THE DECADE IN ART

The 10 Most Important Artists of the 2010s

The artists who thrived in the 2010s created instantly iconic works, changed global culture, became renowned celebrities, and sparked fervent market interest.

Artsy Editorial

Dec 17, 2019

Art

What’s Next for Art in the 2020s

As the decade comes to a close, we reflect on where the art world is headed in the 2020s.

Alina Cohen

Dec 20, 2019

Art Market

The Biggest Sales of the 2010s

We look back at the most significant art market transactions of the past 10 years and how they will continue to mold the market in 2020 and beyond.

Payal Uttam

Dec 19, 2019

Art

The Art Movements of the 2010s

Over the past decade, we witnessed new trends take over the art market and seep into galleries and museum collections. And some became full-blown movements.

Charlotte Jansen

Dec 18, 2019

Art

The 10 Moments That Defined Art in the 2010s

These moments brought art to the forefront of global conversations and shed light on cultural trends affecting artists, artworks, and the art market.

Artsy Editorial

Dec 16, 2019

About the Series

During the 2010s, art entered the broader cultural consciousness and conversation like never before. Over the course of this decade, technology advanced at a rapid pace, bringing art and the art world along with it. Artists found new ways to engage with and access wider audiences and took strong stances on global issues. Galleries and institutions increased their support of underrepresented and marginalized artists. New tools for creating and sharing art sparked movements and shone a light on overlooked aspects of art history. Paintings by Picasso, Cézanne, and Leonardo sold for nine figures, while the art market went wild for KAWS and Koons. With our Decade in Art issue, Artsy’s editors reviewed the last 10 years to look at the most pivotal moments, artists, movements, and sales—and what the developments of the 2010s tell us about what to expect in the 2020s.

Issue background image: Kehinde Wiley, Barack Obama, 2018. © Kehinde Wiley. Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution.