Following surveys of butterflies, birds, oceans, and trees, the editors at Phaidon have settled on their next topic of inquiry: fungi. This October, the publisher will release an expansive tome gathering more than 200 photographs, artworks, historical objects, and more all devoted to the vast diversity and creative potential of mycology.

Riitta Ikonen and Anni Koponen, “Chanterelle” (2009), 29½ × 29½ inches
FoldHaus Collective, “Shrumen Lumen” (2016), aluminum, steel, polypropylene, interactive electronics, 11 to 17 × 9 to 12 feet
Photography by Rene Smith.
Mushroom stone, (400–250 BCE), stone, 13 1/8 × 7 1/2 × 6 3/4 inches
Images courtesy of Museum Rietberg Zürich, Rainer Wolfsberger.
Chris Ritson, “Mushroom Picture” (2022), live fungus and sawdust, 20 × 14 inches
Photography by Chris Ritson.
Hilma af Klint, probably Agaricus bisporus (cultivated mushroom) (1893), watercolor, gouache, pencil, and ink on paper, 16 3/8 × 12 inches
Images courtesy of Naturhistoriska Ri.
the cover of fungi