Being an artist ; artist interviews with Art21

Published on the occasion of the nonprofit organization's 21st anniversary, this compendium of artist interviews captures the engaging and seminal conversations that have taken place over the organization's history, serving as an essential primer on a generation of contemporary artists for those interested in the artistic process as a tool for curriculum building. In some cases, these interviews are previously unpublished.
Examples include: Bruce Nauman reflecting on choosing the right questions; Julie Mehretu on the historical and political references embedded in her abstract paintings; Cai Guo-Qiang comparing the process of drawing with lovemaking; Nick Cave describing art as a vehicle to express his emotions; Maya Lin explaining why she keeps art and architecture separate; Catherine Opie narrating her work's evolution from street photography to representational photography; Kerry James Marshall expounding on why art making is about fighting for recognition; James Turrell meditating on spirituality in the arts; and Theaster Gates proposing possibilities for art to go beyond the making of objects.