Reference sources are good places to look for background information about a topic. Reference sources in Malpass are located on the 2nd floor, near the reference desk, and can be used inside the building but not checked out.
A sample of art reference sources is listed below; more can be found by browsing the shelf or searching in WestCat.
- African Americans in the Visual Arts: Biographical information on 192 Black artists from throughout the history of the United States.
- Benezit Dictionary of Artists: Short descriptions, with bibliographic references, of noteworthy artists throughout history.
- Contemporary Women Artists: Information - including lists of exhibitions and bibliographies - about 350 contemporary female artists from around the world.
- Dictionary of Art: Entries on all sorts of art topics - time periods, places, artists, schools, art forms, etc.
- Encyclopedia of American Folk Art: Entries on artists, mediums, museums, and movements within American folk art.
- Encyclopedia of Native American Artists: Biographical information on 70 Native artists working in a variety of mediums and contexts throughout the United States and Canada.
- History of Design: A chronology of decorative arts across the globe, from 1400 to contemporary times.
- A Short Guide to Writing About Art: A book for those writing about art, including information on critical approaches to art, description vs analysis, documenting sources (including images) and getting ideas for an essay.
- Styles, schools and movements : the essential encyclopaedic guide to modern art: Short essays on modern art movements, schools, etc., with a listing of "key books" for each.
