This is a list of artists who create contemporary art, i.e., those whose peak of activity can be situated somewhere between the 1970s (the advent of postmodernism) and the present day. Artists on this list meet the following criteria:
The person is regarded as an important figure or is widely cited by his/her peers or successors.
The person is known for originating a significant new concept, theory or technique.
The person has created, or played a major role in co-creating, a significant or well-known work, or collective body of work, that has been the subject of an independent book or feature-length film, or of multiple independent periodical articles or reviews.
The person's work either (a) has become a significant monument, (b) has been a substantial part of a significant exhibition, (c) has won significant critical attention, or (d) is represented within the permanent collections of several notable galleries or museums, or had works in many significant libraries.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Marina Abramović (born 1946), performance artist
Vito Acconci (born 1940), installation and performance artist
Bas Jan Ader (1942–1979), conceptual artist
Eija-Liisa Ahtila (born 1959), video artist
Peggy Ahwesh (born 1954), video artist
Rita Ackermann (born 1968), artist
Chantal Akerman (1950–2015), filmmaker
Vikky Alexander (born 1959), installation artist
Edward Allington (born 1951) sculptor
Francis Alÿs (born 1959), conceptual artist
Laurie Anderson (born 1947), performance artist
Carl Andre (born 1935), sculptor
Janine Antoni (born 1964), sculptor and installation artist
Ida Applebroog (born 1929), painter
Nobuyoshi Araki (born 1940), photographer
Diane Arbus (1923–1971), photographer
Siah Armajani (born 1939), sculptor
Arman (1928–2005), sculptor
John Armleder (born 1948), performance artist, painter, sculptor, critic, and curator
Richard Artschwager (1923–2013), sculptor and painter
Roy Ascott (born 1934), new media artist
Frank Auerbach (1931), painter
Francis Bacon (1909–1992), painter
Jo Baer (born 1929), painter
John Baldessari (born 1931), conceptual artist
Balthus (1908–2001), painter
Banksy (born 1974), graffiti artist
Fiona Banner (born 1966)
Matthew Barney (born 1967), filmmaker
Will Barnet (1911–2012), painter
Artur Barrio (born 1945), Interactive artist
Jennifer Bartlett (born 1945), painter
Georg Baselitz (born 1938), painter
Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960–1988), painter
Vanessa Beecroft (born 1969)
Larry Bell (born 1939), sculptor
Maurice Benayoun (born 1957), media artist
Lynda Benglis (born 1941), sculptor
José Bernal (1925–2010), painter/sculptor
Joseph Beuys (1921–1986), sculptor, performance artist, installation artist
Ashley Bickerton (born 1959), mixed-media artist
Janet Biggs (born 1959), video and performance artist
Dara Birnbaum (born 1946), video and installation artist
Ronald Bladen, (1918–1988), sculptor
David Blatherwick (born 1960), painter and video artist
Guy Bleus (born 1950), performance artist, mail art
Christian Boltanski (born 1944), sculptor, photographer, painter and film maker
Alighiero Boëtti (1940–1994), conceptual artist
Henry Bond (born 1966), writer, photographer and visual artist
Christine Borland (born 1965)
Michaël Borremans (born 1963), painter
Eberhard Bosslet (born 1953), sculptor, installation artist
Fernando Botero (born 1932), painter
Louise Bourgeois (1911–2010), sculptor and installation artist
Mark Bradford (1961), painter
Robert J Brawley (1937–2006), painter
Candice Breitz (born 1972), video artist
Stuart Brisley (born 1933), performance artist
Marcel Broodthaers (1924–1976), poet, filmmaker and artist
Glenn Brown (born 1966)
Angela Bulloch (born 1966), installation artist
Deborah Butterfield (born 1949), sculptor
Chris Burden (born 1946), performance artist, sculptor, installation artist
Jack Bush 1909–1977, painter
Gerard Byrne (born 1969), installation artist
Sophie Calle (born 1953), conceptual artist from France
Nuno de Campos (born 1969), painter
Janet Cardiff (born 1957), installation artist
Gerard Caris (born 1925), sculptor
Norman Carlberg (born 1928), sculptor
