FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, November 19, 2024

New York, New York—Art21 is proud to announce the release of its second compendium of artist interviews, Artists & the Unknown. This new publication delves into how life’s unpredictability and complexity fuel creativity and push the boundaries of contemporary art. Pre-orders are available at shop.art21.org.

Drawing on over two decades of Art21 interviews, Artists & the Unknown presents inspiring conversations with 18 groundbreaking contemporary artists, revealing how they engage with uncertainty and offering readers insight as they navigate their own unknowns.

“The words of the eighteen artists featured in Artists & the Unknown open new ways of approaching the confusing world we encounter each day, showing how we might make something meaningful from what we don’t know or understand,” says editor and Art21 Assistant Curator Jurrell Lewis. “I’m thrilled to share this collection and hope the interviews within bring readers the same comfort, companionship, and courage they’ve given me.”

Artists & the Unknown draws from the vast Art21 Archive, which spans 27 years and includes over 4,000 hours documenting contemporary artists. Showcasing just 5% of the artists represented in the archive’s unseen footage, this new publication represents only a fraction of the possibilities that will emerge as Art21 formalizes its archive. Creating new content from this unique and treasured resource will further Art21’s mission to make contemporary art accessible to audiences worldwide.

“Following the sold-out success of our first book, Art21 is thrilled to announce the release of our newest title,” says Tina Kukielski, Art21 Susan Sollins Executive Director and Chief Curator. “At Art21, we have always looked to artists to help us navigate life’s uncertainties, and this collection invites readers to do the same.”

At a sold-out pre-release event, editor Jurrell Lewis was joined in conversation by featured artists Josephine Halvorson and Diane Severin Nguyen at the Center for Art, Research and Alliances in Manhattan, NY.

“Having a record of my thoughts and process through Art21’s documentary series is so special. It has deeply impacted how I speak about my work, make art, and share ideas with others,” said Josephine Halvorson at the event. “Seeing it materialize in this book makes the experience even more meaningful.”

Edited by Jurrell Lewis, Artists & the Unknown includes conversations with Tauba Auerbach, Linda Goode Bryant, Anicka Yi, Matthew Ritchie, Michael Rakowitz, Pierre Huyghe, Jes Fan, Miranda July, Rose B. Simpson, Christine Sun Kim, Song Dong, Amy Sillman, Josephine Halvorson, Diane Severin Nguyen, Sarah Sze, Anish Kapoor, Richard Mosse, and Jacolby Satterwhite.

This book was co-published with Gregory R. Miller & Co.

Artists & the Unknown is now available for pre-order through the Art21 shop at shop.art21.org. Pre-orders will ship in early January 2025.

Join Art21 for a night of films celebrating the release of “Artists and the Unknown” at SVA Theater on April 3, 2025 at 7PM ET. Tickets will be available for purchase at art21.org/calendar in 2025.

To learn more, please contact Hannah DeGarmo, Art21 Associate Director of Communications, at [email protected].

About Art21

Art21 is the world’s leading source to learn directly from the artists of our time. A nonprofit organization, the mission of Art21 is to educate and expand access to contemporary art, producing documentary films, resources, and public programs. Learn more at Art21.org.

Press Contact

Hannah DeGarmo
Associate Director of Communications, Art21
[email protected]