An essential global survey of the most exciting contemporary painters, as selected by the world’s leading art experts

Painting is one of the oldest art forms, with roots in prehistoric caves, ancient Roman villas, and Renaissance portraiture. Today, a new generation of artists experiment, innovate, and breathe new life into this enduring medium. From immersive exhibitions with massive wall paintings to quiet, minuscule compositions, Vitamin P4: New Perspectives in Painting brings together 108 artists from 44 countries, showcasing the best contemporary painters around the world.

Nominated by high-profile art experts including museum directors, curators, historians, and critics, the featured artists range from established names to emerging stars. Each artist is represented by richly illustrated pages of their work, both individual paintings and exhibition views, as well as informative texts, giving readers an inclusive overview of their practice.

Exciting, inspiring, and essential to followers of contemporary art, this new iteration of Phaidon’s renowned Vitamin P books offers the definitive guide to the medium of painting today.

Featured artists include: Tunji Adeniyi-Jones, Giulia Andreani, Firelei Báez, Alvaro Barrington, Maria Berrio, Anna Boghiguian, Miriam Cahn, Chen Ching-Yuan, Sandra Cinto, Daniel Correa Mejía, Felix de Clercq, Eliza Douglas, Kyle Dunn, Jadé Fadojutimi, Louis Fratino, Cy Gavin, Hao Liang, Lubaina Himid, Kei Imazu, Mit Jai Inn, Vojtech Kovárík, Matthew Krishanu, Victor Man, Ad Minoliti, Paul P., Qiu Xiaofei, Tschabalala Self, Salman Toor, Kay Walkingstick, Dyani White Hawk, Michaela Yearwood-Dan

Advisors include: Kit Bencharongkul, Gemma Brace, Raphael Chikukwa, Lynne Cooke, Katina Davidson, Andrew Durbin, Mels Evers, Elena Filipovic, Gary Garrels, Isabelle Graw, Maya Juracán, Mami Kataoka, Kim Hong-Hee, Helen Molesworth, Eleanor Nairne, Victoria Noorthoorn, Ugochukwu-Smooth C. Nzewi, Tina Pang, Adriano Pedrosa, Nancy Spector, Lyno Vuth, Victor Wang

Phaidon Editors

Suzanne Hudson is Professor of Art History and Fine Arts at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. An art historian and critic, she writes with an emphasis on the history, theory, and conventions of painting within art schools and alternative pedagogical institutions including museums as well as spaces of care work and medical and psychological services. Hudson is a longstanding contributor to Artforum and an editor-at-large for the Brooklyn Rail, and she has written numerous essays for journals, exhibition catalogues, and artist monographs. Her books include Agnes Martin: Night Sea (2017) and Contemporary Painting (World of Art) (2021).