Gillian Carnegie (born 1971), painter
Anthony Caro (1924–2013), sculptor
Antonio Caro (born 1950), painter, conceptualization
Nicolas Carone (1917–2010), painter, sculptor
James Casebere (born 1953), photographer
Maurizio Cattelan (born 1960)
Nick Cave (born 1959), performance artist, sculptor
John Cederquist (born 1946), American sculptor
Vija Celmins (born 1938), painter
Saint Clair Cemin (born 1951) Brazilian sculptor
John Chamberlain (1927–2011), sculptor
Jake and Dinos Chapman (born 1966 and 1962)
Judy Chicago (born 1939), feminist artist
Dan Christensen (1942–2007), abstract painter
Abraham David Christian (born 1952)
Chinwe Chukwuogo-Roy (1952–2012), portrait painter and printmaker
Christo and Jeanne-Claude (1935–2009)
Lygia Clark (1920–1988) painter, installation artist
Francesco Clemente (born 1952), painter
Chuck Close (born 1940), painter
Claude Closky (born 1963)
Robert Colescott (born 1925), painter
Mat Collishaw (born 1966), photographer, video artist
Tony Cragg (born 1945), sculptor
Michael Craig-Martin (born 1941), painter, printmaker, digital artist, sculpture
Martin Creed (born 1968), installation artist
José Luis Cuevas (born 1934), painter, printmaker, sculptor
Dado (1933–2010), painter
Hanne Darboven (1941–2009), conceptual artist
Ian Davenport (born 1966), painter and printmaker
Ronald Davis (born 1937), abstract painter
Richard Deacon (born 1949), sculptor
Tacita Dean (born 1965), conceptual artist, filmmaker
Wim Delvoye (born 1965), neo-conceptual artist
Walter De Maria (1940–2013), installation artist, conceptual artist
Guy Denning (born 1965), painter
Richard Diebenkorn (1922–1993), painter
Rineke Dijkstra (born 1959), photographer
Sam Dillemans (born 1965), painter
Braco Dimitrijevic (born 1948)
Jim Dine (born 1935), sculptor
Mark di Suvero (born 1933), sculptor
Peter Doig (born 1959), painter
Marlene Dumas (born 1953), painter
John Duncan (born 1953), performance, installation artist
Martin Eder (born 1968), painter
Ólafur Elíasson (born 1967)
Tracey Emin (born 1963)
Ben Enwonwu (1917–1994), painter and sculptor
Bracha Ettinger (born 1948)
Valie Export (born 1940)
Jan Fabre (born 1958), multidisciplinary artist
Öjvind Fahlström (1928–1976), multimedia artist
Harun Farocki, (1944–2014), filmmaker
Angus Fairhurst (1966–2008), installation artist
Hans-Peter Feldmann, (born 1941), photographer, installation artist
Kenneth Feingold (born 1952), conceptual artist
Teresita Fernández (born 1968), multidisciplinary artist
Stephen Finer (born 1949), painter
Eric Fischl painter (born 1948), painter, sculptor and printmaker
Peter Fischli & David Weiss (born 1952, 1946–2012)
Dan Flavin (1933–1996)
Bruno Fonseca (1958–1994), painter, sculptor
Caio Fonseca (born 1959), painter
Peter Forakis (1927–2009), sculptor
Günther Förg (1952–2013), painter, graphic designer, sculptor and photographer
Sam Francis (1923–1994), painter
Helen Frankenthaler (1928–2011), painter
Andrea Fraser (born 1965), performance artist
Lucian Freud (1922–2011), painter
Tom Friedman (born 1965), conceptual sculptor
Ellen Gallagher (born 1965), multidisciplinary artist
Anya Gallaccio (born 1963), installation artist
Isa Genzken (born 1948), sculptor
Gilbert and George, (born 1943 and 1942), sculptors, performance artists
Sam Gilliam (born 1933), painter
Liam Gillick (born 1964), conceptual artist
Adrian Ghenie (born 1977), painter
Robert Gober (born 1954), sculptor
Michael Goldberg (1924–2007), painter
Nan Goldin (born 1953), photographer
Jack Goldstein (1945–2003), painter
Andy Goldsworthy (born 1956), sculptor, photographer
Peter Golfinopoulos (born 1928), painter
Leon Golub (1922–2004), painter
Felix Gonzales-Torres (1957–1996), sculptor, installation artist
Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster (born 1965), artist and filmmaker
Robert Goodnough (1917–2010), painter
Douglas Gordon (born 1966), video art, photography
Antony Gormley (born 1950), sculptor
Dan Graham (born 1942), multidisciplinary artist
Robert Graham (1938–2008), sculptor
Rodney Graham (born 1949), photographer, installation artist
Cleve Gray (1918–2004), painter
