This is the "Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art," and
it's hard to argue. It's a spectacular compendium spanning many categories
and genres, all with a fantasy base.
The book makes a good coffee table book and I'm sure anyone with even a passing interest in art would enjoy it, but it does seem to be designed for the hardcore fantasy/sci-fi fans. The book features many staples of that genre - dragons, superheroes, and tons of beautiful, half-naked amazons. Its categories range from book covers to "dimensional" art - statues and figures. Almost all of the works are commercial, although some are previously unpublished. Some feature well-known characters such as Batman and The Crow.
Whenever I browse this type of illustration, I tend to group the works into three categories - three different ways I enjoy a piece. One is to admire the sheer overpowering skill some of the artists have in specific media, from airbrush to Photoshop. These works are highly detailed and appear photographic. The second feature, a natural in fantasy art, is the imagination on display. Many of these works steer clear of the predictable and come up with completely outrageous, ingenious concepts. Lastly, as an artist I enjoy the works that are very artistic and painterly - rough, sketchy works that show freshness and realism. The best works in this book, of course, are those that satisfy all three of these criteria.
The picture here is by Adam Hughes, an incredible artist known for his comic book cover art.