Julia Chaplin, the intrepid cultural explorer who brought us Gypset Style and The Boho Manifesto, has once again tapped into the heartbeat of our times with her latest book, Psychedelic Now, published by Assouline. In a world teetering between crisis and awakening, Chaplin’s vibrant volume captures the energy, optimism, and creative force driving the current psychedelic renaissance, a resurgence not seen since the countercultural explosion of the 1960s.
Launched with an unforgettable party that was as much a celebration of consciousness as it was of art and community, Chaplin’s book debut drew a kaleidoscopic crowd of artists, designers, musicians, and thinkers, all gathered to toast a new era where psychedelia is no longer just about rebellion, but about reconnection. The event felt like stepping into one of the pages of Psychedelic Now, a sensory feast of color, light, and imagination, complete with an immersive balloon installation by Molly Balloons and a soundtrack that pulsed with transcendent vibes.
Julia Chaplin at the Psychedelic Now Book Launch
Photo © Dasha K
At the core of Chaplin’s book, and the cultural moment it documents, is the idea that psychedelics today are less about escapism and more about elevation. As Rick Doblin, founder of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), so powerfully puts it, “Humanity now is in a race between catastrophe and consciousness. The psychedelic renaissance is here to help consciousness triumph.” Chaplin echoes this hope, framing psychedelics not just as substances but as portals to greater creativity, mental balance, and collective problem-solving.
Psychedelic Now is as visually lush as it is thought-provoking. Through more than 250 pages of rich imagery, the book traces how psychedelic aesthetics have saturated contemporary culture from Yayoi Kusama’s iconic polka-dot dreamscapes to the candy-colored optimism of art duo FriendsWithYou, from Marni’s beachy collaboration with No Vacancy Inn to the otherworldly architecture of Burning Man’s Bjarke Ingels. Chaplin organizes this kaleidoscopic vision into four themes. The Rainbow Utopists, including A$AP Rocky and designer Marco Ribeiro, use vibrant palettes and playful patterns to imagine joyous futures. Afrofuturists, such as George Clinton and Kid Cudi, fuse ancestral heritage with cosmic vision. Cosmic Technophiles, like stage designer Es Devlin and artist Leo Villareal, channel the power of light, geometry, and technology. And the Spiritualizers, including Olafur Eliasson and James Turrell, transform space and perception to evoke wonder and mindfulness.
© Marco Ribeiro, photo by Naguel Rivero
What unites these artists, designers, and cultural visionaries is a shared quest: to dream and build a brighter, more harmonious world. Chaplin invites readers to consider an essential question: can joyful, vibrant aesthetics help shift our collective mood, and if so, might that be the first step toward creating a happier, more compassionate planet?
Julia Chaplin is uniquely positioned to tell this story. A longtime contributor to The New York Times and Travel + Leisure, she has spent her career documenting the intersections of art, travel, fashion, and alternative lifestyles. With Psychedelic Now, she offers not just a coffee-table stunner, but a manifesto for those yearning for beauty, connection, and transformation.
© Jaime Jacott/Shutterstock
In Psychedelic Now, Chaplin doesn’t just chronicle a movement, she sparks a conversation. Are we, as Doblin suggests, ready to let consciousness triumph over catastrophe? If Chaplin’s book, and its dazzling launch party, is any indication, the answer is yes, and the journey promises to be as colorful as it is profound.
Presented by: APG
