Best known for his striking, Grammy-nominated album covers for the likes of Foals, Bonobo, Lykke Li and Young Magic, Leif Podhajský’s first monograph, New Psychedelia (published by Thames and Hudson and Volume), brings together the artist’s vivid and psychedelic artwork.

For the past decade, Leif’s marble-like, galactic flows of colour have been taking viewers to a cosmic reinterpretation of nature and rippling landscapes, akin to the magic mushroom techno raves of the 1960s. However, his work speaks to today’s generation, with his kaleidoscopic designs inspiring a resurgence of psychedelia which has been reinvented for contemporary culture. Leif’s artworks explore the relationship between the natural and organic, and the digital age of today, highlighting the fragility of the our world and how it can appear to us in our imaginations. For the new generation, this can be seen in the context of recent movements such as Extinction Rebellion.

His first monograph contains chapters on psychedelia, synaesthesia, digital and organic worlds and the influence of human perception upon nature, all illustrated with Leif’s work. Also showcased in the publication are detailed presentations of his iconic album covers including Tame Impala’s ‘Innerspeaker’ and Bonobo’s ‘The North Borders’. Each profile contains an exclusive insight into his creative processes, collaborations, early development sketches, as well as insider anecdotes behind each cover. A complete illustrated chronology of Podhajský’s works to date is included at the end of the book, along with a ‘visual playlist’, compiled and annotated by the artist himself.

Volume will produce a collector’s edition of New Psychedelia which will include an exclusive cover design featuring Leif’s artwork ‘Luminous Currents’, which takes its inspiration from the seamless movement and dynamic colours of water. New Psychedelia will also be encased in a screen printed slipcase covered in dyed-black textured paper with a debossed symbol of the artist’s own creation. The entire package is accompanied by an exclusive heavy-canvas tote bag, designed by the artist for the book and only available with this edition.