The Best Art Gifts of 2023 for Artists and Art Lovers Alike

FOR ART LOVERS

Art-themed tree ornaments

Nothing says Christmas like a tree ornament, and nothing says art like Vincent van Gogh—two great things that go great together in this hand-blown glass ornament. Shaped like a painter’s palette, it’s loaded with signature van Gogh colors such as yellow ochre, chrome orange, and emerald green. Start someone’s arty ornament collection with this stocking stuffer, perfect for the painter or van Gogh fan in your life.  

Purchase: Van Gogh Tree Ornament, $34.00 on Art Institute of Chicago

When Italian bad-boy artist Maurizio Cattelan taped a 30-cent banana to a wall and charged $120,000 for it, the art world tittered for about 15 seconds before it was bought. Now you or someone you know can spend Christmas reliving that moment of mild provocation with this blown-glass tree ornament. At $21.99 it will cost you a lot less than the original but admittedly more than the original original. Cody Foster + Co is known for their edgy ornaments, which include such pop-cultural referents as Amy Winehouse and Post Malone.

Purchase: Banana Art Ornament, $21.99 on Zakka Joy

Separate Bath and Toilet merch by Ken Kagami

Know someone into enigmatic branding? Then this line of clothing and accessories by Japanese artist Ken Kagami is a no-brainer for gifting. Emblazoned in sans-serif typeface on his tees, hoodies, tops, and bottoms is the head-scratching phrase SEPARATE BATH & TOILET. Kagami is known for deadpan provocations (e.g., a drawing of Snoopy pissing on a Picasso) and that spirit pervades this collection.

Purchase: Goods from Separate Bath and Toilet, ¥880 to ¥48,400 (Japanese Yen) on Separate Bath and Toilet

An Ed Ruscha hoodie

A gift of museum merch is probably the simplest way of telling someone that you know they’re an art lover, but this hoodie featuring one of Ed Ruscha’s most famous paintings works for anyone, art lover or not. As in the 1962 original, the sweatshirt sports the word OOF in yellow lettering on a bright blue background. Produced in conjunction with MoMA’s 2023–2024 Ruscha retrospective, the item is made by leading sportswear label, Champion.

Purchase: Ed Ruscha OOF Champion Hoodie, $90.00 on Museum of Modern Art

Dutch Golden Age–inspired nail polish

Make someone’s hands a living masterpiece with art-inspired nail polish. This limited-edition set is a collaboration between L.A. jeweler J. Hannah and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and features two colors—Morning Glory (a “painterly azure”) & Hollyhock (a “blushy, sun-ripe apricot”). Both are based on hues in Golden Age Dutch painter Dirck de Bray’s still life, Flowers in a Glass (1671), which was included in LACMA’s 2023–2024 exhibition, “The World Made Wondrous.”

Purchase: J. Hannah for LACMA Nail Polish (Morning Glory or Hollyhock), $22.00 on LACMA

Lemaire x Angkasapura

If you have a lover of outsider art on your list who also loves expensive togs, high-end Parisian clothier Lemaire offers the ideal gift: luxuriant silk dresses, blouses, and kerchiefs patterned with self-taught Indonesian artist Noviadi Angkasapura’s visionary renderings of anthropomorphic creatures.

Purchase: Lemaire x Angkasapura Clothing, $1785.00 to $2755.00 on Lemaire

A Miffy in Mondrian

While Hello Kitty–adjacent Miffy looks like something made in Japan (and indeed, is very popular there), the famed children’s book character is the brainchild of Dutch artist Dick Bruna, who conceived Miffy back in 1995. Here, Bruna’s creation is paired with the work of another iconic artist from Holland by putting Miffy in a Piet Mondrian–inspired dress. This spiffy Miffy is hand-crotched out of 100% machine-washable cotton—the perfect stocking-stuffer for your kid or the kid in you.

Purchase: Miffy Handmade in Mondrian Dress, $39.00 on Museum of Modern Art

LEGO x Hokusai

LEGO and art enthusiasts alike will be swept away by this build-it-yourself version of Hokusai’s maritime masterpiece, The Great Wave. Said to have inspired Debussy’s La Mer (The Sea) and Rilke’s Der Berg (The Mountain), this iconic woodblock print can now be replicated in LEGO blocks. The 1810-piece kit comes with a QR code for a meditative soundtrack, while illustrated instructions guide you through the building process. Also included: LEGO blocks for framing and hanging plus a tile with Hokusai’s signature.

Purchase: Hokusai Great Wave LEGO Kit, $99.99 on LEGO

An Yves Klein tee

A star of France’s Nouveau Réalisme movement, Yves Klein was a showman known for using nude models as paintbrushes and for diving off a wall as a performance-art stunt. He lived fast and died young (at age 34), and was, his own way, a kind of rock and roller, so he certainly deserves his own t-shirt. This one is emblazoned with the announcement card for a 1961 exhibit of his monochromes done in his signature shade of blue. Cool as Jean-Paul Belmondo smoking Gauloises, this tee is sure to attract attention.

