A panoramic insider’s account of the global art industry, revealing the fascinating but mysterious workings of the world of contemporary art
See InsideOver the last few decades the contemporary art world has become more globalized and more visible than ever before – and yet in many ways it remains closed and obscure. What actually happens behind the doors of a contemporary artist’s studio? At an auction house before a major sale? In the vaults of an art storage unit? How can art museums keep up with Instagram – and why does everyone seem to hate art fairs?
Join curator, writer and art historian Matthew Israel on a year-long journey through the contemporary art world. From Los Angeles to Hong Kong via Venice, Basel, Paris and New York, from biennials in summer to auction houses in autumn, Israel reveals the joys and anxieties of this sometimes baffling, often intimidating field. Blending an insider’s knowledge with in-depth profiles, interviews with key art-world figures and a keen ear for an anecdote, A Year in the Art World is a compelling, generous companion for any art-lover curious about how art is being made, valued, sold, cared for and looked at today.
'A tell-all book by the curator and art historian Matthew Israel takes readers on a year-long ride through the art world, from the heady heights of auction houses and art advisors to the practical matters of studios and shipping... A Year in the Art World will give some indication at least of what life was like in the fast lane of the pre-coronavirus art circus'
The Art Newspaper
'Israel is interested in why art matters now, and he chatted with some of today's premier artists, dealers, and curators to provide concise and comprehensible answers to complex questions'
ARTnews
'A must-read for anyone curious about the inner workings of the industry'
Galerie
'A cheeky, breezily enjoyable flit around the madness of the contemporary art scene'
The Tablet
Format: Paperback
Size: 19.8 x 12.9 cm
Extent: 256 pp
Illustrations: 39
Publication date: 6 July 2023
ISBN: 9780500297087