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How To Live An Artful Life: 366 Inspirations from Artists on how to Bring Creativity to Your Everyday
From the award-winning, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Story of Art Without Men: see the world anew with artistic inspiration for every day of the year.
The year ahead is a gift that has been given to you. What might you do with it?
Gathered from interviews, personal conversations, books and talks, How to Live an Artful Life moves through the months of the year offering you thoughts, reflections and encouragements from artists such as Marina Abramovic, Nan Goldin, Lubaina Himid, Louise Bourgeois and many more.
The year is full of the promise of work that has yet to be written, paintings that are yet to be painted, people who have yet to meet, talk, or fall in love. With this book in hand, pay attention, and see the world anew. Go out and find it, taste it, seize it, and live it – artfully.
With a thought for every day of the year, whether looking for beginnings in January, freedom in summer, or transformation as the nights draw in, this is a book to cherish and inspire.
The year ahead is a gift that has been given to you. What might you do with it?
Gathered from interviews, personal conversations, books and talks, How to Live an Artful Life moves through the months of the year offering you thoughts, reflections and encouragements from artists such as Marina Abramovic, Nan Goldin, Lubaina Himid, Louise Bourgeois and many more.
The year is full of the promise of work that has yet to be written, paintings that are yet to be painted, people who have yet to meet, talk, or fall in love. With this book in hand, pay attention, and see the world anew. Go out and find it, taste it, seize it, and live it – artfully.
With a thought for every day of the year, whether looking for beginnings in January, freedom in summer, or transformation as the nights draw in, this is a book to cherish and inspire.
483 pages, Hardcover
First published November 6, 2025
338 people are currently reading
2279 people want to read
About the author
Katy Hessel
7 books197 followersKaty Hessel is a British art historian, broadcaster, writer and curator, living in London, whose work is concerned with women artists.
Hessel was born and raised in London. She studied art history at University College London.
She writes on the subject of women artists for various publications. She has written and presented the BBC arts documentaries Artemisia Gentileschi (2020) and Art on the BBC: Monet (2022).
She runs the Great Women Artists Instagram account and in 2019 created a podcast by the same name in which she interviews art historians, art curators, writers, and art lovers about women artists and also talks to women artists about their work and career.
In September 2022, Hessel published the book The Story of Art without Men, a 500-year survey of art by women. It won the 2022 Waterstones Book of the Year. Also in 2022 she became a curatorial trustee of Charleston.
Hessel was born and raised in London. She studied art history at University College London.
She writes on the subject of women artists for various publications. She has written and presented the BBC arts documentaries Artemisia Gentileschi (2020) and Art on the BBC: Monet (2022).
She runs the Great Women Artists Instagram account and in 2019 created a podcast by the same name in which she interviews art historians, art curators, writers, and art lovers about women artists and also talks to women artists about their work and career.
In September 2022, Hessel published the book The Story of Art without Men, a 500-year survey of art by women. It won the 2022 Waterstones Book of the Year. Also in 2022 she became a curatorial trustee of Charleston.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 10, 2025
At times a bit repetitive, but overall full of lovely advice, ideas, quotes and reflections ranging from George Eliot and Virginia Woolf to Ali Smith, Tracey Emin and Claudia Winkleman. I found it genuinely inspiring, and it also introduced me to many new artists and writers. A warm and encouraging read that invites you to slow down, notice more, and stay open to creativity.
February 20, 2026
Hoe leef je een kunstrijk leven. Door: Kathy Hessel.
Voor mij is Hoe leef je een kunstrijk leven de eerste kennismaking met Kathy Hessel. Zegt meer over mijn dan over haar want ondertussen ontdekte ik dat zij een heus fenomeen is; een vrouw die al veel geweldige boeken heeft gemaakt. Boeken waar ik al over heb gehoord maar waarvan ik dus niet doorhad dat ze allemaal van haar zijn. Zoals bijvoorbeeld The Story about Art without Men.
Hoe leef je een kunstrijk leven kan je in één ruk uitlezen maar je kan het ook een jaar lang als een soort van kalender gebruiken. Een interactieve. Voor elke dag van het jaar vind je een idee, kunstwerk, quote, stukje essay, oproep, gedachte,…
366 keer een reminder om je blik te verruimen, even naar binnen te kijken, stil te staan, naar buiten te gaan, je handen iets te doen te geven. Geweldige, creatieve (voornamelijk) vrouwen, vormen de basis: Abramovic, Heti, Goldin, Lorde, Neel, Emin,… Allemaal favoriete vrouwen van mij.
Mijn plan is om dit boek op mijn nachtkastje te leggen en er elke dag met te beginnen, in plaats van met mijn smartphone,… Maar voorlopig blijf ik als een bezetene bladeren, lezen, genieten. Zo veel inspiratie! Fan!
Voor mij is Hoe leef je een kunstrijk leven de eerste kennismaking met Kathy Hessel. Zegt meer over mijn dan over haar want ondertussen ontdekte ik dat zij een heus fenomeen is; een vrouw die al veel geweldige boeken heeft gemaakt. Boeken waar ik al over heb gehoord maar waarvan ik dus niet doorhad dat ze allemaal van haar zijn. Zoals bijvoorbeeld The Story about Art without Men.
Hoe leef je een kunstrijk leven kan je in één ruk uitlezen maar je kan het ook een jaar lang als een soort van kalender gebruiken. Een interactieve. Voor elke dag van het jaar vind je een idee, kunstwerk, quote, stukje essay, oproep, gedachte,…
366 keer een reminder om je blik te verruimen, even naar binnen te kijken, stil te staan, naar buiten te gaan, je handen iets te doen te geven. Geweldige, creatieve (voornamelijk) vrouwen, vormen de basis: Abramovic, Heti, Goldin, Lorde, Neel, Emin,… Allemaal favoriete vrouwen van mij.
Mijn plan is om dit boek op mijn nachtkastje te leggen en er elke dag met te beginnen, in plaats van met mijn smartphone,… Maar voorlopig blijf ik als een bezetene bladeren, lezen, genieten. Zo veel inspiratie! Fan!
March 21, 2026
Love, love, love, this book.
The intertextuality, the artists mentioned, the quotes, the questions that Hessel makes you ponder about. The appreciation of artists and their art and how transfixed as a society we are to art.
From some of my favourite artists to some great unknown artists. I absolutely loved this book.
5
The intertextuality, the artists mentioned, the quotes, the questions that Hessel makes you ponder about. The appreciation of artists and their art and how transfixed as a society we are to art.
From some of my favourite artists to some great unknown artists. I absolutely loved this book.
5
March 21, 2026
Borrowed it from the library and had to return it before finishing as it was reserved. It's in my "to buy" list. Love the little snippets of quotes and where they are from, discovered. Some new artists
January 14, 2026
I found the pacing thoughtful. Each section felt like it had a purpose.
February 25, 2026
I love how Kathy Hessel interweaves little snippets of the artists lives with the daily tasks she recommends. Such a fun little year long project.
December 23, 2025
I guess I wasn’t the right audience for this book, but it really only skims the surface and is packed with repetitions and clichés.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews