The 25 Most Important Artists Of 2011
By Nick Schonberger | Dec 22, 2011 | 11:13 am | Permalink
With Art In The Streets, Jeffery Deitch opened his reign at Los Angeles' Museum of Contemporary Art with a bang. The exhibition, drawing historic material and fresh installations from the world's most renowned graffiti artists, certainly set a tone. In 2011, street art was impossible to ignore.
Museum's across the Nation followed Deitch's plan, and artist's like Swoon and KAWS became regular names on institutional planning lists.
2011 also saw the artist as social activist rise again, most notably in the figures of Ai Weiwei and JR.
The artists that held our attention in 2011 were those that stayed busy. They wowed us with gallery exhibitions and museum installations. They kept our eyes through savvy commercial work and even produced some of the best album covers of the year. In all, picking just 25 people is a daunting task, but make one thing clear, these were the people we talked about the most.
The 25 Most Important Artists of 2011.
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@1pt3 December 22nd, 2011 at 01:11 PM
Cool art by 23 Year old Alabama native artist and Photography: Pleas Tolbert I also hear he a pretty good MC. http://www.flickr.com/photos/pt3/
speak the truth December 22nd, 2011 at 01:40 PM
whoever wrote this article doesn't really know enough about art or graff to make these calls. for 1: not only is cope2 a police informant, but his paintings look like mr brainwashes. while the graff community showed outrage over his snitching, not only did he not have any decent answers, but he also started yelling "i quit graff" and sucking up to shepard fairey and mr brainwash. point of references: http://www.utahether.com/2011/02/09/paperwork-wednesday-week-1/ http://animalnewyork.com/2011/01/graffitis-bonny-and-clyde-merge-sites%E2%80%A6-aww/ 2. Damien Hirst: world renown for STEALING his ideas. did you even google him? how about this video citing ALL the famous ideas he's stolen. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Fq4CerVEgQ there's some talented people on your list for sure, and well deserving of their spot on the list. But lets not go calling thieves and snitches the best artists in the world.
COPE2 December 28th, 2011 at 04:16 PM
why dont you shut the fuck up!!! and prove it that im a snitch!!! yeah its faggots like you and shit talking haters is why i hate graffiti writers ok why dont you put your real name so when i see you i can beat your mofo ass!!! you wont cause you know whats going to happend if i catch you you straight up bitch!!! me a police informer prove it fuck you and the nypd ya can all go to hell i bet this is a nypd vsq on here yuou fucking hating pig underpaid piece of shit!!! as for utah and ethere there bitches caught them both and they folded utah got punched in her face by my girl and aint do shit she knows but next time i see them its on and popin they both getting the beats they know why!! as for who ever you are stop hating and off my fat dick you want it see me when you see me im everywere i fear no body and you know it thats why you hide behind fake names you pussy!!!
cope2 December 28th, 2011 at 04:28 PM
omg!!! that shit got me tight!!!! cmon you mofo!!! rep yopur name ill meet you anywere!!! you know so much me a police snitch go fuck your motherrrrrrrrr!!! i got 2 open cases in supreme court write now going 15 months cause i wont snitch you mofo!!! you dont know shit!!!! i bet your just another hating ass graffiti writer who a hating piece of shit!!!! when ever your ready come meet me say it to my face you bitch!!!
