Who Are the Best Contemporary Artists? A Guide to Influential Figures Shaping Art Today

Navigating the vibrant, complex world of contemporary art can feel like stepping into a constantly shifting landscape. Unlike the established canons of historical art, contemporary art is the art of now, reflecting the immediate issues, technologies, and diverse perspectives of our time. Trying to definitively name the "best" contemporary artists is not only subjective but nearly impossible given the sheer breadth and dynamism of the field. For a look at artists currently making waves, check out our guide to Top Living Artists You Should Know.

Instead, this guide aims to provide a framework for understanding what makes contemporary art tick and introduces a selection of influential figures whose work is widely exhibited, discussed, and shaping the artistic conversations of the 21st century. Think of this as a starting point for your own exploration into the exciting art being made today.

What Defines "Contemporary Art"? Key Characteristics

So, what exactly is contemporary art? While the exact start date is debated (often considered post-1970s, following the peak of Modern Art), it's generally characterized by:

Diversity of Media: Contemporary artists work across an unprecedented range of materials and forms, far beyond traditional painting and sculpture. Think installation art, video, performance art, digital art, photography, conceptual art (where the idea is paramount), and even social practice (art involving community engagement). For a broader look at the definition, see 'What is Art?'.
Global Perspective: While Western art centers remain important (Best Art Cities: US, Europe), contemporary art is inherently global. Artists from Asia (Best Art Cities: Asia), Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East are increasingly central figures, bringing diverse perspectives.
Conceptual Focus: Many contemporary artists prioritize the idea, concept, or message behind the artwork. The execution might be secondary to the thought process or the statement being made.
Engagement with Society: Contemporary art frequently tackles pressing social, political, environmental, technological, and cultural issues of our time. It often serves as commentary, critique, or reflection.
Blurring Boundaries: Artists often challenge traditional distinctions – between high art and popular culture, between different artistic disciplines, between the artist and the audience.

Criteria for Identifying Influential Contemporary Artists

Given the subjectivity, how do we identify artists who are generally considered significant or "leading" today? Factors often include:

Critical Acclaim & Museum Recognition: Inclusion in major museum collections (Best Museums Worldwide, Best Museums for Modern Art), significant solo exhibitions or retrospectives, and positive attention from respected art critics.
Art Market Significance: Strong representation by influential international galleries (Best Galleries Worldwide, Best Galleries in the US), and significant value placed on their work in both the primary and secondary art markets (auctions). Learn more about Understanding Art Prices.
Innovation & Influence: Breaking new ground conceptually or technically, pioneering new uses of media, and demonstrably influencing the work of other artists.
Participation in Major Exhibitions: Regular inclusion in globally important events like the Venice Biennale, Documenta in Kassel, Whitney Biennial, and major international art fairs.
Cultural Resonance: Creating work that captures the public imagination, sparks debate, or becomes iconic within broader culture.

Exploring the Landscape: Key Figures & Trends

Disclaimer: The following list is highly selective and intended only as a starting point to illustrate the diversity of influential contemporary art. Countless other significant artists are working today.

Here are some widely recognized artists grouped loosely by practice:

Painting Mavericks:

Gerhard Richter (b. 1932, German): A towering figure whose work constantly interrogates the nature of painting, moving between photorealistic works, gestural abstraction, and conceptual pieces.
Yayoi Kusama (b. 1929, Japanese): Globally beloved for her immersive "Infinity Mirror Rooms" and iconic polka-dot motifs, exploring themes of obsession, obliteration, and the cosmos.
Kerry James Marshall (b. 1955, American): Creates powerful, large-scale figurative paintings centered on Black subjects, consciously inserting them into the Western art historical canon from which they were largely excluded.
Cecily Brown (b. 1969, British): Known for her energetic, fragmented paintings that hover between abstraction and figuration, often referencing art history and depicting sensual, tumultuous scenes.
Anselm Kiefer (b. 1945, German): Creates large-scale, often heavily textured paintings and installations grappling with German history, mythology, memory, and cultural identity, frequently incorporating materials like straw, ash, and lead.
Peter Doig (b. 1959, Scottish/Canadian): Known for his dreamlike, enigmatic landscapes and figurative scenes, often drawn from personal memories, photographs, or film stills, rendered with rich color and distinctive textures.
Elizabeth Peyton (b. 1965, American): Famous for her intimate portraits of friends, historical figures, and celebrities, often small in scale and characterized by their fluid brushwork and emotional intensity.
Julie Mehretu (b. 1970, Ethiopian/American): Creates complex, large-scale abstract paintings and drawings layering architectural renderings, maps, and gestural marks to explore themes of globalization, migration, and conflict.
Chris Ofili (b. 1968, British): Known for his vibrant, multi-layered paintings incorporating materials like elephant dung, glitter, and map pins, often exploring themes of Black identity, culture, and spirituality with intricate patterns.
Adrian Ghenie (b. 1977, Romanian): Creates textured, often unsettling figurative paintings that blend historical references (particularly 20th-century European history) with personal memory and abstract passages, frequently distorting faces and forms.
George Condo (b. 1957, American): Known for his "Artificial Realism," creating grotesque yet psychologically compelling portraits that fuse influences from Old Masters, Cubism, and cartoons.
Mickalene Thomas (b. 1971, American): Creates bold, rhinestone-encrusted paintings, installations, and photographs celebrating Black female identity, beauty, and power, often referencing art history and Blaxploitation imagery.
Dana Schutz (b. 1976, American): Known for her vibrant, often chaotic narrative paintings depicting fictional, sometimes grotesque scenarios with expressive brushwork and a distinctive sense of humor and absurdity.

