My Favorite Artists

Alexander Calder - Sculptor



Alexander Calder (1898-1976), whose illustrious career spanned much of the 20th century, is the most acclaimed and influential sculptor of our time. Born in a family of celebrated, though more classically trained artists, Calder utilized his innovative genius to profoundly change the course of modern art. He began by developing a new method of sculpting: by bending and twisting wire, he essentially "drew" three-dimensional figures in space. He is renowned for the invention of the mobile, whose suspended, abstract elements move and balance in changing harmony. Calder also devoted himself to making outdoor sculpture on a grand scale from bolted sheet steel. Today, these stately titans grace public plazas in cities throughout the world.

Andy Goldsworthy - Sculptor/Photographer


















Andy Goldsworthy is an environmental sculptor in which his use of the natural surroundings create an art form. He explores and experiments with natural materials such as leaves, grasses, stones, wood, sand, clay, ice, and snow. The seasons and weather determine the materials and the subject matter of his projects. With no preconceived ideas about what he will create, Goldsworthy relies on what nature will give him. His transient sculptures contradict the permanence of art in its historical pretense. Because of this mortality of nature, Goldsworthy uses the photograph as a form of documentation to capture the essence of his work.

Andreas Gursky - Photographer



The big, bold, seductive, and surprising color photographs of German photographer Andreas Gursky set forth a stunning image of our contemporary world of high-tech industry, international markets, big-time sports, fast-paced tourism, and slick commerce. Tracking the zeitgeist from his native Germany to such far-flung places as Hong Kong, Brasilia, Cairo, New York, Shanghai, Stockholm, Tokyo, Paris, Singapore, and Los Angeles, Gursky has earned acclaim at the leading edge of contemporary art with a polished signature style that draws upon a great diversity of ideas, precedents, and techniques.

Bill Viola - Video Artist



Bill Viola is considered a pioneer in the medium of video art and is internationally recognized as one of today’s leading artists. He has been instrumental in the establishment of video as a vital form of contemporary art, and in so doing has helped to greatly expand its scope in terms of technology, content, and historical reach.

Gerhard Richter - Painter














Born and trained in Dresden, Gerhard Richter began designing stage sets and working in advertising before becoming a professional artist. In 1962, he began producing paintings inspired by blurry photographs, often times in series that explore the difference between figurative and abstraction. In his later work, he painted very large-scale, completely abstract pieces. Richter is known for versatility, superior handling of his technique, and his influence on modern German art.