Reveals the contemporary art phenomenon of disrupted realism through the paintings of 43 artists at its core. Profoundly shaped by the events, forces, and overflow of today's disjointed, social-media-heavy life, these artists' paintings are "disrupted" stylistically, thematically, or sometimes both. They allow us to appreciate how art relates to the "super-fast, simultaneous, almost dizzyingly paced scrolling" of our lives. . Foreword by artist Nicholas Wilton, founder of Art2Life . Features a special essay on artist Jenny Saville, who has inspired many contemporary representational artists to disrupt their art . More than half of the artists are from outside the US; includes women and BIPOC artists . Artists' comments presented in an engaging question-and-answer style . Art writer and curator John Seed is the foremost authority on disrupted realism and is the author of Disrupted Realism: Paintings for a Distracted World AUTHOR: John Seed is an art writer and curator, and professor emeritus of art and art history at Mount San Jacinto College in Southern California. The author of Disrupted Realism: Paintings for a Distracted World, the groundbreaking book on the phenomenon, Seed has written for the Huffington Post, Art Ltd, Arts of Asia, Hyperallergic, and more. He lives in Cambria, California. Instagram: @johnalbertseed SELLING POINTS: . These 43 artists' works and Q&A insights connect us with contemporary painting that's "disrupted" stylistically, thematically, or both . Appealing and relevant to modern art lovers, art students, and all interested in social media's impact on life . A special look at artist Jenny Saville, the "great disruptor," clarifies how this artistic current is unwinding 325 colour images
Industry Reviews
This book shows the dialogue around figurative art today is alive and vibrant. Asking essential questions. Honest and anxious. Eyes wide open. It is essential reading for anyone who has something to say and wants to do so visually. -- -David Kratz, president, the New York Academy of Art
Elegant and visually splendid...a tour de force. -- -Michael Shnayerson, author of Boom: Mad Money, Mega Dealers, and the Rise of Contemporary Art
John Seed once again does a phenomenal job bringing together contemporary artists who have a finger on the pulse of our fast-changing society... A dynamic collection of visually stunning work that explores our fluctuating world through impressive paint handling and innovative ways of envisioning the figure. -- -Erika b Hess, artist, curator, host of I Like Your Work
Both celebrates and enacts the current zeitgeist of hybridity and its multiplicity of voices... As a personal fan of a why choose, both and approach to art's cyclical abstraction vs. figuration tussles, I find the book's contributions to contemporary art history quite satisfying. -- -Shana Nys Dambrot, arts editor, LA Weekly
Once again, John Seed guides us through the complex, ever-changing landscape of today's contemporary art scene. His deep understanding of art offers us a unique perspective on the evolution of representational art. -- -Martha Jordan, owner and director, Winslow Art Center
