BOOK: Vitamin C+-Collage in Contemporary Art Phaidon Publications

“Vitamin C+: Collage in Contemporary Art” is the part in Phaidon’s celebrated “Vitamin” series, and it arrives at a pivotal moment. Once considered a secondary medium, collage has recently seen a “fresh explosion” of creative energy. This comprehensive, 304-page volume makes a definitive case for its recognition as a vital, contemporary art form. The book’s core is a global survey of 108 living artists from 40 countries, whose work was selected by 69 experts including museum directors, curators, critics, and collectors. This curatorial process blends established names with emerging talents, creating a balanced and exciting narrative: It includes established artists like Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Ellen Gallagher, Peter Kennard, Christian Marclay, Wangechi Mutu, Martha Rosler, and Kara Walker. The volume also shines a spotlight on a “plethora of lesser-known names deserving of greater attention”, alongside mid-career artists like Kader Attia, Lauren Halsey, Tabita Rezaire, Dee Shapiro, and Billie Zangewa. The result is not a static hall of fame, but a dynamic ecosystem of creative practice that celebrates a “good mixture of collage artists from around the world, purposefully publicising a range of genders and ethnicities”. The book is organized in a straightforward A-Z sequence by artist, which makes it an excellent reference tool for discovering new names alongside familiar ones. The selection process, which enlists a wide panel of experts to both choose the artists and write their accompanying texts, gives the book a distinct advantage. The book defines collage broadly—from analog cut-and-paste and photomontages to digital images and animation—which reveals its conceptual depth across photography, video, and installation. The artists in this volume demonstrate that collage is a way of thinking, a method of processing visuals and materials that challenges the idea of a “whole, perfect” image. Their work is driven by a wide range of expressive impulses, from political messaging and environmental concerns to personal experiences and material enthusiasms* The book also explores the relationship between collage and its “craft” status, showcasing how contemporary artists have fully elevated it as a fine art. – Dimitris Lempesis