Purchase: Yves Klein T-Shirt, $16.00 on TeePublic

Hassan Hajjaj goods

Featured in the Brooklyn Museum’s 2023 “Africa Fashion” exhibit, Moroccan-British artist Hassan Hajjaj is known for colorful photographic portraits of friends and fellow artists mounted in deep-shelved frames containing Moroccan products. He’s also a designer with a shop—both online and in London—named for his birthplace, Larache. Here you’ll find Hajjaj posters and catalogs, as well as bone china objects based on his work, housewares, bags, and apparel.

Purchase: Hassan Hajjaj Designs, $12.84 to $237.55 on Larache

FOR ARTISTS

A beautiful brush pot

A pot for paintbrushes need not be fancy: Jasper Johns famously used a Savarin coffee can that became a recurring image in his work. But spicing up your brush holder can add a nice touch to your workspace. While there are countless cups, jugs, and jars out there, we particularly like this compact (5 inches high by 4 inches in diameter) vase from Upper East Side purveyor of high-quality Japanese tableware, Sara. This wood fired, natural ash glazed vase by Shumpei Yamaki holds flowers, of course, but can also add a touch of class to any artist’s studio by serving as a brush holder.

Purchase: Shumpei Yamaki Flower Vase, $180.00 on Sara

A cushion for plein-air painting

While you could use Peace Cabin’s Wanderer cushion for any outdoor activity, it makes an excellent yuletide choice for any plein air painter who wants to keep their tushies comfortable while limning landscapes. Weighing just two pounds with a sewn-on handle, the Wanderer is easy to take on the go, and if you happen to get it dirty, no worries: its nylon shell means that grime comes off with a quick wipe. Measuring 15 by 15 by 4 inches, the cushion is also sustainably stuffed with fully biodegradable, non-toxic kapok, shredded organic latex foam, and raw cotton.

Purchase: Wanderer Cushion, $135.00 on Omoi Zakka

A unique set of gouache paints

Holbein’s Irodori line should get more attention. Labeled as a gouache, the deeply pigmented paint falls somewhere between gouache and watercolor in terms of opacity and is meant to be layered rather than mixed. The full line of 48 colors is divided into four seasonal palettes drawn from traditional Japanese art circa the 15th century. Get the stunning box of 12 winter hues—including earthy browns and greens, cool jewel tones, and an iridescent gold—for your favorite water-based media artist.

Purchase: Holbein Irodori Artist Gouache and Sets, $8.29–$92.95 on Blick

A mega-sampler of drawing and painting pads

The paper distributor Legion is offering an indulgent yet useful holiday gift: a sampler of its best-known artist’s papers. Included are thirteen 9-by-12-inch pads of different types of high-quality paper, ranging from Yupo (a slick polypropylene surface that gives unparalleled flow to water-based media) to Lenox 100-percent-cotton drawing paper to Stonehenge cold press watercolor paper. Perfect for the artist who likes to experiment, the set is also a good deal—purchased separately, the pads would be double the price. Also available are several 2.5-by-3.75-inch pad collections for those who work small.

Purchase: Artist Pad Collections, $17.10-$119.95 on Legion

A good paintbrush case

While not the most aesthetically pleasing of brush cases, this no-nonsense zippered version is one of the best. The water-resistant fabric and vinyl flap are handy for wet brushes, and the pack is rigid enough to protect your brushes—and stand up on its own to double as a brush holder—without a lot of bulk.

Purchase: Just Stow-It Brush Case, $23.34 on Blick

. . . or, a bamboo brush roll

Richeson’s simple bamboo roll allows airflow to help your brushes dry while protecting them from damage. With 12 brush slots, this is a good, compact option for travel. If you know what medium your giftee works in, consider adding a couple of paintbrushes.

Purchase: Richeson Bamboo Brush Rollup, $8.80 on Blick

Nonstick all-purpose scissors

These Japanese-made, stainless steel scissors cut cleanly through sticky materials like tape thanks to their Teflon-coated blades. Their blades are ultra-sharp and durable, their rubber-coated handles protect your hands, and their symmetrical design makes them comfortable for both right- and left-handed users.

Purchase: Allex All-Purpose Scissors, $40.00 on Cooper Hewitt

A secure pencil sharpener

There’s nothing more annoying than a pencil sharpener with a container for shavings whose container doesn’t stay attached to the sharpener, resulting in spilled pencil dust and shavings. Kum’s 3-inch-tall glass container securely screws onto the high-carbon steel sharpener and stays there, even when thrown into your bag.

Purchase: Kum Glass Pencil Sharpener, $12.42 on Blick

A really good hand cream

Ceramicists in particular appreciate a super-moisturizing hand cream, and many like O’Keeffe’s Working Hands. It’s ultra-moisturizing and contains a bit of paraffin, which forms a protective barrier on the skin. Importantly, the unscented cream is nongreasy and absorbs quickly into the skin, making it an especially good choice for artists who work on paper.

Purchase: O’Keeffe’s Working Hands Hand Cream, $16.30 for two on Amazon

A handmade bowl and brush caddy set

If you know an artist who settles for makeshift solutions when working with aquarelles (an old yogurt container for holding water? Please.), up their game a ceramic water bowl and matching brush holder. Hand thrown by Florida potter Leslie Nieto, the aesthetically pleasing combo in soothing celadon green is made from glazed stoneware and is dishwater safe. Perfect for any watercolorist whether they’re a newbie or a pro.

