33 Artists in 3 Acts

This compelling narrative goes behind the scenes with important living artists around the world to humanize and demystify contemporary art.

When people think of contemporary art they often think of the market: eye-popping
prices for splashy works. But Sarah Thornton argues that, for artists, the key marker
of success isn’t money but credibility. 33 Artists in 3 Acts explores the strategies
deployed by artists from international superstars to unheralded teachers. Thornton
challenges the romantic vision of the lone artist, showing how these driven, inventive
personalities interact with professional and intellectual networks of supporters,
collaborators, and assistants. Drawing from interviews with 130 artists on four continents, Thornton crafts a brilliantly structured narrative that reveals the dynamicsof creative lives.