Throughout Art21’s twenty-year history, we have shared stories featuring some of the most interesting artists of our time—artists who have pushed the boundaries of contemporary art. In this playlist, we present artists with grand visions and blockbuster ambitions, each of whom asks viewers to question their expectations when entering an art-viewing experience, constantly and consistently upending our understanding of art.

With music, inspiration from visual art could take the form of thinking about space—space in music is important—when to have it, when to use it up. It could come from conceptual thinking about art, as well as just looking at how artists live their lives and approach their work. I love the overlap of music and art—I think it all lives in the same world—so I’m excited about seeing how the artists in this playlist bring music into their practice.

Using rust, decay, and decomposition, these artists tell stories, illuminate histories, and prompt us to think about beauty in new ways. Whether reclaiming discarded materials or employing a camera as witness to institutionalized neglect, contemporary artists can reverse deterioration—or even employ it themselves—to raise awareness and transform objects and communities alike.