Popular Modern and Contemporary Artists
In appreciating paintings our policy is that the fewer intellectual opinions used, the less confusing to the viewer. Thus we minimize accompanying text and leave it to the viewer to research the details of his interest
Jean-Michel Basquiat.
b. 1960 in New York. Died in 1988.
Amoako Boafo
B. 1984, Accra, Ghana. Lives and works in Vienna, Austria.
Amoako Boafo
Banksy
Born: July 28, 1974 (age 48), Bristol, England
Banksy is a pseudonymous England-based street artist, political activist and film director whose real name and identity remain unconfirmed and the subject of speculation. Wikipedia
- Born: July 28, 1974 (age 48), Bristol, England
Banksy
Betye Saar
B. 1926, Los Angeles. Lives and works in Los Angeles.
Betye Saar
Christine Sun Kim
B. 1980, Orange County, California. Lives and works in Berlin.
Christine Sun Kim
Deana Lawson
B. 1979, Rochester, New York. Lives and works in New York.
Frank Bowling
B. 1934, Guyana. Lives and works in London and New York.
Frank Bowling
Grayson Perry
B. 1960, Chelmsford, England. Lives and works in London.
Grayson Perry
Haegue Yang
B. 1971, Seoul. Lives and works in Seoul and Berlin.
Haegue Yang
Browse available works by the most influential artists of 2020.
Matthew Wong
B. 1984, Toronto. D. 2019, Edmonton, Canada.
Matthew Wong
Patrisse Cullors
B. 1983, Los Angeles. Lives and works in Los Angeles.
Patrisse Cullors
Sandra Gamarra
B. 1973, Lima. Lives and works in Lima.
Sandra Gamarra
Toyin Ojih Odutola
B. 1985, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Lives and works in New York.
Toyin Ojih Odutola
Wendy Red Star
B. 1981, Apsáalooke (Crow) reservation, Montana. Lives and works in Portland, Oregon.
Ruth Asawa
B. 1926, Norwalk, California. D. 2013, San Francisco.
Ruth Asawa
Liu Ye
B. 1964, Beijing. Lives and works in Beijing.
Titus Kaphar
B. 1976, Kalamazoo, Michigan. Lives and works in New Haven, Connecticut.
Titus Kaphar
Nicolas Party
B. 1980, Lausanne, Switzerland. Lives and works in New York and Brussels.
Nicolas Party
Brook Andrew
B. 1970, Sydney. Lives and works in Melbourne.
Brook Andrew
Zanele Muholi
B. Umlazi, Durban, South Africa. Lives and works in Johannesburg.
Zanele Muholi
Tarek Atoui
B. 1980, Beirut. Lives and works in Paris.
Tarek Atoui
30. Cindy Sherman (b. 1954)
29. Liu Xiaodong (b. 1963)
Liu Xiaodong, perhaps one of the greatest painters of all time, is known for his strong brushwork, rich colours, and precise forms. He started out with traditional brushwork to create extremely realistic subjects, but later changed his approach and started working with cropped framing, an unusual use of perspective, and the use of colours to strengthen emotion. Liu paints his subjects in their natural settings, capturing everyday people in complex places such as Israel-Palestine, Tibet, and rural China. His intimate, on-location approach and sensitivity to his subjects are what make his painting style so moving and powerful when compared to works by other contemporary artists.
28. Cecily Brown (b. 1969)
27. Liu Wei (b. 1965)
Beijing-born Liu Wei is considered to be one of the most talented modern artists in China. In the early ‘90s, Liu Wei and Fang Lijun created an artistic style known as cynical realism. His work confronts the boredom and aimlessness in contemporary society, and transcends binaries like Eastern/Western culture. It is this smashing of boundaries, this not being tied to any one school of thought, that creates his unique style and makes him and his famous modern art so beloved around the world today.
26. Miquel Barcelo (b. 1957)
Spanish artist Miquel Barcelo is best known for his installation on the ceiling of the Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Chamber at the UN Palace of Nations in Geneva. These multicoloured stalactite forms symbolise the sea and a cave, in opposition yet simultaneously in union. His works explore decomposition, metamorphosis, and the passage of time and take the form of abstract paintings of faces, among other things. In 2004, Barcelo became the youngest artist ever to have exhibited works in the Louvre in Paris.
25. Takashi Murakami (b. 1962)
Takashi Murakami, also known as the “Warhol of Japan”, is famous for his merging of fine art and popular culture, often referencing colourful anime and manga cartoons to create abstract paintings of faces. According to Murakami, “Japanese people accept that art and commerce will be blended.” It is the West that imposes such a severe hierarchy when it comes to art. Despite this, Murakami has been fully embraced in the Western art world as well, and his work is extremely in demand in the art world today.