Kaloust Guedel (born 1956), painter, sculptor
Klaus Guingand (born 1962), multidisciplinary artist
Genco Gulan (born 1969), sculptor, performance artist
Don Gummer (born 1946), sculptor
Andreas Gursky (born 1955), photographer
Hans Haacke (born 1936), conceptual artist
David Hall (born 1937), video artist
Richard Hamilton (1922–2011), painter, collagist
Keith Haring (1958–1990), painter, graffiti artist
Mona Hatoum (born 1952), performance artist
Carl Michael von Hausswolff (born 1956), sound artist
Tim Hawkinson (born 1960), sculpture artist
Al Held (1928–2005), painter
Gottfried Helnwein (born 1948), multimedia artist, installation artist, painter, photographer, performance artist
Diango Hernandez (born 1970), conceptual artist, painter
Eva Hesse (1936–1970), sculptor
Andreas Heusser (born 1976), conceptual artist
Hugo Heyrman (born 1942), painter, multimedia artist
Gary Hill (born 1951), video artist
Susan Hiller (born 1940), installation artist
Charles Hinman (born 1932), painter
Thomas Hirschhorn (born 1957), installation artist
Damien Hirst (born 1965), installation artist
David Hockney (born 1937), painter
Howard Hodgkin (born 1932), painter
Candida Höfer (born 1944), photographer
Tom Holland (born 1936), mixed media artist, painter
Saskia Holmkvist (born 1971), conceptual artist
Christian Holstad (born 1972), conceptual artist
Jenny Holzer (born 1950), interdisciplinary artist
Roni Horn (born 1955), sculptor, installation artist and writer
Peter Howson (born 1958), painter
Gary Hume (born 1962), painter
Pierre Huyghe (born 1962), media artist
Jörg Immendorff (1945–2007), painter
Alfredo Jaar (born 1956), conceptual artist
Richard Jackson (born 1939), painter, installation
Chantal Joffe (born 1969), painter
Jasper Johns (born 1930), painter, printmaker
Ray Johnson (1927–1995), pop artist, mail art
Jennie C. Jones (born 1968), multidisciplinary
Donald Judd (1928–1994), sculptor
Isaac Julien (born 1960), filmmaker
Ilya Kabakov (born 1933), installation artist
Eduardo Kac (born 1962), transgenic artist
Stanya Kahn (born 1968), performance, video artist
Wolf Kahn (born 1927), landscapes, oil paints/pastels
Anish Kapoor (born 1954), sculptor
Allan Kaprow (1927–2006), painter, performance artist
On Kawara (born 1949), conceptual artist
Mary Kelly (born 1941), conceptual artist
Mike Kelley (1954–2012), sculptor, installation artist, performance artist
Ellsworth Kelly (1923–2015), painter
William Kentridge (born 1955), draughtsman, film maker and sculptor
Anselm Kiefer (born 1945), painter
Manfred Kielnhofer (born 1967), sculptor, designer, photographer
Edward Kienholz (born 1927), installation artist
Bodys Isek Kingelez (born 1948), sculpture
Martin Kippenberger (1953–1997), conceptual artist, installation artist
Komar and Melamid (born 1943 and 1945), conceptual artist
Jeff Koons (born 1949), conceptual artist
Mark Kostabi (born 1960), painter
Barbara Kruger (born 1949), artist and photographer
Alfred Freddy Krupa (born 1971), painter, book artist
Yayoi Kusama (born 1929), installation artist, performance artist, painter
David LaChapelle (born 1963), photographer
Suzanne Lacy (born 1945), performance/public artist
Ronnie Landfield (born 1947), painter
Michael Landy (born 1963), conceptual artist
Thomas Lanigan-Schmidt (born 1948), installation, collage
Maria Lassnig (1919–2014), painter
Matthieu Laurette (born 1970), multimedia, conceptual, installation, video artist
Robert Lazzarini (born 1965), sculptor, installation artist
Lee Bul (born 1964), sculpture, installation, conceptual artist
Zoe Leonard (born 1961), photographer and visual artist
Mark Lewis (born 1958), installation and film artist
Sol LeWitt (1928–2007), installation and conceptual artist
Richard Long (born 1945), sculptor, photographer, painter
Robert Longo (born 1953), painter and sculptor
Lee Lozano (1930–1999), painter
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer (born 1967), installation artist
Sarah Lucas (born 1962), photographer, sculptor, conceptual artist
Robert Mangold (born 1937), painter
Robert Mapplethorpe (1946–1989), photographer
Christian Marclay (born 1955), composer, conceptual artist
