Walk into one of the always-thought-provoking historical exhibitions at Superhouse gallery in New York — where founder Stephen Markos has built a program around showing both contemporary designs and those of the often little-known makers that preceded and influenced them — and you’ll get to browse a smattering of books he’s collected that reference those makers’ bygone works. Here, he shares a list of 10 favorites from his personal library which also span past to present.

1. Dan Friedman: Radical Modernism

“While his career was short, Friedman critically influenced American design. Written by the artist and published just before his death, this book is the ultimate source for understanding Friedman’s innovative work.”

2. New American Furniture: The Second Generation of Studio Furnituremakers

New American Furniture is an essential resource for understanding the wave of studio furniture makers who broke free from the ideologies of the first generation of American woodworks — such as Wharton Esherick, Sam Maloof, and George Nakashima — to make their own significant contributions to wood craft.”

3. Alchimia: Contemporary Italian Design

“Alchimia started it all, and this book by Kazuko Sato has it all. The collective of artists — which included Alessandro Guerriero, Alessandro Mendini, Paola Navone, Ettore Sottsass, and Michele de Lucchi — has influenced the direction of design for the past 45 years.”

4. Artists Design Furniture

“The art-furniture bible. Artists Design Furniture features a comprehensive list of artists who made furniture until its publication in 1984.”

5. Art et Industrie. A New York Movement 1977-1999

“Rick Kaufman and Tracy Rust’s influence on the art-furniture field cannot be understated. Art et Industrie, published by Magen H, presents several informative essays and key pieces from the movement.”

6. Fantasy Furniture

“Fantasy Furniture is my go-to reference for funky craft.”

7. Les Années Staudenmeyer: 25 Ans de Design en France

“Like Kaufman and Rust of Art et Industrie in the US, Pierre Staudenmeyer revolutionized design in France. This book is a tome of his work and the many artists who passed through his gallery.”

8. Nicola L.: Life and Art

“A recent English-language volume on the feminist art pioneer Nicola L., written and researched by Hannah Martin. You could pore over the sumptuous images of Nicola’s work in this book for hours.”

9. Furniture Innovation “Kagu”

“Furniture Innovation ‘Kagu’ is hands-down the best overview of postmodern Japanese design available. You literally cannot find these works anywhere else.”

10. Pippa Garner: Better Living Catalog

“Product hacker-cum-artist Pippa Garner’s self-published 1982 book surveying her many sculptures using automobiles, rollerskates, showers, and more. So fun!”