24. Günther Förg (1952-2013)
Günther Förg was part of the post-war generation of German popular artists who reacted against Modernism and was one of the pioneers in exhibiting multi-disciplinary works. Förg’s modern art paintings are often concerned with the political climate of his era in Germany and are known for their brightly saturated solid colours. He was considered to be one of the most interesting contemporary artists of his time.https://link.artland.com/3Gp72YO
23. Luo Zhongli (b. 1948)
Luo Zhongli is one of China’s leading realistic modern artists. As opposed to other artists’ abstract paintings of faces, his powerful photorealistic portraits of people in rural southwestern China have deeply moved people all over the world; it is as though they open up a window into the lives and souls of these people. Zhongli is best known for his contemporary painting “Father”, depicting the face of a Chinese peasant in incredible detail. He is one of the most popular artists today among Chinese art collectors today.
22. Njideka Akunyili Crosby (b. 1983)
The universe Nigerian-American Njideka Akunyili Crosby depicts in her work is, according to her, neither Nigeria nor America, but some other space, the space that every immigrant occupies. Akunyili Crosby creates colourful collage paintings which weave together intimate moments with commercial images from Nigeria, and reference Nigeria’s history and postcolonial present. The paintings live and breathe her trans- and multicultural fine arts fascination and identity. Akunyili Crosby became the talk of the contemporary art world when the price of her work soared dramatically. Last year, her pieces went from selling for around $100.000 to selling for more than $3 million, clearly demonstrating she is one of the most popular artists today.
21. Sean Scully (b. 1945)
Irish artist Sean Scully often works with stripes, grids, and dark tones to create his characteristic abstract works. There is always a dialogue between geometry and soft edges, something that Scully himself describes as the “battle between system and emotion.” Born in Dublin, raised in London, and based in the United States since the ‘70s, Scully carries a fascinating collection of cultural influences with him. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why he stated that his big Chinese retrospective in 2015 was the most important show to him, because, as he said himself, “I’ve always wanted my art to be global, not local.” And he certainly succeeded in achieving this.
20. Zhou Chunya (b. 1955)
Chinese artist Zhou Chunya is best known for his Green Dog series, in which he depicted a green German Shephard in various poses and settings. His style is often described as a hybrid between Western Modernism, traditional Chinese painting, and Socialist Realism, which is what makes his art so gripping. Zhou considers himself, above all, to be a colourist, and is fascinated with the meanings colours beget when people think of them. He became the youngest artist to top the Hurun Art List in 2013, which ranks the top 100 Chinese popular artists today by their sales revenue at public auctions.
19. George Condo (b. 1957)
In his abstract paintings of faces and bodies, George Condo plays with the human form. Unique among modern artists, his paintings are graced with absurd, cut-up, often carnivalesque characters. Though references to the likes of Picasso, Matisse, Cy Twombly, Goya, and Velazquez are evident in his aforementioned abstract paintings of faces, there is no doubt that Condo has developed his own very significant style. In his own words, he is exploring “the private, off-moments or unseen aspects of humanity.” After first winning over Europe, Condo later returned to New York where he had started out in the ‘80s and became recognised for his contemporary painting all over again.
18. John Currin (b. 1962)
John Currin, one of several famous American painters on this list, and photographed above while working on a portrait of his wife, is known for his seductive yet also repelling paintings of lustful women. He combines the beautiful and the grotesque, and influences ranging from Renaissance paintings to magazine ads from the ‘50s can be found in his often erotically charged works. It could be precisely his ability to create contemporary art that defies taste, that makes you both hate and love it, which has helped make Currin one of the most popular artists today, and maybe one of the greatest painters of all time.
17. Zhang Xiaogang (b. 1958)
One of many contemporary artists from China, Zhang Xiaogang’s haunting paintings engage with the notion of identity within the Chinese culture of collectivism. His work centres around the concept of family, taking inspiration from family photos from the Cultural Revolution period. It is as though through memory, Zhang is creating an extremely personal version of China’s history.
16. Thomas Schütte (b. 1954)
Thomas Schütte, who studied fine arts with Gerard Richter in the 1970s and has been leaving his mark on the art world ever since, explores the human condition through his art. Like other contemporary artists, he offers a critical perspective on social, political, and cultural issues, challenging the viewer with his evocative figures and expressions. In 2016, he opened his own private museum (joining an elite group of modern artists including Damien Hirst who have established private museums) in Hombroich, Germany dedicated solely to his sculptures.
15. Jeff Koons (b. 1955)
Jeff Koons is one of the most famous contemporary artists for turning banal objects into fine arts icons by utilizing concepts like celebrity, media, and commerce. In doing so, he holds up a mirror to society and reveals it in all its grotesque contradictions. His fascination with these subjects is also reflected in the commercial materials he uses. Whether you love him or hate him, he succeeded in taking the art world by storm and securing a permanent spot for himself as one of today’s most popular artists.
