Contemporary artists describe their work and discuss why and how they do it. The programs are grouped according to themes of place, spirituality, identity and consumption. A PBS series, educational resource, archive, and history of contemporary art, Art21: Art in the Twenty-First Century premiered in 2001 and is now broadcast in over 50 countries worldwide. Premiering a new season every two years, Art21 is the only series on United States television to focus exclusively on contemporary visual art and artists.
Showing Season 8 of 11
Season 8
2016
Season 8 provides unparalleled access to the most innovative artists of our time, revealing how artists engage the culture around them and how art allows viewers to see the world in new ways. For the first time in the show’s history, the sixteen featured artists are grouped into four one-hour episodes by their unique and revealing relationships to the places in which they live—Chicago, Los Angeles, Mexico City, and Vancouver.
01. Chicago
2016-09-16
The Season 8 premiere spotlights artists in Chicago, including Nick Cave, who creates "Soundsuits"; installation artist Theaster Gates; photography-based, multi-medium artist Barbara Kasten; and Chris Ware, who's known for his New Yorker magazine covers.
02. Mexico City
2016-09-16
Mexico City artists exit their homes and studios to use the growing megalopolis as their canvas. The artists present everyday materials as artworks, mine recognizable images for their poetic potential, and take their art to the streets.
03. Los Angeles
2016-09-23
While sprawling Los Angeles has world-class museums and art schools, artists working in the shadow of the entertainment industry are more "under the radar," affording them the space and time to imagine.
04. Vancouver
2016-09-23
By recreating historical moments, staging photos of vernacular scenes, and crafting intricate sculptures that trick the eye, artists in Vancouver reveal how everyday images and moments from the past are not always what they seem.
