Who are today’s artists? Why do they do what they do? How do they describe their work? These are some of the questions addressed in this companion volume to the fourth season of the Emmy-nominated PBS series.

Using the artists’ own words, together with images culled from the documentary’s footage and generous selections of their works, the book provides an extraordinary behind-the-scenes look into the creative process. The artists are shown at home, in the studio, and in the community, in a rich mosaic that debunks the Romantic notion of the artist as an isolated genius. Among those profiled are widely recognized artists such as Jenny Holzer, Robert Ryman, and Nancy Spero, and lesser-known artists such as Allora & Calzadilla, An-My Lê, and Catherine Sullivan. Throughout the volume, the artists’ varied and engaging voices speak to us directly—musing, analyzing, and laughing about their lives, works, and inspirations.

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