Collection of painting by various artists.

These essays explore the relationship between art and religion. The first part, 2001-2002, is essays about "The Ism," where 1994-9 Padgett united religious and spiritual perspectives by uniting the art-forms appropriate to them. The second part is essays from 2002-2005, when Padgett studied at Wimbledon School of Art, London, for an MA in Theory of Contemporary Art and Performance. Padgett looks at artists (Damien Hirst, Thomas Hirschhorn, Anton Artaud, Jake and Dinos Chapman Brothers, Guillermo Gomez-Pena etc) and develops the idea of "Postmodern Religious Art." His program of uniting the art-forms is progressed by uniting the specific material forms of religions in semi-irony with the profane - whilst keeping the sacred as of highest importance. The final part is the questionnaire that Padgett submitted to the Employment Tribunals, giving the main arguments behind his claim that the Tate Galleries were exercising religious discrimination in the way they selected artworks.

A compendium of recent works by world contemporary artists.

Winner of the Illustrated Book of the Year award in 1994, The Art Bookhas been an outstanding success and has become a well-known landmark in the art book world. Now published in over 20 different languages and in mini, midi, and hardback formats, it has received rave reviews from numerous newspapers and magazines and has made many appearances on the bestseller lists. Complemented by The 20th Century Art Bookand The American Art Book, its unique approach brings art alive. An A-Z guide to 500 great painters and sculptors from medieval to modern times, it debunks art-historical classifications by throwing together brilliant examples of all periods, schools, visions and techniques. Each artist is represented by a full-page colour plate of a definitive work, accompanied by explanatory and illuminating information on the image and its creator. Glossaries of artistic movements and technical terms are included, making this a valuable work of reference as well as a feast for the eyes. By breaking with traditional classifications, The Art Bookrepresents a fresh and original approach to art: an unparalleled visual sourcebook and a celebration of our rich and multi-faceted culture.