Purchase: Watercolor Bowl and Brush Caddy, $42.00 to $45.00 on Uncommon Goods

A set of precision drawing pens

Designed in the early 1980s as an inexpensive delivery system for their patented pigment-based ink, Sakura’s Pigma Micron pen, with its familiar beige barrel and gear-shaped top, remains the best-quality disposable technical pen you can buy. Permanent, fade resistant, chemically stable, bleed free, and run-proof once dry, Sakura’s archival-quality Pigma ink makes the Micron the go-to tool not only for artists, but for anyone concerned with preserving their work. Suitable for writing, drawing, or journaling, the Pigma Micron is a staff favorite. This set of six pens comes in tip sizes from .008 to .05 microns.

Purchase: Sakura Pigma Micron Pens, Set of 6, $11.54 on Amazon

An iPad keyboard and case

If your giftee has an Apple iPad, this keyboard and case will turn it into something closer to a laptop than a tablet as well as protect it from breakage. It connects via Bluetooth and is powered by a lithium-ion battery, which can be charged via a USB-C connector.

Purchase: ZAGG Rugged Book Detachable Case and Magnetic-Hinged Keyboard for iPad 11″, $68.02 on Amazon

FOR CREATIVE KIDS (AND ADULTS TOO)

A combination activity book and album

Scratch-off games are usually associated with state lotteries, but families will be winners every time with this combination keepsake album and activity planner. Each page features a different challenge to undertake en famille, concealed under a lotto-card style patch. Scraping it off with the enclosed plastic token reveals instructions for doing a variety of fun things, like bowling to see who gets the lowest score. There’s a catch, though: once you uncover a challenge, you’re obliged to do it. Space is provided for photos or written notes you can peruse for years to come.

Purchase: The Adventure Challenge Family Edition, $80.81 on Adventure Challenge

A pen that combines drawing and 3-D printing

The 3Doodler Create+ printing pen is more of a toy than a tech gadget; it simply extrudes a line of heated plastic that hardens almost instantly. Wonderfully designed and easy to master, it lets the user create 3-D objects fairly quickly and intuitively. It comes with 15 different colors of 3Doodler Create+ plastic refills plus an activity guide book. The only limit is your imagination. For kids over 12.

Purchase: 3Doodler Create+ 3D Printing Pen, $79.99 on 3Doodler

An up-to-date paper doll

From the costume designer for the Black Panther movies comes this high-quality paper doll whose contemporary outfits are inspired by traditional African clothing. You get one paper doll plus two perforated sheets of garments and accessories. We love that the doll isn’t static but has articulated limbs, which you can move by attaching mini brads (included) when assembling her. The designs are all printed on durable heavy stock.

Purchase: Ruth Carter Paper Doll Kit, $35.00 on Academy Museum

A set of water-soluble artist’s crayons

A set of water-soluble artist’s crayons
Fun to use alone and a delight to blend with watercolor, Caran d’Ache’s buttery and bright Neocolor II crayons offer the option of wet or dry techniques (or a combination of the two), plus quick clean up with water and soap, making them a great gift for kids (and adults as well!).

Purchase: Caran d’Ache Neocolor II Artists’ Crayons and Sets, $1.58–$262.15 on Blick

A tiny movie camera

This fun little device—just 3 by 4 inches in size—allows you to shoot a mini silent movie on 35mm film. Perfect for budding experimental filmmakers who can carry the compact cam everywhere they go.

Purchase: LomoKino, $59.00 on B&H

Easy-peasy monoprinting

Gelli offers great all-ages kits for gelatin monoprinting. This starter set comes with  a ready-to-use gel plate, acrylic paint, a smooth-rolling brayer, paper, and supplies to create shapes and textures. The gel plates are easy to wash for reuse and can showcase a decent amount of texture.

Purchase: Gelli Arts Gel Printmaking Starter Kit, $25 on Walmart

A tried and tested STEM kit

STEM kits can develop a youngster’s love of both science and art and demonstrate how they complement each other. MEL Science offers a monthly subscription suitable for ages five to nine (and even older) that you can choose to include art-related activities ranging from building a working printing press to making your own paints. The instructions for each well-designed kit are clear and stoke curiosity, and the materials are generally plastic-free and recyclable. You can mix and match kits to focus on the science of art materials, or go with a larger range of STEM activities.

Purchase: MEL Science Subscription, from $29.90/month or $180/year on MEL Science

Erasable pens for secret messages

These brightly colored pens lay down marks that you can erase without leaving any residue. This is thanks to their special thermo-sensitive ink, which turns clear when exposed to increased temperature—in other words, the friction created by erasing. Each features a 0.7-millimeter nib and a rounded rubber end that you have to use to make the ink disappear; a regular eraser, unfortunately, won’t do the trick. Note that if you write and then erase a message on paper, freezing that sheet will make the ink reappear. Go wild with secret messages with this set of 12 markers in assorted colors.

Purchase: FriXion Colors Erasable Marker Pens, $15.36 on Amazon  

FOR WRITERS AND NOTEMAKERS

A dip pen set for aspiring calligraphers

For fine calligraphy and ink drawing, nothing is quite as old school as a dip pen, and fountain-pen manufacturer Sailor makes some of the best around. Each pen is tipped with a detachable fountain pen nib and has a barrel of shatterproof resin that also serves as storage space for the nib. You can go from one color of ink to another with the wipe of a cloth. This set comes with a bottle of ink in one of three special-edition colors.

