We're genuinely excited for the new book release from independent publishing house Zioxla, creators of the classic Cats & Plants book by Stephen Eichhorn. This month, just in time for the holidays, Zioxla is releasing Living Things, the debut book from German artist B.D. Graft.

The artist was recently commissioned by Virgil Abloh to create designs for Off-White. In the 64-page softcover book Living Things, foliage and fruit play a central role, as does color. “Making art brightens up my day,” Graft explains, “and I’d like to pass that feeling on to the observer.”

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The book includes key works from Graft’s ongoing series of plants in vases — collages and paintings of gestural foliage emerging from boldly hued vessels — and emphasizes the artist’s playful side. For example, in an oil pastel titled “Pot Head,” a loosely rendered, fleshy figure has a big blue planter for a head.

Graft, an artist whose light, graphic style recalls Matisse’s cutouts mixed with Bauhaus-era design and some Pop Art levity, grew up in Cologne, Germany. In 2011, he moved to Amsterdam, where he still lives and works.

Living Things retails for $24, and is available for pre-order on Zioxla's website. The book was made with FSC-certified paper sourced from responsibly managed forests (for every tree cut down, three trees are planted). In addition, for each book sold on the publishing house’s website, one tree is planted.