The Most Important Artists of 2013
From Molly Soda to Jeff Koons, here are the most important artists of 2013.

Image via Complex Original

2013 saw no shortage of monumental exhibitions, collaborations, and masterpieces from some of the greatest artists of our time. Just last week, we covered Art Basel Miami Beach, where, in addition to a huge main fair, satellite events like FAILE's beloved Deluxx Fluxx Arcade and the North American debut of Jeff Koons' BMW Art Car got us excited for whole new year of art-making and viewing.
Before we get to 2014, though, we have to look back. 2013 brought with it the emergence of digital artists like Molly Soda, who sold a performance piece at "PADDLES ON!," the first ever digital art auction, and challenged us to re-think the concept of art (and checking our email) as we know it. Even established street artists like Banksy, who took residency in New York this October with his "Better Out Than In" project, sparked conversations about art's shift towards the Internet.
As 2013 comes to a close, we've rounded up those we think are The Most Important Artists of 2013, ranging from the curious and delightful Yayoi Kusama to all-around creators like James Franco.
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25. David Hockney

24. Molly Soda

23. James Franco

22. Francis Bacon

21. Robert Indiana

20. Oscar Murillo

19. Ryan McNamara

18. Laure Prouvost

17. Wes Lang

15. James Turrell

14. FAILE

13. Ai Weiwei

12. Robert Wilson

11. Yayoi Kusama

10. Inez and Vinoodh

9. KAWS

8. JR

7. Marina Abramovic

6. Jeff Koons

5. Daniel Arsham

2. Chris Burden

1. Banksy