Sculptural Innovators:

Jeff Koons (b. 1955, American): Famous (and controversial) for his highly polished sculptures based on kitsch objects and popular culture, exploring themes of consumerism, taste, and celebrity.
Anish Kapoor (b. 1954, British-Indian): Creates large-scale, often monochromatic sculptures using materials like pigment, wax, steel, and resin, playing with perception, void, and reflection (e.g., "Cloud Gate" in Chicago).
Kara Walker (b. 1969, American): Uses cut-paper silhouettes, often in large installations, to create brutal and complex narratives about race, gender, sexuality, and violence in American history.
Rachel Whiteread (b. 1963, British): Known for casting the negative space around everyday objects and architectural features (from hot water bottles to entire houses), creating minimalist sculptures that evoke memory and absence.
Urs Fischer (b. 1973, Swiss): Creates playful yet often monumental sculptures and installations that frequently involve decay, transformation, or unexpected juxtapositions of materials, challenging traditional notions of sculpture.
Thomas Schütte (b. 1954, German): Works across various media, including sculpture, prints, and installations, often known for his distorted figurative sculptures and architectural models that explore the human condition and societal structures.
Phyllida Barlow (1944-2023, British): Created large-scale, anti-monumental sculptures from inexpensive, everyday materials like cardboard, timber, cement, and fabric, often appearing precarious and raw.
Doris Salcedo (b. 1958, Colombian): Creates poignant sculptures and installations often using domestic objects and subtle interventions in architectural spaces to address trauma, grief, and political violence, particularly in Colombia.
El Anatsui (b. 1944, Ghanaian/Nigerian): Famous for his monumental, tapestry-like sculptures woven from thousands of discarded aluminum bottle caps and copper wire, exploring themes of consumption, waste, history, and cultural exchange.
KAWS (Brian Donnelly, b. 1974, American): Known for his distinctive figurative characters (like "Companion") with X-ed out eyes, presented as large-scale sculptures, toys, and paintings, blurring the lines between fine art, street art, and commercial design.

Conceptual & Installation Giants:

Ai Weiwei (b. 1957, Chinese): A multidisciplinary artist and activist whose work (sculpture, installation, photography, film, social media) often critiques political power, censorship, and human rights issues in China and globally.
Olafur Eliasson (b. 1967, Danish-Icelandic): Creates immersive installations often employing natural elements like light, water, fog, and temperature to explore human perception, experience, and our relationship with the environment.
Barbara Kruger (b. 1945, American): Known for her distinctive graphic style combining black-and-white photographs with bold, declarative text (often in Futura Bold Oblique font), critiquing consumerism, power, and identity.
Damien Hirst (b. 1965, British): A central figure of the Young British Artists (YBAs), known for sensational works exploring themes of life, death, science, and belief, including animals preserved in formaldehyde and "spot paintings."
Tracey Emin (b. 1963, British): Another prominent YBA, known for her highly personal and confessional works across various media (installation, neon, drawing, painting, sculpture), often exploring themes of love, sex, loss, and vulnerability (e.g., "My Bed").
Danh Vo (b. 1975, Vietnamese/Danish): Creates conceptually driven installations often incorporating found objects, documents, and fragmented forms (like his replica of the Statue of Liberty) to explore themes of history, identity, migration, and cultural ownership.
Tino Sehgal (b. 1976, British/German): Creates "constructed situations" rather than material objects – live encounters between viewers and trained interpreters enacting specific choreographies or conversations, challenging the nature of the artwork and its commodification.
Pierre Huyghe (b. 1962, French): Creates complex, evolving systems and ecosystems as artworks, often involving living organisms, artificial intelligence, film, and environmental elements, exploring the boundaries between human, animal, and technology.
Santiago Sierra (b. 1966, Spanish): Known for his controversial actions and installations that often involve hiring marginalized individuals to perform physically demanding or ethically questionable tasks, critiquing labor structures, capitalism, and inequality.
Rirkrit Tiravanija (b. 1961, Thai/Argentinian): A key figure in Relational Aesthetics, often creating situations rather than objects, such as cooking and serving food for gallery visitors, transforming the exhibition space into a site for social interaction.

