Defining contemporary art: what the Kunstkompass Top 100 lists can tell us about contemporary art

Abstract

What is a ‘contemporary’ artwork? Widely acknowledged as a distinct genre since the early 2000s, contemporary art is not easy to define. To answer this question, this article draws on Kunstkompass, a German art database that has followed the recognition and success of contemporary artists since 1970. The database identifies the world’s top contemporary artists by tracking activities such as exhibitions, awards, and publications that bring an artist recognition. Using the 2017 Top 20 Living Artists and the Top 20 Stars of Tomorrow lists and an analysis of art-world texts, the study identifies the types of works produced and identifies their common modes of production and thematic content. The study finds that the two lists represent two generations, an older generation that was established during the shift from modernism to contemporary art, and a younger generation of emerging artists. The generational difference highlights how the younger generation has followed the pioneering practices of the older artists but have also expanded on these practices in their own way. And, while the results of the study do not identify a definitive paradigm for contemporary art, they do point to the limits of the genre and how these are shifting over time.

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