Purchase: Sailor Dipton Mini Ink & Dip Pen Set, $29.00 on Atlas Stationers

A superior gel pen

A superior gel pen
Some might say the Uni-ball Signo UM-151 (also known as the Uni-ball Signo DX) is the mullet of pens. OK, maybe we’re the only ones saying that. But consider this: The Uni-ball Signo is equal parts business and party. The smooth-flowing gel ink is waterproof, fade-proof, and archival, making it perfect for serious pen artists. On the party side, it comes in a rainbow of colors, including subdued “near black” hues, bold primaries, and sweet pastels, plus a range of tip sizes.

Purchase: Uni-ball Signo UM-151 Pens, from $2.85 on JetPens

. . . or a nice fountain pen

For a more elegant writing utensil, consider the sleek Kaweco AL Sport fountain pen. The “sport” in its name refers to its compact nature, which allows you to always keep it on hand. Although available in several different materials and finishes, we love the AL line, which features a hard-wearing aluminum body with a comfortable heft. Choose from a range of colors, nib sizes and finishes, ink converters, and pen clips. If you’re unsure of your gift recipient’s preferences, go for a medium steel nib to start; it can always be changed out later.

Purchase: Kaweco AL Sport Fountain Pens, $68.40-$86.50 on JetPens

. . .paired with a journal created for fountain pens

If you know your notebooks, you know that Rhodia’s have a cult following—and for good reason. These tried-and-true leatherette journals are bound with high-quality, smooth European paper that is ideal for taking fountain pen ink. The legacy brand, in business since 1934, offers options in a wide range of colors and sizes, including a super-handy pocket-size journal.

Purchase: Rhodia Rhodiarama Notebooks, $15.95 and up on Goldspot

A Blackwing pencil set

The storied Blackwing 602 pencil dates back the to the 1930s when it was introduced by the Eberhard Faber Pencil Company. Its quality graphic lead and unique rectangular eraser drew the attention of author John Steinbeck, Looney Tunes creator Chuck Jones, and Disney animator Shamus Culhane (who asked to be buried with his Blackwing 602). After being discontinued in 1998, it became a cult item before being reintroduced in 2008. Now you can give this set of four Blackwing pencils in four different hardnesses, which comes with a $10 discount on a future purchase of 12 of one of the pencils.

Purchase: Blackwing Audition Pack, $15.00 on Blackwing

A classic brass pencil sharpener

There’s simply no better manual pencil sharpener than this one from Möbius + Ruppert (M + R). Offering the kind of precision you’d expect from something made in Germany since 1908, M + R’s sharpener is milled from solid brass, with a razor-sharp blade made from the finest hardened steel. Practically indestructible, the sharpener comes in four styles, including a badass barrel-shaped model with a knurled no-slip finish.

Purchase: M + R Sharpener, $5.09 to $9.50 on Dick Blick

An attractive mechanical pencil

Never requiring sharpening, mechanical pencils let you work for hours without interuption, no matter how hard you tend to press down on the page. If your giftee prefers to write (or do crosswords) in pencil, this mechanical pencil from the iconic Swiss art-supply brand Caran d’Ache makes a thoughtful present. It has a sturdy aluminum barrel that features one-piece construction, its hexagonal shape tapering to a rounded point. Fitted for 0.7 mm leads, it’s lightweight and reliable, and comes in blue or turquoise in an attractive embossed metal box.

Purchase: Caran d’Ache 844 mechanical pencil, $35.25 on Brooklyn Clay Industries

. . . and an eraser for tight spots

The narrow build of Tombow’s super-skinny white block eraser makes it a breeze to remove fine pencil lines or marks in small areas. The plastic material won’t damage your paper, and doesn’t require a lot of pressure to erase cleanly. It’s great for everyday writing and fine art-making that involves  subtractive line work. Each eraser is encased in a protective paper sleeve that keeps the eraser clean and in good form.

Purchase: Tombow Mono Smart Eraser, $2.05 on Blick 

A compact desk lamp

Thrill the writer in your life with this articulated desk lamp from Anglepoise. Founded in the UK in 1932, Anglepoise introduced this iconic design after vehicle suspension engineer George Carwardine invented a mechanism that could change position with the lightest of touch and stay there. The Type 75 is based on the Anglepoise Apex 90, originally launched in the 1950s, giving it clean midcentury lines. Made of aluminum, it has a cast-iron base, so it’s had to knock over.

Purchase: Anglepoise Type 75 Mini Desk Lamp, $275.00 on Design Within Reach

An indispensable notebook

Another staff favorite, the Midori MD notebook is a case study in Zen simplicity: it features a plain cover made from the same stock as the pages, so you can decorate it as you please. The paper is 20% cotton, and the sewn binding allows the book to be opened perfectly flat. Like all MD products, this notebook provides a smooth writing experience. It is available in three sizes and three formats: blank, lined, and gridded. The lines are printed in pale gray, so as not to distract the writer.

