Art:21 facts for kids
Art21 is a group that makes documentary films about artists from all over the world. It started in 1997 and is a nonprofit organization. Their main office is in New York City.
Art21 makes three main film series: "Art in the Twenty-First Century" (which you can watch on PBS), "New York Close Up," and "Extended Play." All of their films are free to watch online.
Art21's main goal is to teach people about modern art and make it easier for everyone to enjoy. They do this by creating films, helpful resources, and public events. By showing how art is made in many different ways, Art21 helps people understand and appreciate the amazing world of art.
Film Series
Art21 creates exciting film series that explore the lives and works of artists.
Art in the 21st Century
This is a popular series on PBS that started in 2001. It focuses on artists working today. New seasons come out every two years. "Art in the Twenty-First Century" is the only TV show in the United States that looks only at modern visual art and the artists who create it. In 2007, this series won a Peabody Award for making art more understandable and personal.
New York Close Up
This is a digital series that shows artists who are just starting their professional careers. It talks about their art and their lives in New York City.
Extended Play
This is another digital series that follows artists as they continue their artistic journeys.
Education
Art21 also offers free materials and programs for teachers and students. These programs help educators learn more about modern art. They include a year-long program called Art21 Educators and free workshops for teachers throughout the year.
"Art in the Twenty-First Century" Season Guide
Each season of "Art in the Twenty-First Century" is divided into episodes based on different themes. Each theme features artists whose work fits that idea.
Season One (2001)
- Place – Artists like Richard Serra and Sally Mann explore how location influences art.
- Spirituality – Artists such as Ann Hamilton and James Turrell look at spiritual ideas in their work.
- Identity – Artists including Bruce Nauman and Louise Bourgeois explore who we are.
- Consumption – Artists like Matthew Barney and Mel Chin examine how we use and consume things.
Season Two (2003)
- Stories – Artists such as Kara Walker and Kiki Smith tell tales through their art.
- Loss and Desire – Artists like Collier Schorr and Janine Antoni explore feelings of absence and longing.
- Humor – Artists including Eleanor Antin and Raymond Pettibon use comedy in their creations.
- Time – Artists such as Martin Puryear and Vija Celmins explore the concept of time.
Season Three (2005)
- Power – Artists like Cai Guo-Qiang and Krzysztof Wodiczko examine different forms of power.
- Memory – Artists such as Susan Rothenberg and Hiroshi Sugimoto explore the past.
- Play – Artists including Jessica Stockholder and Oliver Herring use playfulness in their art.
- Structures – Artists like Matthew Ritchie and Fred Wilson look at how things are built.
Season Four (2007)
- Romance – Featured artists are Laurie Simmons and Judy Pfaff.
- Protest – Featured artists are Nancy Spero and Jenny Holzer.
- Ecology – Featured artists are Ursula von Rydingsvard and Mark Dion.
- Paradox – Featured artists are Mark Bradford and Robert Ryman.
Season Five (2009)
- Compassion – Featured artists are William Kentridge and Carrie Mae Weems.
- Fantasy – Featured artists are Cao Fei and Jeff Koons.
- Transformation – Featured artists are Paul McCarthy and Cindy Sherman.
- Systems – Featured artists are Julie Mehretu and John Baldessari.
Season Six (2012)
- Change – Featured artists are Ai Weiwei and Catherine Opie.
- Boundaries – Featured artists are David Altmejd and Lynda Benglis.
- History – Featured artists are Glenn Ligon and Marina Abramović.
- Balance – Featured artists are Rackstraw Downes and Sarah Sze.
Season Seven (2014)
- Investigation – Featured artists are Thomas Hirschhorn and Leonardo Drew.
- Secrets – Featured artists are Elliott Hundley and Trevor Paglen.
- Legacy – Featured artists are Tania Bruguera and Wolfgang Laib.
- Fiction – Featured artists are Katharina Grosse and Joan Jonas.
Season Eight (2016)
Actress Claire Danes hosted this season. Each episode focused on artists from one of four North American cities: Chicago, Los Angeles, Mexico City, and Vancouver.
- Chicago – Featured artists are Nick Cave (performance artist) and Theaster Gates.
- Mexico City – Featured artists are Natalia Almada and Damián Ortega.
- Los Angeles – Featured artists are Ed Arceneaux and Diana Thater.
- Vancouver – Featured artists are Stan Douglas and Jeff Wall.
Season Nine (2018)
- Johannesburg – Featured artists are Robin Rhode and Zanele Muholi.
- Berlin – Featured artists are Olafur Eliasson and Susan Philipsz.
- San Francisco Bay Area – Featured artists are Stephanie Syjuco and Katy Grannan.
Season Ten (2020)
- London – Featured artists are John Akomfrah and Anish Kapoor.
- Beijing – Featured artists are Guan Xiao and Xu Bing.
- The Borderlands – Featured artists are Tanya Aguiñiga and Rafael Lozano-Hemmer.
Season Eleven (2023)
- Everyday Icons – Featured artists are Amy Sherald and Alex Da Corte.
- Bodies of Knowledge – Featured artists are Tauba Auerbach and Hank Willis Thomas.
- Friends & Strangers – Featured artists are Linda Goode Bryant and Miranda July.
Press
Art21 has received many awards and been featured in various festivals and conferences.
Awards
- George Foster Peabody Award
- Platinum Best in Show from the Aurora Awards
- Gold Remi from the 41st WorldFest Independent Film Festival
- Silver Hugo from the 44th Hugo Television Awards
- Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Artistic and Cultural Programming
- Gold Hugo Award from the Chicago International Television Competition
- CINE Golden Eagle Award
Festivals
- Festival International du Film Sur L'Art (FIFA)
- Arte Cinema: Festival Internationale di Film sull' Arte Contemporanea
Conferences
Art21 often presents at major education and arts conferences. They share how their films and resources can be used to teach about art. Some of these include:
- National Arts Education Association (NAEA) Annual Convention
- National Center for Outreach (NCO) Conference
- Grant-makers in the Art Annual Conference
- Arts Education Partnership (AEP) Professional Development Forum
Sources
- PBS Art:21 - Art in the 21st Century Page
