Uta Grosenick

Many of the century's greatest artistic talents grace the pages of this tome, each artist represented by six pages of illustrations and photographs covering the various phases of her life and work, including biographical portraits and text. The media covered range from the standard painting, sculpture, and photography to concept art, performance, body art, video, feminist actions, installations, and interactive projects. Presented in alphabetical order by artist, Women Artists is an indispensable reference guide and a joy to flip through.

Unless you regularly trawl the Chelsea galleries, hang out at the Tate Modern, peruse the Pompidou, attend every Biennale, and religiously read Artforum, you could likely use a primer on the art scene in the world today. Fortunately we've created our second Art Now volume to keep art fans abreast of the latest trends and hottest names. Not only will you discover the most important artists in the international art market, you'll also learn how the art scene has changed dramatically in recent year s - notably with a return to figurative painting and an increase in political topics. Featuring over 135 artists in A-Z entries, plus a special section about gallery representation and current market prices, Art Now Vol. 2 is the guide to what's happ ening and who's who in contemporary art.

Táto kniha presvedčivo dokazuje, že „umenie žien“ v ničom nezaostáva za „umením mužov“. Umelkyne sa v knihe predstavujú v abecednom poradí, čo umožňuje konfrontáciu a pohľad na miesta, bez ktorých si dejiny umenia ani nevieme predstaviť. V knihe je predstavených 46 umelkýň západného sveta. Ženy, ktoré si získali svetovú slávu, tu stoja vedľa umelkýň, ktorých umelecká dráha sa ešte len začína.

V štyridsiatych a päťdesiatych rokoch 20. storočia rozvíjajú mladí umelci v New Yorku maliarsky štýl, ktorý pod názvom abstraktný expresionizmus vstúpi do histórie umenia a dosiahne svetové uznanie. Príslušníci tejto tzv. Newyorskej školy prispeli svojimi odvážnymi víziami a novým umeleckým slovníkom k prelomu a vedúcemu postaveniu amerického maliarstva druhej polovice 20. storočia. Tak ako v prípade iných súdobých umeleckých smerov nepopisuje pojem abstraktný expresionizmus nejaký jednoznačný štýl, ale postoj, ktorý je charakterizovaný duchom vzbury a vierou v slobodu výrazu. Jeho predstavitelia kládli dôraz na morálne nabité témy, ktoré stvárňovali s primárnym ohľadom na individualitu a spontánnu improvizáciu.

Abstract expressionism—the non-representational use of paint as a means of personal expression—emerged in America in the 1940s, inspired by the innovative work of Arshile Gorky. Considered the first art movement originating in the Americas to have a worldwide influence, abstract expressionism spawned two very different sub-categories: action painting (exemplified by Willem de Kooning and Jackson Pollock) and color field painting, made most famous by Mark Rothko. Abstract expressionists strove to express emotions and ideas directly on canvas via color, form and texture—the quality of brushstrokes and other marks, the dripping of paint, for example—while embracing accident and chance, and celebrating the very act of painting.

Pioneered by Picasso and Braque, Cubism was the first avant-garde art movement of the 20th century. Heavily influenced by the stark power of African and Native American art and sculpture, it deconstructed conventions of viewpoint and perspective, revolutionizing painting and western art in general. With its flattened, geometric shapes, overlapping, simplified forms and fragmented spatial planes, Cubism became one of the most influential and far-reaching movements in modern art. This book explains the history and theory behind Cubism, examining the work of its prime movers, and those whose work built upon it.