Art Compass: Gerhard Richter most important artist

It is regarded as the art world’s barometer of fame – the ‘Art Compass’, which has been published for more than half a century. Little is happening at the top, but the ‘stars of tomorrow’ are becoming more colourful.

The painter Gerhard Richter (92) remains the world’s most important artist in the ‘Art Compass’ ranking. For 21 years now, the Cologne-based painter has maintained his unchallenged top position in the 54-year-old ranking. The next ranks are also unchanged: The US artist Bruce Nauman remains in second place, followed by the two Germans Georg Baselitz and Rosemarie Trockel.

A Brit from Wuppertal pushes ahead

The British sculptor Tony Cragg, who lives in Wuppertal, has moved up to fifth place, displacing the US artist and photographer Cindy Sherman to sixth place. The Danish installation artist Ólafur Elíasson, who also works in Berlin, the German painter and sculptor Anselm Kiefer, the multiple Documenta participant William Kentridge from South Africa and the minimalist German painter Imi Knoebel follow in 7th to 10th place.

The ‘Art Compass’ is compiled every year by journalist Linde Rohr-Bongard from Cologne and appears in the magazine ‘Capital’. Exhibitions from almost 300 museums, reviews in specialist magazines, purchases by leading museums and awards are among the factors assessed and weighted with points. Sales prices and auction proceeds, on the other hand, are not taken into account.

The Global South is becoming increasingly important in art

This year’s list of ‘Stars of Tomorrow’ – artists beyond the top 100 who have gained the most points – is headed by the British media artist Sir Isaac Julien, who worked as a professor at the Karlsruhe University of Arts and Design for six years. He is followed by the Canadian artist Kapwani Kiwanga and the 95-year-old Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. Overall, artists from Africa, South America, Asia and Australia are much more strongly represented among the ‘Stars of Tomorrow’ than in the ‘Top 100’. ‘Art has expanded with the artists‘ countries of origin; it is more colourful, more experimental and in some cases more relevant,’ says Rohr-Bongard.

Joseph Beuys triumphs posthumously

In the extra ranking of deceased artists, Joseph Beuys (1921-1986) took first place from Andy Warhol (1928-1987), followed by the Cologne painter Sigmar Polke (1941-2010) and the French-American sculptor Louise Bourgeois (1911-2010).

(dpa)