Lives of the artists
By: Calvin Tompkins.
Edition: 1st ed.
Publisher: Henry Holt
Published: 2008
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 254
ISBN-13: 9780805088724
Subjects: Artists -- Biography -- History and criticism; Art, Modern -- 20th century
Description: In Lives of the Artists ten major artists are captured in Tomkins's cool and ironic style to record the new directions art is taking during these days of limitless freedom. As formal technique and rigorous training continue to fall away, art has become an approach to living. As the author says, "the lives of contemporary artists are today so integral to what they make that the two cannot be considered in isolation." Among the artists profiled are Jeff Koons and Damien Hirst, the reigning heirs of deliberately outrageous art that feeds off the allegedly corrupting influences of capitalist glut and entertainment; Matthew Barney of the pregenital obsessions; Cindy Sherman, who manages multiple transformations as she disappears into her own work; and Julian Schnabel, who has forged a second career as award-winning film director. Tomkins shows that the making of art remains among the most demanding jobs on earth.--From publisher description.
Notes: "A John Macrae book."

Includes index.
Table of contents: title: Preface; title: Damien Hirst; title: Cindy Sherman; title: Julian Schnabel; title: Richard Serra; title: James Turrell; title: Matthew Barney; title: Maurizio Cattelan; title: Jasper Johns; title: Jeff Koons; title: John Currin; title: Acknoweldgments; title: Index; title: About the author.