14. Mark Bradford (b. 1961)
Mark Bradford combines his interests in modern abstraction and the urban community in his signature mixed-media collages. His famous modern art, spanning the breadth of collage, public art, installations, and video work, explores high art and popular culture. He is always seeking out the uncomfortable and confronting topics in society. Bradford created one of the most talked about displays outside the US pavilion at the Venice Biennale this year, referencing the Virginia plantation owned by Thomas Jefferson and inspired by topics such as the rise of Trump, police violence, and Black Lives Matter.
B. 1984, Accra, Ghana. Lives and works in Vienna, Austria.
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Amoako Boafo
B. 1974, Yate, England. Lives and works in England.
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Banksy
4
B. 1926, Los Angeles. Lives and works in Los Angeles.
Betye Saar
B. 1980, Orange County, California. Lives and works in Berlin.
Christine Sun Kim
B. 1979, Rochester, New York. Lives and works in New York.
B. 1934, Guyana. Lives and works in London and New York.
Frank Bowling
B. 1960, Chelmsford, England. Lives and works in London.
Grayson Perry
8
B. 1971, Seoul. Lives and works in Seoul and Berlin.
Haegue Yang
B. 1984, Toronto. D. 2019, Edmonton, Canada.
Matthew Wong
Patrisse Cullors
B. 1983, Los Angeles. Lives and works in Los Angeles.
Patrisse Cullors
6
B. 1973, Lima. Lives and works in Lima.
Sandra Gamarra
9
B. 1985, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Lives and works in New York.
Toyin Ojih Odutola
6
B. 1981, Apsáalooke (Crow) reservation, Montana. Lives and works in Portland, Oregon.
B. 1926, Norwalk, California. D. 2013, San Francisco.
Ruth Asawa
B. 1964, Beijing. Lives and works in Beijing.
B. 1976, Kalamazoo, Michigan. Lives and works in New Haven, Connecticut.
Titus Kaphar
B. 1980, Lausanne, Switzerland. Lives and works in New York and Brussels.
Nicolas Party
B. 1970, Sydney. Lives and works in Melbourne.
Brook Andrew
B. Umlazi, Durban, South Africa. Lives and works in Johannesburg.
Zanele Muholi
B. 1980, Beirut. Lives and works in Paris.
Tarek Atoui
B. 1984, Accra, Ghana. Lives and works in Vienna, Austria.
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Amoako Boafo
B. 1974, Yate, England. Lives and works in England.
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Banksy
4
B. 1926, Los Angeles. Lives and works in Los Angeles.
Betye Saar
B. 1980, Orange County, California. Lives and works in Berlin.
Christine Sun Kim
B. 1979, Rochester, New York. Lives and works in New York.
B. 1934, Guyana. Lives and works in London and New York.
Frank Bowling
B. 1960, Chelmsford, England. Lives and works in London.
Grayson Perry
8
B. 1971, Seoul. Lives and works in Seoul and Berlin.
Haegue Yang
B. 1984, Toronto. D. 2019, Edmonton, Canada.
Matthew Wong
Patrisse Cullors
B. 1983, Los Angeles. Lives and works in Los Angeles.
Patrisse Cullors
6
B. 1973, Lima. Lives and works in Lima.
Sandra Gamarra
9
B. 1985, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Lives and works in New York.
Toyin Ojih Odutola
6
B. 1981, Apsáalooke (Crow) reservation, Montana. Lives and works in Portland, Oregon.
B. 1926, Norwalk, California. D. 2013, San Francisco.
Ruth Asawa
B. 1964, Beijing. Lives and works in Beijing.
B. 1976, Kalamazoo, Michigan. Lives and works in New Haven, Connecticut.
Titus Kaphar
B. 1980, Lausanne, Switzerland. Lives and works in New York and Brussels.
Nicolas Party
B. 1970, Sydney. Lives and works in Melbourne.
Brook Andrew
B. Umlazi, Durban, South Africa. Lives and works in Johannesburg.
Zanele Muholi
B. 1980, Beirut. Lives and works in Paris.
B. 1984, Accra, Ghana. Lives and works in Vienna, Austria.
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Amoako Boafo
B. 1974, Yate, England. Lives and works in England.
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Banksy
4
B. 1926, Los Angeles. Lives and works in Los Angeles.
Betye Saar
B. 1980, Orange County, California. Lives and works in Berlin.
Christine Sun Kim
B. 1979, Rochester, New York. Lives and works in New York.