Purchase: Midori MD Notebooks, $12.50 to $25.00 on JetPens

A one-of-a-kind journal

Why give a plain-looking notebook when you can give one of these one of these one-of-a-kind journals? From the Iowa-based studio Moglea, each of these 7.5-by-5.5-inch journals has a hand-painted cover, making each a work of art. The journals contain 50 ruled pages bound between mat boards with copper wire. Moglea is known for its handcrafted stationary and paper goods made to last.

Purchase: Moglea Painted Journal, $18.00 to $19.00 on Dick Blick

. . . or a sumptuous leather notebook cover

Though we’ve suggested several here, notebooks can be tricky to give—those who use them often have a favorite that works for them. If your giftee uses one routinely and you don’t know what kind of notebook it is, consider presenting them with a luxurious notebook cover like this one from Roterfaden, which works with any A5 notebook, not just Roterfaden’s. Made of textured, vegetable-tanned, full-grained nubuck leather, the cover is guaranteed to develop a beautiful patina over time. Its interior also stuns, as it’s lined with velvety suede. There’s also a unique clipping system to hold notebooks at their spines, plus two business-card-sized pockets and a pen holder.

Purchase: Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter WK Notebook Cover, $160.00 on Jet Pens

FOR PHOTOGRAHPERS, FILMMAKERS, AND BLOGGERS

A pinhole camera kit

This lightweight, large format (4 X 5) pinhole camera is manufactured in Britain and is designed with ease of use in mind. The body consists of two boxes, one smaller than the other, that slide together and latch in place with magnets. Using the darkroom or a changing bag, you simply open the camera, lay a sheet of film into the larger side, close the camera and you’re good to go. The pinhole shutter also opens and closes with a magnet. The camera includes a tripod mount, 10 sheets of film, 20 sheets of photo paper, an exposure calculator, and a light-tight box for storing exposed materials.

Purchase: Pinhole Camera Kit, $134.75 on Adorama

A refurbished SX-70

Before there were smartphones and instant uploads on Instagram, there were instant cameras and a short wait while photos developed before your eyes. Released in 1972, Polaroid’s SX-70 was the Rolls Royce of instant photography. The original featured brushed chrome and leather styling and an ingenious bellow mechanism that allowed it to fold flat. Totally ’70s and yet classic, the SX-70 remains an icon, and its film pack continues to be made today. That camera nerd you know will absolutely plotz for one of these refurbished SX-70s from Brooklyn Film Camera.

Purchase: Polaroid SX-70 Cameras, $100.00 to $1850.00 on Brooklyn Film Camera

Makeup for closeups

Ready for your closeup? This skin care product is specifically formulated to make you look your best on camera. Whether it’s for a blogger you know, or for that co-worker who really needs to up their Zoom game, Niod’s foundation gives any face a pearlescent glow-up thanks to tone and hue correctors plus ultra-fine particulates that refract light. It’s also great for formal photography occasions like weddings and family gatherings.

Purchase: Niod Photography Fluid, $30 for one ounce

An external hard drive with a thick skin

If you’re a photographer on the go, you need a reliable external hard drive that can quickly and securely back up your photos and video clips. LaCie’s Rugged USB-C 5TB drive is not only fast, it’s compatible with both USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 connectors. It’s also drop-, crush-, and water-resistant.

Purchase: LaCie Rugged USB-C 5TB External Hard Drive, $162.98 on Amazon

Gloves for adventurous photographers

A thoughtful gift for photographers that they’ll never see coming: a pair of heavy-duty gloves they can wear while shooting outdoors in extreme conditions. Constructed out of supple goat leather lined with merino wool, the gloves feature conductive suede on the thumb and forefinger for touch screen manipulation that can also be folded back and secured with magnets for use with manual knobs and shutters. Cozy knit cuffs add extra comfort by sealing out the cold at your wrists.

Purchase: Vallerret Urbex Photography Gloves (Medium), $79.95 on B&H Photo Video

A combination hand warmer and phone charger

Another great accessory gift idea for outdoor cold-weather activity, this item not only charges your cellphone but also keeps your hands warm. At low setting, it will deliver up to nine hours of heat, or use the USB connector to top off your phone’s battery. Its rugged metal housing features a smooth finish for maximum comfort and efficiency, while LED indicators to show charge level and temperature. Works with both Android and iOS phones.

Purchase: Hand Warmer and Power Bank from ToughTested, $24.99 on B&H

On-the-go lighting

This LED panel is an excellent gift for photographers who can benefit from a portable but powerful light source. It’s lightweight, small, and versatile, allowing users to adjust its color temperature and brightness.

Purchase: Lume Cube Panel Mini, $69.99 on Lume Cube

A luxury camera bag

Manufactured in England since 1973, Billingham’s camera bags may cost a bit more, but they’re worth it. Their leather-and-canvas Hadley Pro 2020 can accommodate a standard-size DSLR or mirrorless camera along with two or three small or medium-size lenses plus accessories. We also like that it looks more like a chic satchel than a camera bag.

Purchase: Billingham Hadley Pro 2020, $339.00 on Amazon

A pocket-size pro camera

Yes, this point-and-shoot camera from Sony is pricey, and it’s a few years old, but the Sony RX100 VII proves good things come in small packages. While this all-in-one camera is slim enough to fit in your pocket, it boasts features and image quality rivaling those of bigger cameras that use interchangeable lenses. Tuck it into your favorite photographer’s Christmas stocking.

