Introducing Studio 645 Reads—-A monthly book club for people who love art, artists and a good story. Each month we’ll read a fiction or nonfiction book inspired by art or the lives behind it—then gather to talk creativity, process, obsession and everything in between.

No art degree required. Just curiosity, conversation and maybe a glass of wine.

The second Wednesday of the month at 3:00 pm beginning February 11, 2026. To register, just email Studio645lex@gmail.com. Below is our 2026 reading list.

February

Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier is a historical novel set in 17th-century Delft that imagines the story behind Johannes Vermeer’s famous painting. It follows Griet, a young maid in Vermeer’s household whose quiet intelligence draws her into the artist’s world and inspires the creation of the iconic portrait.

March

Michelangelo and the Pope’s Ceiling by Ross King is a historical nonfiction work that chronicles Michelangelo’s arduous four-year struggle to paint the Sistine Chapel ceiling. Set amid political intrigue and artistic rivalry in Renaissance Rome, the book explores the tension between the artist and Pope Julius II and reveals how one of the greatest masterpieces in Western art was created.

April

The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro is a contemporary thriller that blends art history with suspense. It follows Claire Roth, a struggling painter who is hired to create a convincing forgery of a lost Degas masterpiece only to uncover dangerous secrets about the art world, authenticity and deception.

June

Leonardo’s Swans by Karen Essex is a historical novel set during the Italian Renaissance that reimagines the life of Caterina da Cremona, Leonardo da Vinci’s young muse and lover. Through her eyes, the story explores art, invention and ambition, offering an intimate portrait of Leonardo and the world that shaped his genius.

May

The $12 Million Stuffed Shark by Don Thompson is a fascinating investigation into the economics of contemporary art—how artworks are priced, marketed and invested in. It includes profiles of artists whose names dominate the global market.

July

Brunelleschi’s Dome by Ross King is a historical nonfiction work that tells the story of Filippo Brunelleschi’s revolutionary design and construction of the great dome of Florence Cathedral. Set in Renaissance Florence, the book explores fierce rivalry, bold engineering innovations and the creativity that made one of the world’s greatest architectural achievements possible.

August

The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant is a historical novel set in Renaissance Florence that follows Alessandra Cecchi, a young woman passionate about art and learning. Against a backdrop of political unrest and religious fervor, the novel explores creativity, forbidden love and the struggle between personal freedom and societal constraints.,

September

Leonardo and the Last Supper by Ross King is a nonfiction book that details the creation of Leonardo da Vinci’s famous mural, exploring the historical, political and personal conflict of its creation in 15th-century Milan.

October

The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova is a literary novel about art. obsession and the hidden emotional lives behind creativity. The novel intertwines the stories of a modern-day psychiatrist, Andrew Marlow, and a mysterious, reclusive painter, Robert Oliver, whose past is connected to a tragic love story from the French Impressionist era.

November

What are You Looking At? by William Gompertz is an accessible and engaging introduction to modern and contemporary art. The book answers questions such as “What is modern art?” and “why do we love/hate it?”.

December

Monet: The Water Lily Pond by Ross King explores the story behind Claude Monet’s famous painting. It details how Monet created his water garden in Giverny and used it as a subject for his paintings.