ETHER MUL December 31st, 2011 at 12:49 PM
Oh Fernando... How funny (and truly entertaining) it is to watch your dementia and bi-polar disorder at it's finest. As much as I actually do agree with "speak the truth's" post, I did not write it. Nor do I care to write slanderous posts towards people I couldn't care less about. It is hilarious how you think that everyone who talks shit on you is us. The fact of the matter is lot of people simply don't like you, and see through all of your bullshit. You know the Utah and I don't like you. You know that we know you're a snitch. There is no trying to persuade either of us otherwise. Blaming others is not going to change the facts (which we have in the form of government-issued documents). You claim to be street, you claim to be a "real MOFO", and all sorts of other nonsense. When in reality you're crying like a little bitch over two petty charges, and blaming everyone around you. Not once did Utah, Ovie, Doe, Poes, Jaes, Fews, Ket or I or anyone else who had a case for trains in NYC ever cry or complain like you've been crying and complaining for over a year now. And most everyone's cases had more charges involved than yours does. You just look like a child in need of attention, or an adult who has forgotten to take his bi-polar medication. As far as "folding" that is far from the truth, and you know it. You were the one making physical threats via email and internet message boards for about a week straight before we ran into each other at union square. Neither Utah or I ever made any physical threats towards you. However, I was more than willing to fight you, and I made that more than perfectly clear when we ran into each other. That is something neither you nor your girl can deny. You literally stood on the sidewalk in front of the movie theater, and told me you wouldn't fight me. I have no respect for you what so ever. Utah and I actually respect your girl more than you. While you were standing around not doing shit, your girl did attempt to punch Utah once. Though it is pretty delusional of you to say she "punched Utah in the face". In my world, it doesn't count as punching someone in the face if you miss and don't actually punch them in the face. I suppose it's too much for you to be honest and admit that, YES, your girl swung on Utah, YES, her aim was way off, YES, the edge of her hand barely brushed by Utah's face, NO, full contact was NOT made, NO, NO marks were left, NO, Utah was not hurt, knocked out, bruised up, or whatever else I'm sure your going around and telling people (Plus, your girl apologized after for trying to hit Utah, saying she was "sorry for being so ghetto"). Seriously, if you want to call that a punch I could claim that my left jab that skimmed your chin was a punch. But you don't see me going around saying I punched Cope in the face. You also fail to mention that your girl tried to punch Utah in the face in front of all the security INSIDE of the movie theater, you jumped in front of your girl and pulled her back, and then the movie theater security came over and basically told us to take it outside or they would call the police. Funny, the little details you leave out... The fact of the matter is that at the time I was on parole and multiple probation orders (that if violated would accumulate to a 3-5 year sentence) and I was still willing to fight you in the middle of Union Square. Utah was on probation out of 5 different districts. You had 2 petty charges that at the time were complaints courts (way before supreme courts) that you had not been found guilty of, and had no bail to lose. I was wiling to fight. You didn't want to fight and so you backed down, simple as that. You insisted that I take the paperwork on my site down, and I refused. You did nothing about it. You had your chance, and you stood there, pacing back and forth, huffing and puffing, and not doing jack shit (you were breathing so heavy we were actually worried that you were going to have a heart attack right there on the sidewalk).
ETHER MUL December 31st, 2011 at 12:51 PM
Something you need to realize is even if you do knock me out or fight me it does not change the fact that you are a snitch. Punching me or Utah is not going to beat the snitch out of yourself. There are consequences for every action in life. We've dealt with our consequences over 3 years ago now, and have both moved on. Your actions are that of a bitter, jealous, insecure person, and sadly, you will have to deal with that for the rest of your life. Neither of us are bitter or jealous. We don't blame you entirely for our cases, as we've also said before. It was a two and a half year long investigation, a lot more than 1 snitch or one statement made that case what it was. Do we respect you in any way? NO. We told you as much straight to your face at Union Square. Both of us have also told you that we want nothing to do with you. I've never even painted with you in my entire life. It embarrasses me that that people even think I was ever affiliated with you. You were always one to start beef with people who are doing bigger and better things than you, just to be able to squash the beef and become "friends"/"collab"/come-up off of them. You did it with SEEN, PJ, JA, the list goes on. It's been your M.O. for years now. I wish you would learn to keep both of our names out of your mouth, on the internet and in real life, but it seems unlikely that you have the much self control. We really want nothing to do with you because of what a shitty person you are, but neither of us have been ones to back down from a fight. You, on the other hand are renowned for your popcorn antics. You puff up all big and talk a lot of shit, but at the end of the day, you're as soft as popcorn. You did nothing when I saw you in person, but once you get home to the safety of your keyboard, you're a big man again. I guess it must be comforting to know that if your "art career" falls through, you have your career as an "internet gangsta" to fall back on. Oh and congratulations on figuring out how to turn the cap locks off. Things in 2012 are looking up already! -ETHER MUL
mr cope2 December 31st, 2011 at 09:28 PM
its so funny how out of this whole world you responded to this!!! why cause you wrote it!!! im not gonna get on here and talk shit like you say i do ima just wait to the day i see you again!!! and trust me then will see whos the tuff guy!!! your a straight pussy and you know it cmon ether cut the bullshit!!! i had you so shook you couldnt deal with it went home after i gave you a break cmon dude do the math im 280lbs you weigh 100lbs!!!! how the fuck would i scared to fight you!!!!!!!!! but then after we had supposed to deaded it you go home and take my face from my comic and my back pack and play snitch games with it!! now if your so called real be real and say you did it!!! cmon!!! i stepped to you about it and you denied it cause your the internet gangsta here!!! people know me!! and why would i need attention!!! ima email you now lets meet up since your so tuff ok!!! say no more!!
