Great Women Artists by Phaidon
Last updated: 2 October 2026
Great Women Artists is Phaidon's 464-page survey of more than 400 women artists from over 50 countries, covering 500 years of art. Each artist gets one key work and a short text, arranged A to Z, so lesser-known names sit next to famous ones. The RRP is £49.95, and Amazon UK had the hardback at £37.46 on 2 October 2026.
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What is in Great Women Artists
The Great Women Artists book gives each artist a colour reproduction of one work, plus a short text. The text covers the work itself and the art-historical, social and political context it came out of. Because the order is alphabetical rather than by date, artists centuries apart can share a spread.
Phaidon describes it as the most extensive illustrated book of women artists ever published. British Vogue called it "the headline grabber of 2019" when it came out.
How the artists were chosen
Rebecca Morrill, then a commissioning editor at Phaidon, conceived and edited the book and wrote the introduction. The team started from a list of around 2,000 artists and narrowed it to just over 400, working with a panel of freelance contributors. Morrill had earlier been a curator at the Serpentine and Whitechapel galleries in London.
Key facts
- Editors: Phaidon Editors, introduction by Rebecca Morrill
- Published: 5 September 2019
- Format: hardback, 464 pages, 29 x 25cm
- Weight: 2.6kg, about the same as two and a half bags of sugar
- ISBN: 9780714878775
- Price: £49.95 RRP, £37.46 on Amazon UK when we checked
Who it suits as a gift
- Art lovers with a full shelf: the A to Z order puts lesser-known artists alongside the famous names.
- Students: one work per artist makes it a quick starting point for further reading.
- Coffee-table browsers: any page stands on its own, so it works without being read in order.
Our gifts for her guide has more ideas, and the artists spotlight has more artists we have written about.
The limits
One image per artist is a small sample for someone with a long career, so treat each entry as an introduction. The book is also heavy. At 2.6kg it is best read at a table rather than in bed.
Where to buy it in the UK
Amazon UK had the hardback at £37.46, which is £12.49 under the RRP. Phaidon also released a smaller compact edition in 2023. Full details of the original are on Phaidon's Great Women Artists page.
Great Women Artists on Amazon UK
FAQs
How many artists are in Great Women Artists?
More than 400 artists from over 50 countries, covering 500 years of art.
Who edited Great Women Artists?
Phaidon's editors, led by Rebecca Morrill, who conceived the book and wrote the introduction.
How much does Great Women Artists cost?
The RRP is £49.95. Amazon UK had the hardback at £37.46 on 2 October 2026.
How big is the book?
It is a 464-page hardback measuring 29 x 25cm and weighing about 2.6kg.
Is there a smaller edition?
Yes. Phaidon published a compact format edition in 2023.
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