With Sarah Thornton as our expert guide, readers gain unprecedented access to a dazzling range of artists, from international superstars to unheralded art teachers. She interviewed over Thornton’s compelling narrative goes behind the scenes with the world's most important living artists to humanize and demystify contemporary art. 130 artists from around the world, including Cindy Sherman, Ai Weiwei, Maurizio Cattelan, Gabriel Orozco and a nuclear family of creative types (Laurie Simmons, Carroll Dunham and their two daughters, Lena and Grace). With a clever structure of richly linked, cinematic scenes, 33 Artists in 3 Acts investigates artists' psyches, personas, politics, and social networks. Thornton rummages through artists' bank accounts and bedrooms, exploring their studios as ideas germinate and major works take shape. Witnessing their crises and triumphs, Thornton turns a wry, analytical eye on the different answers-and nonanswers-she receives to the question "What is an artist?"

Essential reading for those interested in creative lives, 33 Artists in 3 Acts is a masterful act of storytelling that explores the irony of how being an artist is actually a craft.

Sarah Thornton has been the chief writer on contemporary art for The Economist and has contributed to many publications, television programs and radio broadcasts. Thornton holds a BA in Art History and a PhD in Sociology. 

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Support for the 360 series is underwritten in part by Sylvia Hougland, in honor of her husband, Curtis Hougland.

Supported in part by: City of Dallas, Office of Cultural Affairs

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