?TheOriginalArtCriminal? January 15th, 2012 at 07:20 AM
To Shep,Blek,Brain,Cope,Hirst and Hewlett Being the best at what you do...will never be easy!!! When you have over a millions fans world-wide you’re bound to get a few HATERS!! The amusing thing is the fact that these few haters tend to be mediocre artists, jealous and envious of the people they plagiarize their work from... AND IF YOU AINT PART OF OUR MOVEMENT...AND WILLING TO TAKE PART IN ALL THE ASSOCIATED RISKS INVOLVED...THEN STEP THE FUCK BACK... CAUSE YOU AINT ORIGINAL, YOU AINT GROUND BREAKING; YOU’RE JUST ANOTHER COPY-IST THAT 100 YEARS AGO WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN ALOUD TO PICK UP A PAINT BRUSH. OUT OF THE HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF ASPIRING ARTISTS IN THE WORLD THAT SHOULD HAVE PICK ANOTHER PROFESSION, YOU ALL JUST MANGAGE TO CRITICIZE THE LAST HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT ARTISTS REMAINING "REAL ARTISTS"... AND FOR THE LADIES PINK, SHIRO AND MISS VAN HELL DESERVE THE RECOGNITION...BUT THE CURRENT, INDUSTRY IS DOMINATED BY CONSUMPUTION AND NOT CONTRIBUTION? OPIE don't sweat the hype and fakers... shit 10 years ago the advice you give the "RAA RAA" keept him from commiting suicide? So take some of your own advice brother? FOCUS ON WHAT WE DO!!! AND NOT WHAT THEY SAY!! MUCH LOVE TO MY INTERNATIONAL ART-CRIME FAMILY!! THOSE REAL PEOPLES WILLING TO SACRIFICE EVERYTHING FOR THEIR ART!! AND WHEN WORST COMES TO WORST...OUR PEOPLE COME FIRST? Yeah they TALKING SHIT RIGHT NOW? WE WILL HAVE THE LAST LAUGH...MIGHT BE 100 YEARS FROM NOW... WHEN WE ALL DEAD AND GONE BUT WE ARE RE-WRITING THEIR HISTORY AS THEY ARE SPEAKING!!! AT THE END OF THAT DAY...TIME IS MEASSURED BY WHAT REMAINS. FROM YOU KNOW WHO AND THOSE THAT HAVE A CLUE.
Crystal December 22nd, 2011 at 02:10 PM
So awesome that you chose two girls for the Top 25. You boys rock.
heyyosolo December 23rd, 2011 at 06:36 AM
Im not happy with the lack of smash 137 in this list.
ConcreteTeapot December 23rd, 2011 at 07:06 AM
Great article! Shared on: ConcreteTeapot
Antirevok December 23rd, 2011 at 02:40 PM
No 9 REVOK is a snitch!!!!! 2 homies stil in Jail because off SNITCH REVOK!!! bastard
christa December 23rd, 2011 at 04:20 PM
definitely agree with number 22 wish you all could come to hawaii to see the solo show it blew us all away
Jay Freeman December 24th, 2011 at 05:06 PM
This year Mr. LoveBomB will be smearing the streets with Love. 2012
anonymous woman December 25th, 2011 at 12:28 AM
only 2 woman out of 25? isn't this 2011?
Amanda Padilla December 25th, 2011 at 04:42 PM
Two women spotlighted out of 25 is a joke that not only diminishes the status of women artists but also discredits Complex's knowledge of the art world. What about Charmaine Olivia, Shiro One, Jessica Hess, Nina, Elisa Anfuso, Kelly Allen, Sofia Maldonado, Lady Pink and all the other influential, talented women artists? Time to give credit where credit is due and to leave the tunnel vision in the 50s where it belongs.