Lens-Based & Digital Pioneers:

Cindy Sherman (b. 1954, American): Uses staged self-portrait photography to explore female identity, stereotypes, and the construction of self, appearing in countless different guises throughout her career.
Andreas Gursky (b. 1955, German): Creates large-format, often digitally enhanced photographs depicting scenes of globalization, consumerism, and collective experience with a detached, panoramic perspective.
Hito Steyerl (b. 1966, German): A highly influential video artist, filmmaker, and writer whose work critically examines digital culture, surveillance capitalism, artificial intelligence, and the politics of image production and circulation.
Wolfgang Tillmans (b. 1968, German): Works fluidly across genres, from intimate portraits and still lifes to abstract photographic works and large-scale installations, capturing contemporary life and exploring the nature of photography itself.
Nan Goldin (b. 1953, American): Known for her raw, intimate, and diary-like photographic documentation of her own life and the lives of her friends, particularly within LGBTQ+ communities and subcultures, often presented as slideshows.
Shirin Neshat (b. 1957, Iranian/American): Creates powerful photographs and video installations exploring themes of gender, identity, exile, and politics in relation to Islamic culture, often using calligraphy overlaid on portraits.
Jeff Wall (b. 1946, Canadian): Known for his large-scale, meticulously staged photographic tableaux presented in lightboxes, often referencing art history and cinematography to explore moments of everyday life, social tension, or allegory.
Cao Fei (b. 1978, Chinese): A multimedia artist working with video, digital media, photography, and installation, exploring the experiences of young Chinese people navigating rapid urbanization, virtual worlds (like Second Life), and technological change.
Trevor Paglen (b. 1974, American): Uses photography, installation, and investigative journalism techniques to explore invisible infrastructures of surveillance, data collection, and military operations, making the hidden visible.
Ryan Trecartin (b. 1981, American): Creates frenetic, highly stylized videos featuring bizarre characters, rapid-fire dialogue, and fragmented narratives, reflecting and critiquing internet culture, identity performance, and consumerism.

Performance & Social Practice:

Marina Abramović (b. 1946, Serbian): A pioneering figure in performance art, known for intense, durational pieces exploring the limits of the body, endurance, pain, and the relationship between performer and audience.
Theaster Gates (b. 1973, American): His practice spans sculpture, installation, performance, and "urban interventions," often involving the revitalization of neglected spaces and communities on Chicago's South Side, blending art with social activism.
Tania Bruguera (b. 1968, Cuban): Creates politically charged performance art and long-term projects ("Arte Útil" or useful art) that often engage directly with social issues, power structures, censorship, and migration, sometimes putting herself at personal risk.
Francis Alÿs (b. 1959, Belgian/Mexican): Known for his often subtle, poetic, and politically resonant "walks" and actions documented through video, painting, and drawing, exploring themes of borders, labor, conflict, and urban life (e.g., "When Faith Moves Mountains").
William Kentridge (b. 1955, South African): A highly acclaimed multidisciplinary artist known for his charcoal drawings, animated films (often made through erasure), tapestries, sculptures, and opera productions, frequently addressing themes of apartheid, memory, and political change in South Africa.

Street Art & Urban Interventions:

Banksy (Active since 1990s, British): An anonymous yet globally famous graffiti artist, political activist, and filmmaker, known for satirical stencils and installations commenting on politics, culture, and ethics, appearing unexpectedly in public spaces.
JR (b. 1983, French): A photographer and street artist known for his massive black-and-white photographic portraits pasted onto buildings and public structures worldwide, often focusing on marginalized communities and challenging perceptions.
Shepard Fairey (b. 1970, American): A street artist, graphic designer, and activist, widely known for his "Obey Giant" sticker campaign and the Barack Obama "Hope" poster, whose work often blends graphic design, political commentary, and pop culture references.