B. 1934, Guyana. Lives and works in London and New York.
Frank Bowling
B. 1960, Chelmsford, England. Lives and works in London.
Grayson Perry
8
B. 1971, Seoul. Lives and works in Seoul and Berlin.
Haegue Yang
B. 1984, Toronto. D. 2019, Edmonton, Canada.
Matthew Wong
Patrisse Cullors
B. 1983, Los Angeles. Lives and works in Los Angeles.
Patrisse Cullors
6
B. 1973, Lima. Lives and works in Lima.
Sandra Gamarra
9
B. 1985, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Lives and works in New York.
Toyin Ojih Odutola
6
B. 1981, Apsáalooke (Crow) reservation, Montana. Lives and works in Portland, Oregon.
B. 1926, Norwalk, California. D. 2013, San Francisco.
Ruth Asawa
B. 1964, Beijing. Lives and works in Beijing.
B. 1976, Kalamazoo, Michigan. Lives and works in New Haven, Connecticut.
Titus Kaphar
B. 1980, Lausanne, Switzerland. Lives and works in New York and Brussels.
Nicolas Party
B. 1970, Sydney. Lives and works in Melbourne.
Brook Andrew
B. Umlazi, Durban, South Africa. Lives and works in Johannesburg.
Zanele Muholi
B. 1980, Beirut. Lives and works in Paris.
B. 1984, Accra, Ghana. Lives and works in Vienna, Austria.
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Amoako Boafo
B. 1974, Yate, England. Lives and works in England.
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Banksy
4
B. 1926, Los Angeles. Lives and works in Los Angeles.
Betye Saar
B. 1980, Orange County, California. Lives and works in Berlin.
Christine Sun Kim
B. 1979, Rochester, New York. Lives and works in New York.
B. 1934, Guyana. Lives and works in London and New York.
Frank Bowling
B. 1960, Chelmsford, England. Lives and works in London.
Grayson Perry
8
B. 1971, Seoul. Lives and works in Seoul and Berlin.
Haegue Yang
B. 1984, Toronto. D. 2019, Edmonton, Canada.
Matthew Wong
Patrisse Cullors
B. 1983, Los Angeles. Lives and works in Los Angeles.
Patrisse Cullors
6
B. 1973, Lima. Lives and works in Lima.
Sandra Gamarra
9
B. 1985, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Lives and works in New York.
Toyin Ojih Odutola
6
B. 1981, Apsáalooke (Crow) reservation, Montana. Lives and works in Portland, Oregon.
B. 1926, Norwalk, California. D. 2013, San Francisco.
Ruth Asawa
B. 1964, Beijing. Lives and works in Beijing.
B. 1976, Kalamazoo, Michigan. Lives and works in New Haven, Connecticut.
Titus Kaphar
B. 1980, Lausanne, Switzerland. Lives and works in New York and Brussels.
Nicolas Party
B. 1970, Sydney. Lives and works in Melbourne.
Brook Andrew
B. Umlazi, Durban, South Africa. Lives and works in Johannesburg.
Zanele Muholi
B. 1980, Beirut. Lives and works in Paris.
B. 1984, Accra, Ghana. Lives and works in Vienna, Austria.
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Amoako Boafo
B. 1974, Yate, England. Lives and works in England.
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Banksy
4
B. 1926, Los Angeles. Lives and works in Los Angeles.
Betye Saar
B. 1980, Orange County, California. Lives and works in Berlin.
Christine Sun Kim
B. 1979, Rochester, New York. Lives and works in New York.
B. 1934, Guyana. Lives and works in London and New York.
Frank Bowling
B. 1960, Chelmsford, England. Lives and works in London.
Grayson Perry
8
B. 1971, Seoul. Lives and works in Seoul and Berlin.
Haegue Yang
B. 1984, Toronto. D. 2019, Edmonton, Canada.
Matthew Wong
Patrisse Cullors
B. 1983, Los Angeles. Lives and works in Los Angeles.
Patrisse Cullors
6
B. 1973, Lima. Lives and works in Lima.
Sandra Gamarra
9
B. 1985, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Lives and works in New York.
Toyin Ojih Odutola
6
B. 1981, Apsáalooke (Crow) reservation, Montana. Lives and works in Portland, Oregon.
B. 1926, Norwalk, California. D. 2013, San Francisco.
Ruth Asawa
B. 1964, Beijing. Lives and works in Beijing.
B. 1976, Kalamazoo, Michigan. Lives and works in New Haven, Connecticut.
Titus Kaphar
B. 1980, Lausanne, Switzerland. Lives and works in New York and Brussels.
Nicolas Party
B. 1970, Sydney. Lives and works in Melbourne.
Brook Andrew
B. Umlazi, Durban, South Africa. Lives and works in Johannesburg.
Zanele Muholi
B. 1980, Beirut. Lives and works in Paris.
Tarek Atoui
Tarek Atoui
Tarek Atoui
Tarek Atoui