Brice Marden (born 1938), painter
Kerry James Marshall (born 1955), painter
Milovan Destil Marković (born 1957), painter, performance artist
Agnes Martin (1912–2004), painter
Eugene J. Martin (1938–2005), painter
Gordon Matta-Clark (1943–1978), conceptual artist
Amanda Matthews (born 1968), sculptor, painter, public art designer
Paul McCarthy (born 1945), performance and installation artist
Allan McCollum (born 1944), sculptor, installation artist
Ryan McGinley (born 1977), photographer
Steve McQueen, (born 1969), filmmaker
Cildo Meireles (born 1948), sculptor and installation artist
Ana Mendieta (1948–1985), sculptor, performance and video artist
Thom Merrick (born 1963), sculptor, painter
Boris Mikhailov (born 1938), photographer
Haroon Mirza (born 1977), sculptor, installation artist
Eva Moll (born 1961), painter, performance and installation artist
Franco Mondini-Ruiz (born 1961), painter, sculptor, performance and installation artist
Jonathan Monk (born 1969), conceptual artist
Sebastian Diaz Morales (born 1975), video artist
François Morellet (born 1926), painter, engraver, sculptor and light artist
Yasumasa Morimura (born 1951), photographer
Robert Morris (born 1931), sculptor, writer and conceptual artist
Antoni Muntadas (born 1942), installation and new media artist
Vik Muniz (born 1961), photographer
Bruce Munro, installation artist
Takashi Murakami (born 1962), sculptor and painter
Elizabeth Murray (1940–2007), painter
Zoran Mušič (1909–2005), painter
Wangechi Mutu (born 1972), painter
Bruce Nauman (born 1941)
Odd Nerdrum (born 1944), painter
Shirin Neshat (born 1957), visual artist
Alexander Ney (born 1939), sculptor and painter
Graham Nicholls (born 1975), installation artist
Olaf Nicolai (born 1962), conceptual artist
Kenneth Noland (1924–2010), painter
Albert Oehlen (born 1954), painter
Markus Oehlen (born 1956), painter
Chris Ofili (born 1968), painter
Claes Oldenburg (born 1929), sculptor
Jules Olitski (1922–2007), painter
Nathan Oliveira (1928–2010), painter
Yoko Ono (born 1933), musician, artist
Bruce Onobrakpeya (born 1932), printmaker, painter and sculptor
Orlan (born 1947), performance and body artist
Roman Opałka (1931–2011), painter
Julian Opie (born 1958), digital artist
Dennis Oppenheim (1938–2011), conceptual and installation artist
Gabriel Orozco (born 1962), conceptual and installation artist
Tony Oursler (born 1957), multimedia and installation artist
Nam June Paik (1932–2006), video artist
Roxy Paine (born 1966), sculptor
Eduardo Paolozzi (1924–2005), sculptor
Niki de Saint Phalle (1930–2002,) sculptor
Cornelia Parker (born 1956), sculptor and installation artist
Ray Parker (1922–1990), painter
Ed Paschke (1939–2004), painter
Simon Patterson (born 1967), conceptual artist
Oliver Payne and Nick Relph (born 1977 and 1979), video artists
Grayson Perry (born 1960), ceramicist
Raymond Pettibon (born 1957), drawing, video and installation artist
Elizabeth Peyton (born 1965), painter
Adrian Piper (born 1948), conceptual artist
Steven Pippin (born 1960), sculptor
Michelangelo Pistoletto (born 1933), painter, action and object artist
Paola Pivi (born 1971), multimedia artist
Sigmar Polke (born 1941–2010), painter, photographer
Larry Poons (born 1937), painter
William Powhida (born 1976), drawing, painter, writer
Kenneth Price (1935–2012), ceramicist, sculptor
Richard Prince (born 1949), painter and photographer
Laure Prouvost (born 1978), installation artist, 2013 Turner Prize winner
Martin Puryear (born 1941), sculptor
Marc Quinn (born 1964), sculptor
Alessandro Raho (born 1971), painter and photographer
Arnulf Rainer (born 1929), painter
Yvonne Rainer (born 1934), performance artist
Rallé (born 1949), painter
Neo Rauch (born 1960), painter
Robert Rauschenberg (1925–2008), painter, collagist, printmaker, neo-dadaist
Peter Reginato (born 1945), sculptor
Seund Ja Rhee (1918–2009), painter, printmaker, and ceramicist
Jason Rhoades (1965–2006), installation artist and sculptor
Jesse Richards (born 1975), artist
Gerhard Richter (born 1932), painter
Pipilotti Rist (born 1962), video artist
Larry Rivers (1923–2002), painter, multi-media
