David Zwirner is one of the most respected and admired names in the art business. The now globally recognized German art dealer founded his gallery back in New York's SoHo in 1993, when that neighborhood was the epicenter of everything exciting in the contemporary art world. There are now also galleries bearing his name in Los Angeles, Paris, London and Hong Kong - which in the last year alone have boasted exhibitions by such iconic names as Yayoi Kusama, Ruth Asawa, Alice Neel and Donald Judd.

Asawa and Kusama also just happen to be the subjects of two new books the gallery recently published, part of a wonderful series specifically written and illustrated for kids. (And grown up kids, obviously.) Titles like 'I Am an Artist' and 'Meet the Typographer' certainly have an educational mission at their core - but they are also each like an escape into uniquely creative worlds where children's books rarely ever venture.

The "mastermind" behind the series is Doro Globus, Publisher at David Zwirner Books, who recognized the genuine long-term benefits of the sometimes lofty New York art world finding ways to connect with the next generation of young people. In fact, in a truly revelatory moment, her young son happened to come to her during the Covid quarantine, and asked when she would actually make a book that would appeal to him.

That earnestly forthright inquiry sparked the idea for first title, 'Making a Great Exhibition', authored by Doro herself, as was 'I Am An Artist.'

"We were in lockdown and suddenly my office was at home. He walked in one day and said, 'Mummy, when are you going to make a book for me?' I rose to the occasion and was grateful for the support and encouragement from the gallery to try something new."

A significant part of the appeal of the series are the wonderful, retro-styled graphics by Rose Blake, which harken back to the 1930s and the iconic German school The Bauhaus, where many future famous artists and architects studied and taught.

Doro recalls of the genesis of the collaboration, "I wanted to find an illustrator whose style would appeal to children, but also stay sophisticated and represent the aesthetic of the gallery. When I came across Rose’s work and read about her background, I knew I’d found someone with a real connection to the material."

Rose has worked for the considerable likes of The New York Times and Boston Globe, as well as Converse, Volkswagen, and even Disney and the Cartoon Network. Beatles fans should find it fascinating that her father is the Pop Art icon Peter Blake, whose artwork adorns the cover of the Fab Four's legendary 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' album.

Notably, Doro and Rose worked in tandem in a genuinely collaborative effort, storyboarding the books together - where normally writer and illustrator would have minimal contact.

Surely amongst the particular charms of the series is its slightly nostalgic bent, as both the aforementioned 'Meet the Typographer, and its companion title 'Meet the Lithographer' (both written by Gaby Bezin) are focused on professions that may seem somewhat old-fashioned. Though each are still utterly relevant careers - with something called ultraviolet lithography now having moved to the very forefront of microchip creation. More important, at a time when a full 57% of Gen Z worryingly admit that their ultimate goal is to be an influencer or content creator (see this 2023 Morning Consult survey), it's an encouragingly "grounding" message to send to young people: that they should consider sound, solid vocations, rather than focusing on the completely hit-or-miss dream of making a living posting TikTok videos.

"Children are endlessly curious," Doro observes, "and if we can open up a new way of seeing, a new way of making for them, then we are doing something right. The first book, 'Meet the Lithographer', was made using the very techniques explained in the book, which I think is such a great extension."

Yet make no mistake, the titles 'I Am An Artist' and 'Making a Great Exhibition' are very much intended to inspire young people towards exploring their passions, delving into what it is that actually drives someone to become an artist in earnest.

And who knows? The kids reading these books now, may just end up with their own solo exhibit at a David Zwirner gallery someday.