The world of contemporary art has become more globalized and transparent in the last few decades, yet it is still perceived as closed-off and obscure. In A Year in the Art World, Matthew Israel takes the reader on a cross-continental journey through a year in the field of art, lifting the veil on a culture that emerges as diverse, adventurous, nuanced, and meaningful. From Los Angeles and New York to Paris and Hong Kong, Israel encounters artists, curators, critics, gallerists, and institutions, uncovering the working lives of these art-world figures from the renowned to the unseen.

Drawing on exclusive interviews and expertly researched content, Israel ventures into the inner workings of the art industry to ask: What is it that people in the art world actually do? What drives interest in working with art? How do artworks acquire value? And how has technology transformed today’s art world? Anchoring the narrative in the history, economics, and cultural dynamics of the field, this fascinating story reveals how “the art world” describes a realm that is both surprisingly vast and deeply interconnected.

Contains 40 color illustrations.

Matthew Israel is a curator, writer, and PhD art historian with over twenty years of experience working with some of the most influential contemporary artists and art institutions. In addition to many catalogue essays and articles, he has written three books: "Kill for Peace: American Artists Against the Vietnam War," "The Big Picture: Contemporary Art in 10 Works by 10 Artists," and "A Year in the Art World: An Insider's View."