rescue. But a research grant leads her to Gauthier, Louisiana, where the past opens doors she never meant to knock on, including the one belonging to Matthew Gauthier, the lawyer who avoided her calls and showed up anyway with dimples fully deployed.

Matt knows the town’s legacy like second nature, a generational inheritance he’d rather protect than narrate. The Gauthier Law Firm has long been the heartbeat of quiet justice, and Matt guards his family history the same way he wins a case, carefully, privately, and without extra commentary. Charming? Occasionally. Cooperative? Never on the first request, or the twentieth.

Their collision begins with a ride into town, luggage retrieved like a good deed that came with invisible fine print, and a quiet spark that grows louder than expected. Archives and chance meetings steer their summer off course, but their journey to happily ever after is worth the ride.

New York Times Bestseller

“In Brida, my third novel, which I wrote just after The Alchemist, I tell the story of a young woman who dives into sorcery and her experiences with different magical traditions. I explore many themes that are dear to me, such as the Great Mother, pagan religions, and the perceptions of love.”

-- Paulo Coelho

This is the spellbinding tale of Brida, a beautiful young Irish woman, and her quest for knowledge. On her journey, she meets a wise man who teaches her about overcoming her fears, and a woman who teaches her ancient rituals. They see in her a gift, but must let Brida make her own voyage of discovery.

A beautifully illustrated look at the work of one of today’s most exciting artists
 
Bisa Butler (b. 1973) is an American artist who creates arresting and psychologically nuanced portraits composed entirely of vibrantly colored and patterned fabrics that she cuts, layers, and stitches together. Often depicting scenes from African American life and history, Butler invites viewers to invest in the lives of the people she represents while simultaneously expanding art-historical narratives about American quiltmaking. Situating her interdisciplinary work within the broader history of textiles, photography, and contemporary art, contributions by a group of scholars—and entries by the artist herself—illuminate Butler’s approach to color, use of African-print fabrics, and wide-ranging sources of inspiration. Offering an in-depth exploration of one of America’s most innovative contemporary artists, this volume will serve as a primary resource that both introduces Butler’s work and establishes a scholarly foundation for future research.
 
Distributed for the Art Institute of Chicago
 
Exhibition Schedule:
  Katonah Museum of Art, New York
(March 15–October 4, 2020)
 
Art Institute of Chicago
(November 14, 2020–September 6, 2021)

Hit the ground running with all five books in Jason Reynolds’s award-winning and New York Times bestselling Track series, now available together in one hardcover boxed set.

Ghost. Patina. Sunny. Lu. A fast and fiery group of kids from wildly different backgrounds, chosen to compete on an elite track team. They all have a lot to lose, a lot to gain, and, most of all, a lot to prove, not only to each other, but to themselves. Under the caring yet firm-handed guidance of their coach, however, they may achieve more than they ever dreamed possible.

Here are all their stories, even Coach’s from when he was a boy coming into his own as a track superstar, in this explosive five-book series.

This hardcover boxed set includes:
Ghost
Patina
Sunny
Lu
Coach

Monsters, magic, and mischief abound once more in the spellbinding sequel to Where There Be Monsters, perfect for fans of The Marvellers and Amari and the Night Brothers.

Glory Brown is finally set to start her training as a junior spherinaut at the Parliamentarium. Will she turn out to be an owl, a bee, a fox, or a magpie, like her mama? She's been waiting a lifetime for this adventure . . . and yet all she wants to do is make her family proud and try not to be homesick for the Seam and all its charm.

As Glory struggles to find her place as the new kid―one with a lot of questions and a soft spot for monsters―she's also coping with the after-effects of Paxton's treachery, like the curse that still plagues her. In fact, the worlds of the Outersphere are all in the process of recovering―and Glory suspects they haven't seen the last of Paxton, either.

