At one time dismissed by many as inaccessible, elitist or even facile, contemporary art has entered the realm of popular culture and is enjoyed by millions of gallery visitors every year. Public interest has grown dramatically since the 1990s, in part due to influential art collectors such as Charles Saatchi.
Over the past decade, ambitious redevelopments and new constructions conceived specifically for contemporary art – such as London’s Tate Modern, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Museo Guggenheim Bilbao, the Kiasma in Helsinki and the Kunst-Werke in Berlin – have contributed to a social revolution, attracting record numbers of visitors.
This accessible and beautifully produced guide pinpoints key artists and events, and helps demystify a generation of rapid change in the art world. The A-Z listing features 200 of the most widely exhibited and remarkable artists who have made substantial contributions over the past 40 years, with biographies, insights into their key works and cross-referencing to linked artists, themes and movements.