Purchase: Sony RX100 VII camera, $1298.00 on Adorama

SUBSCRIPTIONS

MasterClass classes

You’ve most likely seen one of the commercials for MasterClass, the online education subscription service that gets celebrities from to record tutorials on a wide range of topics from cooking to science to philosophy. Instructors include musician Alicia Keys, chef Gordon Ramsay, editor and fashion icon Anna Wintour, comedian and actor Steve Martin, and other luminaries. One commercial even features well-known artist Jeff Koons, but there are other artists teaching courses as well, among them photographer Annie Leibovitz (photography), street artist Futura (spray painting and abstract art), Tyler Mitchell (storytelling and portrait photography), Es Devlin (turning ideas into art), and Jimmy Chin (adventure photography), with more always being added. For a limited time, you can buy one MasterClass annual membership and get an additional annual membership, perfect for gifting, absolutely free. Check out the offer here.

Purchase: MasterClass Subscription, $10 to $25 per month (billed annually) on MasterClass

Rare art books from the Studio Museum in Harlem

The Studio Museum in Harlem, which focuses on Black artists and scholarship about their work, is selling off its publications archive. Its “Into the Archive” sale offers a chance to purchase catalogues and posters from historic exhibitions from 1969 to 2019, including books on Norman Lewis, Faith Ringgold, and Elijah Pierce, at amazing prices. Many of the books are slim, small-run publications that would make perfect stocking stuffers for the book collectors on your list. Stock is limited, so act fast.

Purchase: Books from the “Into the Archive” Sale, $10 to $60 on The Studio Museum Store

An indie art book subscription

Since 2006 the small press Primary Information has been publishing or reprinting artists’ books and artists’ writings pertinent to contemporary conversations about art. Send its subscription service to your favorite bookish friend, who will receive all of its 2024 publications, including a facsimile edition of Linda Goode Bryant and Marcy S. Philips’ Contextures.

Purchase: Primary Information Subscription, $100 (domestic) (was $125) until December 31, 2023 on Primary Information

A Criterion Channel subscription

Another subscription streaming service? Well, yes. For filmmakers and non-filmmakers alike, this membership goes deeper than most. First, you get access to more than 1,000 of the expertly curated Criterion Collection films, which focus on classics of film history and contemporary masterpieces of American and world cinema. But you also get lots of the hallmark Criterion bonus material: conversations with critics, stars, and directors about specific films and weekly “film school” deep dives led by film scholars.

Purchase: Criterion Channel Subscription, $99.99 for one year

Art postcards from Summertime

Brooklyn gallery Summertime specializes in the work of neurodiverse artists. Co-founded by Sophia Cosmadopoulos and Anna Schechter, the gallery has been featured in the New York Times, Artforum, and New York magazine, and represents a wide-ranging roster of talents. Their monthly subscription to limited-edition art postcards is a gift that keeps on giving.

Purchase: Sincerely Summertime Subscripion, $60 per year on Summertime

APPAREL AND ACCESSORIES

Warm footwear for cold studios

Studios can be chilly in winter. As a practical solution to intermittent heating, consider giving the artist in your life shoes to keep their feet supported and toasty. With their easy slip-on/slip-off design, these clogs come with a wool-lined foot bed that massages the foot with every step, while a lightweight rubber sole provides reliable traction on surfaces like cement. And they come in enough colors to suit anyone’s taste.

Purchase: Haflinger GZ Classic Grizzly Clogs, $154.95 on Zappos

Cashmere pop-top gloves

Another keep-warm item for working around the studio, these pop-top gloves easily convert from mittens to fingerless gloves with a quick fastening or release of a button. Like all cashmere items from this purveyor of fine knitted fashions, these gloves have been sustainably sourced from Mongolian herding communities and are woven to last a lifetime. Rated “heavenly soft” by Naadam, the gloves are machine washable. Just don’t get any paint on them.  

Purchase: Naadam Pop-Top gloves, $75.00 on Naadam

Modernism-inspired earrings

The high-end Swedish retailer Svenskt Tenn has been in business since 1924, so they know from modernism, as demonstrated by these Plexiglas earrings from contemporary Milan-based jewelry designer Lorena Taddei. Available in four colorways, these baubles are sure to draw attention at any holiday party.

Purchase: Milano Plate Earrings, $65.60 on Svenskt Tenn

A charm for movie lovers

This charm from Helen Ficalora makes for a small but special gift for the film buff in your life. Available in yellow gold, rose gold, or white gold, it is shaped like the classic hand-cranked cameras of Hollywood’s silent era. It comes gift-wrapped with a price that includes free express shipping.

Purchase: Movie Camera Mini Charm, $375 on Helen Ficalora

Prosperity earrings

Give the spirit of prosperity this holiday with these dollar sign–engraved earrings, designed by Brooklyn-based sculptor, painter, and builder, Aziza-Abdullah.Nicole. They’re part of the artist’s Aziza Handcrafted unisex line, which, in addition to earrings, includes necklaces, and bracelets. Made from sterling silver, these heirloom studs are meant to invite abundance into the wearer’s life.