Fiber & Textile Art Innovators:

Sheila Hicks (b. 1934, American): A pioneering figure in contemporary fiber art, creating vibrant sculptures, installations, and woven works that range from monumental architectural interventions to intimate "minimes," exploring color, texture, and form.
Faith Ringgold (b. 1930, American): Celebrated for her narrative "story quilts," paintings, sculptures, and children's books addressing African American history, identity, feminism, and civil rights with vibrant color and powerful storytelling.
Bisa Butler (b. 1973, American): Creates stunning, large-scale quilted portraits of African Americans, based on historical photographs, using vibrant, layered textiles and intricate stitching to convey dignity, identity, and cultural history.

Beyond the Headlines: Discovering More Contemporary Art

While these names dominate headlines, the contemporary art world is vast:

Look for Emerging Artists: Galleries, art schools (MFA shows), and online platforms are crucial for discovering the next generation. Actively seeking out new talent is key. (See: How to Spot Emerging Artists, Identifying Emerging Artists Worth Collecting).
Seek the Underrated: Many fantastic artists operate outside the mainstream market glare. Explore regional scenes and alternative spaces. (See: Best Underrated Artists).
Embrace Diversity: Make an effort to discover artists from different cultural backgrounds, genders, and geographic locations. The richness of contemporary art lies in its global multiplicity.
Color & Abstraction Thrive: Alongside conceptual and new media art, expressive painting – particularly work embracing bold color and abstraction – remains a powerful and popular force. Many contemporary artists continue to explore the emotional resonance and decorative potential of color and non-representational forms, creating works that invigorate spaces and speak directly to the senses, much like the vibrant contemporary prints and paintings featured here.

How to Experience Contemporary Art

Engaging with contemporary art is an active process:

Visit Museums: Top modern and contemporary art museums provide context and showcase significant works. (Link).
Explore Galleries: Commercial galleries (Best Galleries) are on the front line, showing the very latest work. Don't be intimidated; they are usually free and open to the public.
Attend Art Fairs & Biennales: These large-scale events offer a concentrated dose of the current art scene. (Link).
Seek Dedicated Spaces: Artist foundations, non-profits, and unique venues like the artist's own museum in 's-Hertogenbosch can offer in-depth experiences.
Go Online: While no substitute for seeing art in person, gallery websites, platforms like Artsy, and social media are valuable discovery tools. (Link).

Collecting Contemporary Art

Interested in owning contemporary art?

Start with research. Learn about artists and define your taste. (How to Buy Art for Beginners).
Consider your budget. Prints and works by emerging artists can be more accessible. (Starting an Art Collection on a Budget, Prints vs. Paintings).
Understand the primary market (buying from galleries) versus the secondary market (auctions).
Be aware that contemporary art can be a volatile investment; buy what you love first and foremost. (Researching Artists).

Conclusion: An Ongoing, Ever-Evolving Conversation

Contemporary art is not a single style but a dynamic, multifaceted conversation reflecting the complexities of our globalized, hyper-connected world. The "best" contemporary artists are arguably those whose work resonates powerfully, challenges perceptions, pushes boundaries, and contributes meaningfully to this ongoing dialogue. The true joy lies in the exploration – in discovering artists whose vision speaks to you, expands your understanding, or simply provides profound visual or emotional inspiration. Dive in and explore the art of our time!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What makes an artist "contemporary"? Generally, an artist is considered contemporary if they are living and working in the present era, or if their work emerged and gained significance from the latter half of the 20th century (often post-1970s) to the present day.
Who are some of the most famous contemporary artists today? This changes, but figures frequently in the spotlight include Yayoi Kusama, Gerhard Richter, Ai Weiwei, Jeff Koons, Cindy Sherman, Banksy, Kara Walker, Damien Hirst, Anselm Kiefer, and Anish Kapoor, among many others mentioned above. This is just a small fraction of the influential artists working today.
What's the difference between modern and contemporary art? Modern Art refers to a historical period of art (roughly the 1860s to the 1970s) characterized by specific movements like Impressionism, Cubism, Surrealism, and Abstract Expressionism. Contemporary art refers to the art of the present, starting around the 1970s and continuing today, characterized by its diversity, global nature, and conceptual focus.
Is contemporary art hard to understand? Some contemporary art, particularly conceptual or highly theoretical work, can be challenging initially. Understanding the artist's intent, the context, and the ideas being explored often helps appreciation. Reading wall text, artist statements, or critical reviews can provide insight. Sometimes, specific art jargon needs clarification.
How can I discover new contemporary artists? Visit local galleries, attend MFA (Master of Fine Arts) thesis shows at art schools, browse online platforms like Artsy or Instagram (following galleries and curators), read art magazines and blogs, and visit art fairs.
Is contemporary art a good investment? It can be, but it's often highly speculative, especially with emerging artists. The contemporary art market can be volatile. It's generally advised to buy art because you love it, not purely as an investment. (See Art as an Investment: Risks vs. Rewards).