When top secret spherinautical charts go missing, parcels are tampered with, and the pocket-orreries go haywire, the Parliamentarium of Junior Spherinauts plunges into chaos. Now, Glory, Marcus, and their new friends must work together to figure out who the thief is and if they have what it takes to save the worlds again.

A suffocating and sharp narrative horror novel for fans of Victor LaValle and The Reformatory from "addictive" (Publishers Weekly) horror author Neena Viel, I’ll Watch Your Baby is a haunting reimagining of Linda Taylor--known as the original Welfare Queen―pursued, scrutinized, celebrated and vilified, and the impact her image has had for generations.

1974. Lottie Turner is already infamous. Running a wheel of schemes and scams, she’s willing to work for what she wants in…creative ways. But no business is more lucrative than desperate families looking to adopt a child―and there’s only one way to procure children quickly.

And the only way to take what’s owed you is to cross the line no one else is willing to cross.

1994. Bless has finally found the family she deserved. After suffocating slowly with lackluster parents and a non-starter past, she’s found the friends that means everything to her. That she’d live and die for. As they make their way across the country, one smash and grab at a time, Bless is used to acting fast and thinking on her feet.

But someone is playing a long game. Someone has unfinished business. Soon Bless is trapped in a web of horrors past and present, where the only escape hatch is a path only she can walk, if she finds the courage to take it.

Hip, hip, hooray! It's Fri-yay!

With her parents out of town, Hairiette gets to spend the whole weekend with Aunt Zelda and her cat Olive! They have their Fish Fry Friday, watch movies, and dance around the house. But this Friday is even more special: Hairiette learns how to use her Magic Nation to be an entrepreneur and help her family's hair salon business.

Step one: attempt to make Nana Grace's famous hair potion.

Step two: When Aunt Zelda says she can't use the potion, go to Magic Nation!

Charlie the Comb and Barbara the Barrett help Hairiette to understand that going slow and asking for help can make things work best. Being an entrepreneur is more fun with friends, anyway!

A modern-day dark academia fantasy with a twist, perfect for fans of Babel and A Deadly Education.

Warren University has stood amongst the ivy elite for centuries, built on the bones―and forbidden magic―of its most prized BIPOC students…hiding the rot of a secret society that will do anything to keep their own powers burning bright. No matter who they must sacrifice along the way.

Ellory Morgan is determined to prove that she belongs at Warren University, an ivy league school whose history is deeply linked to occult rumors and dark secrets. But as she settles into her Freshman year, something about the ornate buildings and shadowy paths feels strangely…familiar. And, with every passing day, that sense of déjà vu grows increasingly sinister.

Despite all logic, despite all reason, despite all the rules of reality, Ellory knows one thing to be true: she has been here before. And if she can't convince brooding legacy student Hudson Graves to help her remember a past that seems determined to slip through her fingers as if by some insidious magic…this time, she may lose herself for good.

"Draws readers into its spell before asking readers to consider who pays the true price of power―and what it means to refuse to let the powerful win." ― Laura R. Samotin, author of The Sins on Their Bones

LIMITED TIME DELUXE EDITION

She's hard to hold onto, but he's good with his hands...

Prickly, autistic, and shadowed by a scandalous past, Ruth Kabbah will always be Ravenswood's black sheep. It's a lonely life, but at least it's safe… until Evan Miller comes to town.

Calm, confident, and instantly accepted by their small English town, Evan is Ruth's opposite in every way―yet he meets her suspicion with a smile, handles her awkwardness with ease, and watches her with a hunger that threatens to tear down her all her defenses.

The gossips want to know how she's bewitched him. Ruth just wants to know when he'll get bored and leave. Because if there's one thing she's learned, it's that girls like her don't get happily ever afters.

But when a monster from Ruth's past comes back to haunt her, she's forced to make a choice: should she trust Evan completely? Or is her heart safest alone?