James Rosenquist (born 1933), painter
Martha Rosler (born 1943), video artist, installation artist and performance artist
Dieter Roth (1930–1998), artist's books, sculptor, installation artist
Thomas Ruff (born 1958), photographer
Allen Ruppersberg (born 1944), conceptualist, mixed media, installation artist
Edward Ruscha (born 1937), painter, printmaker and filmmaker
Anri Sala (born 1974), video artist
Chéri Samba (born 1956), painter
Jean-Michel Sanejouand (born 1934), painter and sculptor
David Salle (born 1952), painter
Bojan Sarcevic (born 1974), sculptor
Jenny Saville (born 1970), painter
Raymond Saunders (born 1934), painter
Markus Schinwald (born 1973), painter, sculptor and filmmaker
Julian Schnabel (born 1951), painter, sculptor and filmmaker
Carolee Schneemann (born 1939), performance artist
Thomas Schütte (born 1954), sculptor
Richard Serra (born 1939), sculptor
Joel Shapiro (born 1941), sculptor
Cindy Sherman (born 1954), photographer, performance artist
Yinka Shonibare (born 1962)
Amy Sillman (born 1966), painter
David Simpson, (born 1928), painter
Lorna Simpson (born 1960), interdisciplinary artist
Maggie Siner, painter and teacher
Bob and Roberta Smith (born 1958)
Jack Smith (1932–1989), film director
Kiki Smith (born 1954), feminist artist
Robert Smithson (1938–1973), sculptor and painter
Michael Snow (born 1929), filmmaker, musician, painter
Joan Snyder (born 1940), painter
Keith Sonnier (born 1941), sculptor
Pierre Soulages (born 1919), painter
Nancy Spero (1926–2009), painter
Joe Stefanelli (born 1921), painter
Pat Steir (born 1940), painter
Frank Stella (born 1936), painter, printmaker
Thomas Struth (born 1954), photographer
Hiroshi Sugimoto (born 1948), photographer
Sarah Sze (born 1969), sculptor
Tomoko Takahashi (born 1966), installation artist
Mark Tansey (born 1949), painter
Sam Taylor-Wood (born 1967), filmmaker, photographer
Diana Thater (born 1962), video artist
Paul Thek (1933–1988), painter, sculptor, installation artist
Wayne Thiebaud (born 1920), painter, printmaker
Arthur Thrall (born 1926), printmaker, painter
Wolfgang Tillmans (born 1968), photographer
Rirkrit Tiravanija (born 1961), conceptual and installation artist
Mark Titchner (born 1973), painter
Slaven Tolj (born 1964), performance, installation artist
Scott Treleaven (born 1975), filmmaker
Rosemarie Trockel (born 1952), installation artist
Gavin Turk (born 1967), sculptor
James Turrell (born 1943), installation artist
Richard Tuttle (born 1941), postminimalist
Luc Tuymans (born 1958), painter
Cy Twombly (1928–2011), painter
Keith Tyson (born 1969), drawing, painter, installation artist
Francis Upritchard (born 1976), installation artist
Lydia Venieri (born 1964), painter, sculptor, photographer
Bill Viola (born 1951), video artist
Wolf Vostell (1932–1998), multimedia artist
Peter Voulkos (1924–2002), ceramicist, sculptor
Kara Walker (born 1969), installation artist
Jeff Wall (born 1946), photographer
Magnus Wallin (born 1965), video artist
Mark Wallinger (born 1959), conceptual artist
Suling Wang (born 1968), painter
Andy Warhol (1928–1987), pop artist
Gillian Wearing (born 1963), conceptual artist
Carrie Mae Weems (born 1953), photographer
Lawrence Weiner (born 1942), conceptual artist
Monika Weiss (born 1964), installation, video and performance artist
Ai Weiwei (born 1957), Chinese, conceptual artist
Tom Wesselmann (born 1931), painter
Franz West (1947–2012), drawing, painter, sculptor
Rachel Whiteread (born 1963), sculptor
Alison Wilding (born 1948), sculptor
Hannah Wilke (1940–1993), sculptor
Thornton Willis (born 1936), painter
Jane and Louise Wilson (born 1967), installation artists
Richard Wilson (born 1953), installation artist
Joel-Peter Witkin (born 1939), photographer
Francesca Woodman (1958–1981), photographer
Wu Guanzhong (1919–2010), painter
Erwin Wurm (born 1954), sculptor, photographer
Andrew Wyeth (1917–2009), painter
Xing Xin (born 1981), performance artist
Peter Young (born 1940), painter
Jack Youngerman (born 1926), painter
Andrea Zittel (born 1965), installation artist
Larry Zox (1936–2006), painter
List of contemporary artists Wikipedia (Text) CC BY-SA