It does not matter if you are an art enthusiast or graphically green, you will surely want to remember the following famous contemporary artists. They are some of the most groundbreaking and successful artists of the 21st century.
Ai Weiwei (born in 1957)
Although the Chinese artist Ai Weiwei is an experienced photographer, curator, architect, sculptor and film director, he is probably more famous for his political activism, being frank in his criticism regarding the Chinese government. In 2011, he was named a plagiarist and deviant by his country, and thus he was forced to spend time in a Beijing jail.
Jeff Koons (born in 1955)
Do you know those ironic sculptures of stainless steel balloon animals? If yes, you should or you probably know by now that those are the works of Jeff Koons. He is one of the American contemporary artists and he has become famous for his imitations of ordinary items and for exploring the concept of art in a culture that is flooded by the media. Jeff Koons is the world record holder for the most expensive item sold in an auction by a living artist – “Tulips” – for the price of little under $33.7 million in 2012.
Banksy (probably born in 1974)
If you are ever in England, wandering the streets of Bristol, you will probably see one of the creations made by Banksy, one of the most famous contemporary artists. The English graffiti artist, film director and painter is known for his satirical and defiant images that feature a unique stenciling technique, his canvas being the city. He likes to decorates the walls and sidewalks of Bristol with images of skeletons and rats.
James De La Vega (born in 1968)
James De la Vega’s work is easy to spot on the sidewalk of the streets of New York. If you ever walked the streets of New York, you probably noticed his work. James De la Vega was born in New York, but his descents were Puerto Ricans. For some years, this contemporary artist has been writing inspirational and motivational quotes on the streets of New York, with the use of chalk. One of his most famous and inspirational messages is “Become Your Dream”. James De la Vega is also a muralist.
Guy Laramee (born in 1957)
Guy Laramee is a Montreal-based contemporary artist who is known for his fascination with books. He uses a sandblaster to carefully sculpts huge portions of covers and pages until he achieves undulating landscapes. Some of his natural landscapes include: mountains, waves and caves that gradually emerge from old books, like encyclopedias and dictionaries and embrace new lives.