Purchase: Edan Studs from Aziza, $220.00 on Studio Museum in Harlem

An Art Deco-inspired robe

Give the gift of ’20s glamour with this Art Deco-inspired robe based on the work of Parisian designer Paul Poiret. Hailed in America as “The King of Fashion,” during the 1910s and 1920s, Poiret was known in France as “Le Magnifique” after the Ottoman Emperor Süleyman the Magnificent, thanks to his Orientalist-inspired couture. Block Shop revives Poiret’s aesthetic with this red-on-cream patterned robe, hand stamped on the finest heavyweight cotton by fifth-generation master printers in India.

Purchase: Poiret Robe, $165.00 on Block Shop

FOR THE HOUSE AND STUDIO

A pixel-art display

Light up the home for Christmas with this neat digital display that will remind you of your days playing eight-bit video games. Wall- or desk-ready, the Pixoo will display art and animations created with the Divoom app; alternatively, you can download images created by others from a gallery of preselected options. The Pixoo also functions as a smart wall clock with weather and temperature readings and a music visualizer.

Purchase: Divoom Pixoo Pixel Art Digital Picture Frame, $64.99 on Amazon

An heirloom-quality jigsaw puzzle

This Boulder, Colorado, company brings back the golden age of picture puzzles when the pieces where actually jigsawed out of wood. These heirloom-quality sets are laser-cut out of 1/4-inch plywood, with many “whimsy” pieces in the shape of people, animals, and objects. Choose from a selection of 700 images , including art-historical masterpieces by Vermeer, Monet, Klimt and more. Liberty also offers frames for completed puzzles.  

Purchase: Fine Art Puzzles, from $105 on Liberty Puzzles

Baggu x Liz Hernández

Sustainable and artistic, this reusable shopping bag is enlivened with a design by California–based artist Liz Hernández. A Mexico City native, Hernández evokes the tianguis, or itinerant marketplaces, that regularly pop up around her hometown. Notable for their pink tents and striking handmade signage, these emporiums have deep ties to the pre-Columbian Mexico and are essential to the country’s national identity. Made of recycled ripstop nylon, these bags will bring the bustling street life of Mexico City to the holidays and beyond.

Purchase: Standard Baggu (Mercado), $14.00 on Baggu

A beautiful keyboard brush

A computer key brush can help keep your keyboard free of dust or crumbs, and this is a beautiful one that will make sweeping—whether you do it daily or weekly—a joy. Made by the longstanding brush company Kanaya Brush, it features a natural wood handle and synthetic fibers that can access those tough-to-reach spaces without damaging your keys. And it makes a great stocking stuffer for digital artists.

Purchase: Kanaya Keyboard Brush, $14.00 on Omoi Zakka

Retro bulldog clips

Office supply addicts know that using fun organizational tools make staying orderly easier. These spring-action steel binder clips are from Penco, a design-minded Japanese stationer inspired by midcentury American office supplies. Available in four colors and two sizes, these clips can be reused endlessly for papers, chip bags, and even—thanks to a mounting hole in the back—hanging art. 

Purchase: Penco Clampy Steel Binder Clips, from $5.50 on Omoi Zakka

A well-designed toolbox

Just as having the right tools for the job, so too is having the right toolbox. Give the gift of a tidier studio with a toolbox from Japanese manufacturer Toyo. Toyo’s seamless toolboxes, made from a single sheet of steel, come in a range of styles and colors and are built to last.

Purchase: Toyo Toolboxes, $38.00 to $135.00 on Omoi Zakka

A decorative air purifier that works

That certain person on your list can breath easier and add a touch of art to their décor with this air purifier. Korean artist Haily Hills has given Coway’s highly rated Airmega 250 an abstract makeover with easily detachable panels available in three colorways. Inspired by natural landscapes Hills’s designs channel the Airmega’s ability to scrub inside air to outdoor freshness by capturing allergens like pollen, smoke, and mold spores at a rate of 1,800 square feet per hour.

Purchase: Coway Airmega 250 Art, $399.20 on Coway

An affordable cotton canvas shopper

Here’s the perfect gift for anyone needing to get art supplies to and from the studio. Made out of 100% cotton canvas, this rugged tote bag from H&M features a central basket-like compartment surrounded by solid-fabric pockets. Available in light beige, the bag is easy to handle with plenty of space for all your gear. And at just $19.99, it’s affordable enough to buy one for your giftee and one for yourself.

Purchase: Cotton Canvas Shopper, $19.99 on H&M

A pack of colorful thumbtacks

Why let your artist friends pin their drawings to the wall with ordinary thumbtacks when they can use these brightly colored ones? The perfect stocking stuffer, this box of 150 tacks in different hues comes from a family-run paperclip concern in Italy that’s been in business since 1850. A stationary classic, the thumbtacks are made of bass-plated steel sheathed in delightful shades of red, yellow, blue, pink, and green.

Purchase: Leone Color Thumbtacks, $7.00 on Dialog

An artist-designed candle collection

Recently, fashion retailer Anthropologie announced its “Leading with Creativity” award as part a year-long partnership with YoungArts, a nonprofit that provides support to artists. Five winners, all YoungArts alumni, have each received a $10,000 grant plus a chance to work on the brand’s 2023 holiday campaign. In this lucky group is Seattle artist Coco Allred, who’s created a collection of carved-glass holiday candle holders ready to welcome Santa.

