The Art of the Book: TASCHEN’s Global Vision and a Chicago Connection

Inside the world of TASCHEN — the art publisher redefining how we experience culture — and why its vision resonates with Chicago’s architectural and artistic energy.

By Hogan Zavala Group | November 2025

Word count: ~820 | Read time: 4 min

In the world of art publishing, few names carry the weight — or wonder — of TASCHEN. What began 45 years ago as a small comic book shop in Cologne has evolved into a global cultural force, producing some of the most exquisite books on art, design, architecture, and photography ever printed.

Today, that legacy is being shaped by Marlene Taschen — daughter of founder Benedikt Taschen — whose quiet confidence and global perspective are giving the company a distinctly modern rhythm. From Milan to Los Angeles, her leadership blends art, commerce, and intuition in a way that mirrors how cities like Chicago continue to reinvent the intersection of creativity and industry.

A Family Business with Vision

When Marlene Taschen unexpectedly found herself named co-CEO during a live interview, she didn’t flinch. “I let the news settle,” she said, “then I said, okay — I’ll do it.” That blend of poise and practicality has defined her leadership style ever since.

Father and daughter now run the company from two continents — he in Los Angeles, she in Milan — connected by late-night calls that bridge time zones and generations. It’s a model that feels strikingly contemporary: fluid, trust-based, and global by design.

A Universe of Art and Ideas

The TASCHEN catalog spans the extravagant and the accessible — from €10 paperbacks to collector’s editions priced north of €30,000. Each volume is an event, a tactile experience that transforms art into something you can hold, study, and live with.

Marlene has pushed that vision further, expanding TASCHEN’s reach into Asia, commissioning architectural spaces that feel more like galleries than bookstores, and even venturing into film and fine jewelry. What remains constant is the belief that creativity and craftsmanship belong together.

Design That Inspires Cities

Walking into a TASCHEN store — whether in Milan, Paris, or Los Angeles — is like stepping into a dialogue between art and architecture. Every floor tile, fixture, and frame has intent. It’s the same relationship between design and place that defines Chicago: where architecture is never just background, it’s part of the story.

Just as TASCHEN books celebrate the world’s creative capitals, Chicago continues to stand as the cultural and financial heart of the Midwest — a city where art, commerce, and architecture merge with rare sophistication. From the Art Institute’s galleries to the soaring lines of Jeanne Gang and the rebirth of the Fulton Market, Chicago’s creative pulse makes it a kindred spirit to the TASCHEN philosophy.

The Instinct to Create

Marlene Taschen approaches leadership like an artist approaches the canvas — with instinct, precision, and trust in the process. “Things have to fall into place somehow,” she says. “If they don’t, maybe there’s a reason.” It’s an approach rooted in curiosity and adaptability — qualities that resonate deeply in real estate, design, and every field that balances vision with execution.

We understand that connection. Whether it’s a collector’s first TASCHEN book or a buyer discovering their next home, both are guided by the same impulse: to own something extraordinary, something that inspires.

The Art of Living Well

TASCHEN’s story reminds us that creativity is not confined to studios or galleries — it’s a way of seeing the world. In that sense, Chicago is the perfect canvas: a city that embraces reinvention while preserving its artistic soul.