TheArtGorgeous - Issue 7 Fall/Winter 2019

Pushing contemporary art
forward in the digital era —
that was our postulation for the
selection of the 200 top voices
from the arts and beyond.
Our approach for compiling this power list differs from other
rankings. Of course, you will find those art world fixtures with
wide reach and a massive following. However, there are also
other types of influencers: a new breed of game changers having
their roots in other creative and fashion industries, female voices
with a strong mission statement, and celebrities from the music
and film industries who all share their passion for contemporary
art widely via their various platforms.
Why did this cross-industry expansion come to fruition?
Because we believe it is all about making art accessible to new
audiences. These are the two things we found quite outstanding.
First, you can observe how some of the big power players take
new faces under their glittery wings by putting young artists’
creations up in the digital sphere and introducing their names to
their massive fan bases. Without a doubt, it is a pretty big deal
when Murakami features a sculpture by a young artist or when
Beyonc and Jay-Z pose in front of a painting, helping the artist
behind achieve overnight fame.
Second, you can see how these people use their voices and wide
reach to address subjects that matter beyond the art scene (or are
actually their very own reason for creating their art, depending
on one’s perspective). Think of how Wolfgang Tillmans or
OBEY encourage their followers to vote, or how Jochen Zeitz
not only builds the foremost contemporary museum in Africa
but also advocates restlessly for environmental protection.
Don’t be surprised to not find the ’grams of most of the
major galleries, artists, or museums, solely introducing their
own programmes and works on social media. While that’s
legitimate to do, we want to look at a bigger picture; original
content created with a mission. It goes beyond self-promotion,
and we value more than just the number of one’s followers;
it is about creating awareness, giving new insights, and
going beyond the expected. Following these guidelines, we
boldly name figures shaping the art world in the digital
realm and spot the individuals that make a difference.
Scroll now, detox later.
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