As an art history lover myself, there’s nothing better than getting a creative art history gift for Christmas or your birthday – but it needs to be a good one! Gift giving and gift receiving can be a powerful way to build stronger relationships with friends and family, so I’m here to help. Below, you’ll find 18 of the best gifts for art history and art lovers alike. I’ve received some of these from students, friends, and family. (I’ve only included the gifts I’ve liked!). And for the rest, I’ve researched extensively to find art gifts that I still want (hint, hint to my friends and family) and that provide a variety of options.
*Just an FYI: I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post, at no extra cost to the buyer. By clicking and buying through the links in this post, you’ll help me to continue providing educational art history content.
Best Gifts for Art History Lovers and Art Lovers Alike
1. Art Masterpieces to Color: 60 Great Paintings from Botticelli to Picasso (Dover Art Coloring Book)
Many art history lovers are not particularly great artists themselves (myself included). But, adult coloring is a popular trend that provides much needed relaxation and quiet time. And what’s better than coloring some of your favorite art pieces from history?
This coloring book includes 60 masterpieces. From Michaelangelo, to Claude Monet, to Vincent Van Gogh, it will be hard not to find favorites! The one-sided pages allow you to use markers, watercolors, and more. Or, you can just stick to colored pencils and crayons like I do!
2. 100 Masterpieces Art History Bucket List Scratch Poster
Art history lovers are usually travelers. Furthermore, they love to brag about the famous museums and art pieces they have seen in person. So, this gift is perfect for your traveling art history lover to hang up and keep track of all those masterpieces they’ve seen in person.
3. Modern Art Desserts: Recipes for Cakes, Cookies, Confections, and Frozen Treats Based on Iconic Works of Art [A Baking Book]
This art desserts recipe book is inspired by iconic modern art pieces found in the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA). They are made at the SFMOMA Rooftop Coffee Bar by the Blue Bottle Coffee Company (chef Caitlin Freeman). And don’t worry, the recipes have been adapted for at-home bakers.
Not only are the desserts world class, but also the book looks great on display in the kitchen. It’s a great gift to enable those art history lover bakers to impress their friends and family!
4. Chalier 5-6 Pairs Womens Famous Painting Art Printed Socks Casual Cotton Cool Novelty Funny Socks for Women
You can never go wrong with some fun socks as a gift. Choose from various art history masterpiece combos of 5-6 pairs. They are quality, and comfortable with average Amazon ratings of 4.8 stars on 5,000+ reviews! Probably one of the safest best gifts for art history lovers. Also, if you buying for a guy, sometimes my husband steals these socks from me and he loves them!
5. Impressionists Art Posters for Decorations (13 x 19 in, 20 Pack)
The Impressionism art movement is often the most loved movement in art history. The art from this time is beautiful to hang in homes or offices. So, a pack of 20 13×19 Impressionist art posters is another gift that is hard to go wrong with.
6. Great Nudes Heat Changing Coffee Mug
Okay, I just couldn’t resist including this one. When you pour warm liquid in this coffee mug, the clothed figures turn into the nudes that they are supposed to be!
As a high school AP art history teacher, it’s always fun getting my students over the awkwardness of nudes and helping them see the beauty and importance of this aspect within art history. So this is a great one for your art history teacher friend or family member, or any art history lover!
7. Jean-Michel Basquiat. 40th Ed.
Basquiat is one of the most influential and important American artists in the 20th century. This hardcover book is a beautiful celebration of his art, life, and influence. If you’ve ever heard your art history lover friend or family member mention Basquiat, this gift is a great option.
8. The Arnolfini Marriage Meowsterpiece of Western Art 500 Piece Puzzle
The Arnolfini Portrait by Jan Van Eyck is an iconic Northern Renaissance painting. This fun puzzle is a play on that painting. Does the art history lover in your life like puzzles? Better yet, are they cat lovers too? Look no further than this gift.
9. Andy Warhol-inspired Soup Can and Crayons
Ah, the classic Andy Warhol soup cans. This is a versatile gift that can be displayed on a desk, placed in the kids play room, or stuffed in the kids bag to be used on-the-go.
10. Gothic Cathedral Architecture Mug
There is nothing comparable to the grandeur and awe of gothic cathedrals. This is perhaps one of the best gifts for art history lovers that can’t stop talking about their experience at Notre-Dame or Cologne Cathedral. A friendly reminder of their awe-inspiring experiences as they sip their daily coffee.
11. Let It Gogh T Shirt Vincent Van Gogh Artist Funny Image Gift
This one is for my dad! A punny t-shirt featuring a self-portrait of one of the greatest artists of all time. My only beef is that I’m pretty sure the most common pronunciation we hear of Van Gogh’s name, and the one used in this t-shirt is not accurate. Okay, that doesn’t really matter though!
It is also important to note that it comes in three different colors for men, women, and youth. So you’ll be able to find the right one for your giftee.
12. The Story of Paintings: A History of Art for Children
What art history lover doesn’t want to pass on their passion to their kids? I have a young one that I’m already teaching about my favorite art history paintings. This is a great book to get your little ones started with recognizing 39 of the most famous artworks over time.
13. Brief History of Art Coffee Mug – History’s Greatest Masterpieces From Da Vinci to Koons
The classic art history gift. Sipping coffee, reading a book, and being reminded of masterpieces from art history on a Sunday morning? Nothing gets better than that.
14. Famous Women Artists Feminist Art History Gift T-Shirt
This one is for all my feminist art history lovers out there! They’ll know these names. And they will rock this shirt with pride. There are 7 colors to choose from and sizes for men, women, and youth.
15. Show Me the Monet: A Card Game for Wheelers and (Art) Dealers
I had to include an art history card game. I’m not a big gamer, but I’ll play this one. (Especially to appease my husband who is a big gamer.) Anything with art history involved can usually pull me away from the current book(s) I’m reading. Fun for art history lovers and non-lovers (or soon-to-be lovers) alike, it’s a trading and collecting game for some of the most famous artworks.
16. The Unemployed Philosophers Guild Vincent Van Gogh Bust Succulent Planter – Plant Holder Pot for Small Cactus, Flowers, Herbs, and More
I love plants. Live plants are a must-have in every room of my life (at home and at school). This Vincent Van Gogh plant holder is a perfect addition for your art history teacher’s classroom or any art lover’s home. A simple celebration of one of the most complicated and incredible artists of all time.
17. Design Toscano WU69354 Great Sphinx of Giza Sculpture – Medium, Single
This one is for all those Ancient Egyptian art lovers. There is something captivating about Ancient Egyptian art history when you dive into it. This beautiful Great Sphinx of Giza sculpture celebrates one of the most famous landmarks of this time period. And it’s perfect for office or home decor!
18. Starry Night – Vincent Van Gogh – Cotton Woven Blanket Throw – Made in The USA (72×54)
Get cozy with this Starry Night cotton woven blanket. With 4.8/5 stars, I’m confident you can’t go wrong with this gift for any art lover. Snuggle up, watch This Is a Robbery: The World’s Biggest Art Heist on Netflix, and sip some tea from your great nudes heat changing coffee mug. Oh, and don’t forget some art-themed cozy socks while you are at it!
These 18 gifts for art history and art lovers should have you covered. If it doesn’t, and I’m really missing one that should be on here, please let me know! I will be updating this article every year for the foreseeable future as I receive new gifts and come across new ideas that make it to my wish list. All the best in your gift giving efforts!