An in-depth look at the innovative career of an artist renowned for his multimedia explorations of colonial and postcolonial power
 
For the past thirty years, Guyanese British artist Hew Locke (b. 1959) has used strategies of appropriation to reveal and upend the visual codes of imperialism. Incorporating sculpture, photography, drawing, and found objects, Locke’s oeuvre has been described as a “postcolonial baroque” that deconstructs and reimagines deeply entrenched iconographies of British sovereignty. This richly illustrated catalogue showcases the full spectrum of Locke’s practice, bringing together distinct bodies of work that scrutinize the visual language of empire and colonialism’s present-day legacies of global market capitalism, migration, and diaspora. Essays from leading curators, critics, and scholars of contemporary art situate Locke’s work within the context of colonial and postcolonial history and theory, reveal how his use of nontraditional materials―including cardboard, fabric, beads, sequins, and readymade toys―enables the artist to reflect on his Guyanese-British heritage, and consider how the artist’s dense, highly textured, and multilayered works fuse vernacular and formal traditions.
 
Published by the Yale Center for British Art/Distributed by Yale University Press
 
Exhibition Schedule:
 
Yale Center for British Art
(October 2, 2025–January 11, 2026)
 
Wexner Center for the Arts, Columbus, OH
(February 13–May 24, 2026)
 
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
(June 21–September 13, 2026)

A Witch Fighting for her Freedom

Centuries after the Massacre of the Witches, Nova Aarin has clawed her way out of the dirt. Through death and destruction, she has learned that above all, blood answers to her. After striking a deal—death for freedom—Nova chases all she has ever wanted: her autonomy. For someone who has brought nothing but death, will her life ever be her own?

A Princess Vying for her Throne

Fear is the most powerful emotion of all. Elaia Zūne, the Princess of Shadow, knows that, even if she cannot admit it. Her mother and sisters are dead. Her father and the girl she has loved all her life, are all who remain. Darkness and death wait in the shadows and fear slithers within her. Will she bend to it? Or will fear bend to her?

A Queen Discovering World's End

Failure was not an option, not for Syrena Savali. The Reyn of Iyvia is dead and the crown is hers. Syrena must rise to the challenge or risk losing her position. But her world is not all that is changing—under the ocean’s surface, a rift grows on the seafloor, and something poisonous leaks.

Is she strong enough to contain it, or will she fail the world?

The Descent

The world fractures and the hunt begins.

A path-breaking work of biography of two American giants, Jackie Robinson and Paul Robeson, whose lives would forever be altered by the Cold War, and would explosively intersect before its most notorious weapon, the House Un-American Activities Committee — from one of the best sports and culture writers working today. 

Kings and Pawns is the untold story of sports and fame, Black America and the promise of integration through the Cold War lens of two transformative events. The first occurred July 18, 1949 in Washington, D.C., when a reluctant Jackie Robinson, the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball star who integrated the game and at the time was the most famous Black man in America, appeared before the House Un-American Activities Committee to discredit Paul Robeson, the legendary athlete, baritone, and actor — himself once the most famous Black man in America. The testimony would be a defining moment in Robinson’s life and contribute heavily to the destruction of Robeson’s iconic reputation in the eyes of America.

The second occurred June 12, 1956, in the midst of the last, demagogic roar of McCarthyism, when a battered, defiant Robeson – prohibited from leaving the United States – faced off in a final showdown with HUAC in the same setting Robinson appeared in seven years earlier. These two moments would epitomize the ongoing Black American conflict between patriotism and protest. On the cusp of a nascent civil rights movement, Robinson and Robeson would represent two poles of a people pitted against itself by forces that demanded loyalty without equality in return – one man testifying in conflicted service to and the other in ferocious critique of a country that would ultimately and decisively wound both.

In a time of great division, with America in the midst of a new era of retrenchment and Black athletes again chilled into silence advocating for civil rights, the story of these two titans reverberates today within and beyond Black America. From the revival of government overreach to curb civil liberties to the Cold War-era rhetoric of “the enemy within” levied against fellow citizens, Kings and Pawns is a story of a moment that remains hauntingly present.