Who's Afraid of Contemporary Art?

An accessible and irreverent introduction to the art and art world of today, by two curators at the heart of it all

What is contemporary art? What makes it ‘contemporary’? What is it for? And why is it so expensive?

The contemporary art world can be a baffling place, but Kyung An and Jessica Cerasi are on hand to bring you up to speed. From museums and the art market to biennales and the next big thing, 'Who’s Afraid of Contemporary Art?' offers concise and pointed insights into today’s art scene, examining how artists are propelled to stardom, explaining what curators do, challenging our understanding of artistic skill, demystifying the art market, and much, much more.

In this easy-to-navigate A to Z guide, the authors’ playful explanations draw on key artworks, artists and events from around the globe, including how the lights going on and off won the Turner Prize, what makes the likes of Marina Abramovi? and Ai Weiwei such great artists, and why Kanye West would trade his Grammys to be one.

Packed with behind-the-scenes information and completely free of jargon, 'Who’s Afraid of Contemporary Art?' is the perfect gallery companion and the go-to guide for when the next big thing leaves you stumped.

Kyung An is an Assistant Curator at the Guggenheim Museum, New York. She has a PhD in art history from the Courtauld Institute of Art, London.
Jessica Cerasi is Exhibitions Manager at Carroll/Fletcher gallery; she was Assistant Curator of the 20th Biennale of Sydney in 2016 and previously Curatorial Assistant at the Hayward Gallery, London.