Contemporary artists, famous works, and the audiences who flock to them are shaping the modern world of art as we know it today. Some of the best contemporary artists out there continue to redefine our relationship with and attitude towards the world around us.


At SOA Arts, we have a long history of sourcing, curating, and producing world-class art for businesses and individuals. Over the years, we’ve learnt a thing or two about modern art artists and their work.


In this post, we’ll celebrate some of the contemporary names that continue to make waves and inspire generations with their art. Read on to learn more!


Contemporary Artist Definition


So what makes an artist contemporary? Does it have anything to do with the style of work they produce? In this article, we’ve only considered artists who are still working and creating art today.


Their pieces are still regularly featured in art galleries worldwide, and their names are well-known to art-lovers in 2021. It is the contemporary artist definition we’re working with here.


It differs from the term ‘modern art’, which most typically refers to art and artists from a specific period – namely the 1860s to the 1970s.


Contemporary Artists’ Famous Works


Right – let’s get into it! The list below contains some of our favorite contemporary artists in 2021.


Fred Clark


Originally training at the Prince’s Drawing School in 2012, this British contemporary artist lived and worked in London for over 10 years. His work consists of oil paintings, innovative brushstrokes, and captivating metal sculptures.


Seville, rooftops,  (Photos courtesy of Fred Clark Art)

Images via www.fredclarkart.com


Clark has exhibited work around the world and continues to shake up the world of sculpture and painting in everything he does.


Yayoi Kusama

Polka-dots are a signature theme in Yayoi Kusama’s work. The documentary “Kusama: Infinity” explores her career breaking into the white, male-centric world of art. (Photos courtesy of “Kusama: Infinity”) via Street Roots


If you’ve never encountered the work of Yayoi Kusama before, you’re in for a real treat. This contemporary artist produces artworks unlike anything we’ve ever seen. Her paintings, films, and photographs are all exceptional.


YAYOI KUSAMA, Infinity Mirrored Room－Love Forever, 1994, mirror, metal, electric bulb and wood, 240 × 210 × 205 cm. Courtesy Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts, image via ArtAsiaPacific


Installation view of YAYOI KUSAMA’s Dots Obsession, 2015, for “A Dream I Dreamed” at Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts. Courtesy Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts, image via ArtAsiaPacific



What really captivates our attention, however, are her ‘infinity room’ installations that make use of mirrored walls, water, and lighting fixtures. This artist’s work explores her experience of living as a Japanese person in America and several other engaging themes.


Jenny Saville

‘I feel like I’ve just started’ … Jenny Saville in her Oxford studio. Photograph: Pal Hansen for the Observer, image via www.theguardian.com


This incredible artist explores notions of bodily perception and the human form. She’s probably most well-known for her huge oil paintings of female figures. These paintings go beyond classical depictions of the naked form and challenge the growing orthodoxy of modern abstraction techniques.


Hyphen, 1999, oil on canvas, 108 x 144 inches (274.3 x 365.8 cm) Artwork © Jenny Saville, courtesy Gagosian, image via www.americamagazine.org


One Out of Two (Symposium), 2016, by Jenny Saville. Photograph: Mike Bruce/courtesy the artist and Gagosian Gallery, image via www.americamagazine.org



Fragility, resilience, and humanity are all explored through human flesh. Jenny Saville’s work may not be for the faint of heart, but it’s unlikely to be forgotten any time soon.


Antony Gormley

Antony Gormley photographed at his studio in King’s Cross, London
ROBERT WILSON
image via www.thetimes.co.uk


This incredible artist gained notoriety for his striking metal sculptures, producing drawings and other paper-based works. From the imposing 20-meter-tall structure known as the Angel of the North to his otherworldly humanoid figures, Gormley’s work is recognized and celebrated both in the UK and abroad.

SHELVE, 2020, image via antonygormley.com


Antony Gormley, Another Time XVIII 2013 (Loading Bay), Another Time XXI 2013 (Coronation Parade), commissioned by the Creative Foundation for Folkestone Triennial 2017. Image by Thierry Bal.


In recent years, his sculptures and drawings have found homes in England, Spain, Germany, France, the United States, and beyond. It’s hard to imagine the contemporary art world without this man’s influence.


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