The milestones collectiontraces the defining moments, key works,and inner journeys that shapedthe greatest artists of our time
Faithful to its century-old tradition as a leading publisher of art books, Skira’s new Milestones series is dedicated to the most important living artists of our time. Directed by Denise Wendel-Poray, these volumes are conceived as immersive journeys: quiet, attentive, and deeply personal explorations of the daily life, creative process, and inner world of exceptional artists rather than offering conventional retrospectives.
Each Milestones volume is developed in close collaboration with its subject and provides rare behind-the-scenes insights into their practice. Through one or more intimate conversations with a curator or fellow artist, attention turns to key works, decisive moments, and the personal path that has shaped a life in art. These exchanges are complemented by an essay from a distinguished author as well as a comprehensive biography.
The visual narrative is equally close and revealing. Alongside images of seminal works—accompanied by the artist’s own commentary—the books present an original photographic portfolio of the artist in the
studio, captured by leading photographers such as Jabulani Dhlamini or David Michalek. A “family album” section brings together previously unpublished images and personal photographs, offering glimpses of private moments and creative beginnings.
Produced hand in hand with the artist, each volume may also incorporate handwritten notes, drawings, and other unpublished materials, making every book a singular object, both documentary and intimate. Richly illustrated and thoughtfully composed, Milestones opens a discreet door into the creative life of one of today’s most significant artists, allowing readers to encounter not only the work but the human presence behind it.
The series is inaugurated by three first volumes, each devoted to a singular artistic voice.
ALEX KATZ
WILLIAM KENTRIDGE
GEORG BASELITZ
Alex Katz
"As a painter, it's your obligation to paint something
new....from the immediate present–That's the ideo of
modernism. So, you say any experience i've had is in the
present tense. Nefertiti, to me, is as new as anyone because
i'm there with Nefertiti, with the sculpture."
ALEX KATZ
William Kentridge
"Working in South Afrika, where politics were so
persent, i was looking for different forms of modernism
that aren't reactionary or conservative, but at the same
time don't abandon questions of history"
WILLIAM KENTRIDGE
William Kentridge is a singular force in contemporary art—an artist whose restless imagination bridges drawing, cinema, sculpture, opera, and theater. His remarkable career takes center stage in this richly illustrated and deeply considered volume tracing the ideas and influences that shape his expansive practice. With an essay by longtime friend Stephen Clingman and a conversation with novelist Julian Barnes, this book offers rare insight into the mind of an artist who makes history flicker, fracture, and come alive. Specially created for theMilestonesseries, twoTree of Lifepieces trace the artist’s inspirations—from Goya to Mayakovsky, Shostakovich to the present day. The volume is not a retrospective; it is an invitation to follow the restless journey of creation itself.
Georg Baselitz
"I have never followed a set direction of any sort.
Rather, I have followed a meandering path whose
general direction is apparent only when seen from
a distance. The track is clear to see in the end"
GEORG BASELITZ
Baselitz has created a distinctive and enthralling body of work, including drawing, painting, and sculpture, rarely matched in its depth and reach. More than a retrospective, this book is a comprehensive excursion into the daily life and work of this remarkable artist and provides a rare inside glimpse at the “making of” the monumental paintings and sculptures for which he is celebrated.
Richly illustrated and featuring an incisive interview by Cornelius Tittel alongside an essay by Baselitz himself, the book delves into the bold experimentation and rigorous critical thinking that lie behind Baselitz’s masterful works.
