Saidiya Hartman and Steve McQueen Ranked in Top 100 Power List
Since 2002, ArtReview has been highlighting the movers and shakers in the art world with its annual Power 100 list. This list features key figures like artists, curators, gallerists, collectors, funders, and thinkers who shape the international contemporary art scene. This year, the rankings are breaking new ground by featuring no collectors and putting people of color at the top. It’s a big win for representation and diversity in the art world.
Topping the 2024 Power 100 list is curator Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi. She’s known for her role as director of the Sharjah Biennial and the Sharjah Art Foundation in the UAE. Following closely behind is artist Rirkrit Tiravanija, who has been making waves in the art world with his recent exhibition at MoMA PS1 in New York.
On the list this year, we have American scholar Saidiya Hartman and British artist Steve McQueen holding the highest ranks among Black individuals. Hartman is renowned for her groundbreaking work that explores Black life and the legacy of slavery. Over at Columbia University, she’s a professor who bridges the worlds of art, history, and literature. Meanwhile, McQueen, who won an Oscar for “12 Years a Slave,” has a new film called “Blitz” streaming on Apple TV+ and exhibitions of his work on display in New York.
Representation matters, and this year’s Power 100 list reflects that with two-thirds of the list featuring people of color from around the globe. Black individuals make up more than 25 percent of this influential group. Among the top names on the list are artists like Kerry James Marshall, John Akomfrah, Carrie Mae Weems, Ibrahim Mahama, Sammy Baloji, Mark Bradford, Isaac Julien, Julie Mehretu, Theaster Gates, and Yinka Shonibare.
The panel behind ArtReview’s Power 100 list consists of over 40 international experts from various spheres of the art world. Together, they create an annual snapshot of who and what influenced art over the past year. This year, recognized artists like Bradford and Mehretu have made their mark on the list, with exhibitions and record-breaking sales under their belts.
Besides artists, the list also features important figures like Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung, Fred Moten, Darren Walker, Manthia Diawara, Gabi Ngcobo, Adriano Pedrosa, Raphael Fonseca, and Thiago de Paula Souza. Each brings a unique perspective and influence to the art world, showcasing the diversity and vibrancy of contemporary art today.
