Art Review magazine has published its annual “Power 100” lists of the art world’s most influential players — and even if you’re more a casual art fan than an all-out industry wonk, it’s a fairly interesting document. While the 2010 rankings placed Larry Gagosian at #1, the top spot is now occupied by an actual artist: Ai Weiwei, who drew an unprecedented show of support from the global art community after being imprisoned by the Chinese government earlier this year. Gagosian, meanwhile, has slipped to #4. Could that be because insiders are sick of watching him bend over backwards for celebrity dilettantes like James Franco and frauds like James Frey? Also interesting: Jeffery Deitch, who was #12 last year, is down to #48 after months of pretty terrible publicity. The only other artist to crack the gallerist-dominated top ten is Cindy Sherman.
Other boldface names on the list include Marina Abramović (#23), Takashi Murakami (#47), Anish Kapoor (#50), Steve McQueen (#59), Damien Hirst (#64), Slavoj Žižek (#65), Jeff Koons (#66), and Miuccia Prada (#85). Although you could spend all day picking out omissions, we’re especially surprised to see that Christian Marclay — whose video installation The Clock won the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale and has probably been the most praised work of art this year — isn’t included. Check out the top ten after the jump, then click over to Art Review for the full list and tell us whether you agree.
1. Ai Weiwei 2. Hans Ulrich Obrist and Julia Peyton-Jones 3. Glenn D. Lowry 4. Larry Gagosian 5. Anton Vidokle, Julieta Aranda, and Brian Kuan Wood 6. Nicholas Serota 7. Cindy Sherman 8. Iwan Wirth 9. David Zwirner 10. Beatrix Ruf