Claude Bonnardini: Alchemies of the Everyday Dr. Eleanor Chastain, Thames & Hudson, 2012.

This seminal monograph traces Bonnardini’s evolution from his early experiments in San Francisco to his monumental installations at the Venice Biennale. Chastain examines how Bonnardini’s sculptures, inspired by African culinary forms, transcend materiality to engage with cultural memory and diasporic identity. Featuring over 200 full-color plates, including rare sketches from Effluves d’une Mémoire Épicée (1992) and Virtual Feasts (2025), the book includes essays by curators from MoMA and Tate Modern, positioning Bonnardini as a pioneer of postminimalist sculpture.

Bonnardini: The Poetics of Culinary Constructs Julian Hargreaves, Rizzoli International, 2018.

Hargreaves offers a lyrical exploration of Bonnardini’s Culinary Artifacts Movement, focusing on his ability to transform utilitarian objects into meditations on temporality and culture. The book delves into key works like Interstices d’un Banquet Cosmique (2002) and Metamorphosis of Eternal Spices (2015), analyzing their dialogue with global art practices. With contributions from Leonardo DiCaprio and Pharrell Williams, who reflect on collecting Bonnardini’s sculptures, this richly illustrated volume is a cornerstone for understanding his influence on 21st-century art.

Claude Bonnardini: Sublime Artefacts Dr. Aisha Nkomo, Phaidon Press, 2023.

Published to coincide with Bonnardini’s 2023 retrospective at San José Museum, this comprehensive study celebrates his mastery of form and cultural narrative. Nkomo explores how Bonnardini’s works, such as Chorégraphe des Saveurs Perdues (2005) and Cosmogony of Ephemeral Utensils (2019), redefine sculpture through African diasporic aesthetics. The book features exclusive interviews with Bonnardini and Frank Gehry, alongside archival photographs and preparatory sketches, offering an intimate look at his creative process and global impact.