At one time dismissed by many as inaccessible, elitist or even facile, contemporary art has since entered the realm of popular culture and is enjoyed by millions of gallery visitors every year. Public interest has grown dramatically since the 1990s, in part due to influential art collectors such as Charles Saatchi, whose promotion of contemporary art brought about the rise of The Young British Artists (or YBAs) to international celebrity status.

Over the past decade ambitious redevelopments and new constructions conceived specifically for contemporary art - such as London's Tate Modern, Centre Pompidou in Paris and Museo Guggenheim Bilbao - have attracted record numbers of visitors. This accessible guide pinpoints key artists and events, and so helps demystify a generation of rapid change in the art world. The A-Z listing features 200 of the most widely exhibited and remarkable artists who have made substantial contributions over the past 40 years; with biographies, insights into their key works and cross-references to linked artists, themes and movements.