Purchase: Coco Allred Candles, $30.00 to $48.00 on Anthropologie

Powerful magnet tacks

Here’s a combination of magnet and thumbtack that the person on your list never knew they needed. This sleek-looking tack has a magnetized head able to hold all sorts of metal objects—keys, pens, paperclips, and even heavier items like scissors—while also offering a conventional pinning function. Available as a three-piece set.

Purchase: 100% Magnet Tacks, $18.50 on 100%

BOOKS AND MUSIC

A classic text on color theory

This treatise on color theory was conceived as a teaching aid by Josef Albers (1888–1976), whose “Homage to the Square” series remains an icon sof 20^th century art. Albers was foundational in the development of modernist art educational techniques, for which this book played a critical part. Yale University Press originally published Interaction of Color in 1963 as a limited silkscreen edition with 150 color plates; they followed it up with a 1971 paperback edition featuring ten color studies chosen by Albers. This 50th-anniversary edition includes some 60 color studies alongside Albers’s writings on such topics as color temperature and its effects on spatial illusion.  

Purchase: Interaction of Color: 50th Anniversary Edition, $19.95 on Museum of Modern Art

A book for the fashion-literate

A great gift idea for anyone fashion obsessed is Women Dressing Women: A Lineage of Female Fashion Design, the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s exhibition catalog for its current show of the same name. Covering women designers from unknown dressmakers in 18th-century France to modern industry leaders such as Elsa Schiaparelli, Claire McCardell, and Rei Kawakubo, the volume is divided into four main sections: Anonymity, Visibility, Agency, and Absence/Omission. Each of these in turn are illustrated by full-page color spreads featuring clothes in the collection of the Met’s Costume Institute.

Purchase: Women Dressing Women: A Lineage of Female Fashion Design, $50.00 on Metropolitan Museum of Art

Meditative music for the studio

Nothing helps the creative process like a good soundtrack, and if someone you know is an artist with ambient music as their jam, this four-LP compilation of early works by New Age pioneer Laraaji will hit the right note. Laraaji (born Edward Larry Gordon in 1943) counts 1980’s Ambient 3: Day of Radiance—produced by none other than Brian Eno—among his best-known releases. The set reprises his 1978 debut Celestial Vibration and also includes previously unknown session recordings produced during the same period.

Purchase: Laraaji, Segue to Infinity (digital download), $10.00 on Numero Group

Music for your neglected studio plants

Here’s another good soundtrack for the studio, or rather for that sad cactus on the windowsill, because this album of synth sounds wasn’t meant for human ears: composer Mort Garson wrote Mother Earth’s Plantasia in 1976 for plants. Originally given out with purchases at an L.A. plant store called Mother Earth, it also came with Simmons mattresses sold at Sears. Naturally this limited listenership, but the album, created with a Moog Synthesizer, is now considered a classic of early stoner electronic music. The remastered version comes with its fully restored original booklet and, of course, plenty of good vibes.

Purchase: Mother Earth’s Plantasia, $21.00 on Sacred Bones Records

THE CLASSICS

Some things are so appreciated we recommend them as gifts every year. Here are three pairings we love:

A set of great brushes

No animals were harmed in the making of our very favorite watercolor brushes, which are springy, sturdy, and excellent for watercolors and gouache. Pick up this set of four assorted synthetic brushes for the painter in your life who deserves an upgrade. Consider pairing with a watercolor paint pan set from Winsor & Newton.

Purchase: Da Vinci CosmoTop Spin Watercolor Brushes, Set of 4, $33.98 on Blick; Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolor Half Pan Sets, $75.00 to $99.00 on Blick

A set of high-end colored pencils

Faber-Castell’s Polychromos oil-based pencils are somewhat harder than wax-based pencils and are wonderfully rich and smooth. The cedar barrels encase richly pigmented 3.8-millimeter leads that are resistant to water, breakage, and smudging. We recommend a gift set like the 24-pencil box, which includes 20 colored pencils, four graphite pencils, a sharpener, and an eraser and arrives in a sophisticated black box. Pair with a package of Fabriano Artistico Extra White hot press watercolor paper, a favorite of artists who work with colored pencils.

Purchase: Faber-Castell Polychromos Pencils and Sets, $2.65 to $268.93 on Blick; Fabriano Artistico Watercolor Paper, 22 x 30″, Extra White, Hot Press, Single Sheet, $7.59 on Blick

A set of graphite drawing pencils

Know someone who discovered his or her inner sketcher? Gift one of our favorite graphite pencil lines in an affordable set. Tombow makes pencils in degrees between a soft 6B to a hard 4H, and they come in sets of 3, 6, or 12 plus an eraser and sharpener. We love these pencils for their reliable performance and durability; the hard cedar wood barrel surrounds a precisely centered core that sharpens cleanly to a fine point. Consider pairing with a spiral-bound sketchbook from Stillman & Birn.

Purchase: Tombow Mono Professional Drawing Pencil Sets, $3.42 to $16.98 on Blick; Stillman & Birn Archival Sketchbooks, Alpha Series, $14.36 to $27.96 on Blick