List of contemporary artists

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.

See also: Art, List of painters, List of modern artists, and List of sculptors

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

A

• Marina Abramović (born 1946), performance artist
• Vito Acconci (1940–2017), 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

B

• 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

C

• 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)
• Paolo Cirio (born 1979), Internet artist
• 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

D

• 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

E

• 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)

F

• 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

G

• 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
• Genco Gulan (born 1969), sculptor, performance artist
• Don Gummer (born 1946), sculptor
• Andreas Gursky (born 1955), photographer

H

• 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
• Jim Hodges (born 1957), installation artist
• 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

I

• Jörg Immendorff (1945–2007), painter
• INO visual artist

J

• 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

K

• 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

L

• 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

M

• 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

N

• 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

O

• 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

P

• 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

Q

• Marc Quinn (born 1964), sculptor

R

• 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 (1933-2017), 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

S

• 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

T

• 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

U

• Francis Upritchard (born 1976), installation artist

V

• 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

W

• 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

X

• Xing Xin (born 1981), performance artist

Y

• Peter Young (born 1940), painter
• Jack Youngerman (born 1926), painter

Z

• Andrea Zittel (born 1965), installation artist
• Larry Zox (1936–2006), painter