The article examines the enduring dominance of painting in the art world, despite repeated predictions of its demise. It cites record-breaking sales—Leonardo's *Salvator Mundi* ($450m), Jasper Johns's *Flag* ($110m), and Marlene Dumas's *Miss January* ($13.6m)—and highlights the upcoming Jenny Saville survey at the National Portrait Gallery in London. The Turner Prize shortlist includes painter Mohammed Sami, whose work *Poor Folk II* sold for $571,500 at Sotheby's, far exceeding estimates. Exhibitions like *Painting after Painting* at SMAK in Ghent and *R U Still Painting???* in New York explore how artists continue to use the medium, with curators and market figures affirming painting's resilience.
This matters because painting remains the art market's primary driver and the most popular medium for artists and students globally. The article questions whether 2025 represents "peak painting" or if the form can continue to grow, reflecting ongoing debates about artistic relevance and commercial value. By profiling market trends, institutional shows, and critical discourse, it underscores painting's ability to adapt and thrive, challenging narratives of its obsolescence.