Throughout his long artistic career, Takashi Murakami has sought to escape the old-fashioned attitudes, styles, and approaches. After experiencing the constraints of the stifling art world in Japan in the 1990s, he went to the West to find recognition. The artist’s imagery, inspired by manga and anime, not only made him incredibly popular but also allowed him to force Japan to acknowledge contemporary, “low” art as a mainstream cultural phenomenon.

Brutalism stands out amid the diversity of architectural movements due to its emphasis on utilitarianism and geometric severity. The movement emerged in the mid-20th century as a realistic, sometimes even skeptical, response to modernist optimism. From the imposing structures of Boston City Hall to the honest functionalism of the Barbican Center in London and the Habitat Complex in Montreal, brutalist architecture comes with raw beauty and a strong emotional appeal.

Banksy is one of the most well-known street artists, with a unique approach. He manages to remain anonymous, even after several decades of being active in all corners of the globe. His works are known to everyone, even those who are not related to the world of art. This all has led to the creation of various art hubs and museums dedicated to Banksy art, like a new museum that emerged in Lisbon, Portugal, not so long ago, to unite 100+ works created by Banksy under one roof.

The Pompidou Museum, widely known as the Centre Pompidou, is an iconic art hub in Paris, with one of the world’s largest collections (over 120,000 works). The institution owns exclusive masterpieces by Henri Matisse, Jackson Pollock, and Frida Kahlo, among others, with a wide range of modern and contemporary art available for viewing at its permanent exhibitions.

The 21st century is a fast-moving, tech-driven epoch with numerous advancements and innovations taking over traditional lifestyles day by day. Yet, even this vibrance of progress can’t destroy centuries-old human love for traditional art and creative genius. Contemporary artwork coexists with eternal masterpieces of Old Masters, and art appreciators around the globe cruise online and offline spaces to explore one-of-a-kind art gems.

The name and creative heritage of Anish Kapoor are globally known, with works like Cloud Gate or Sky Mirror becoming iconic local attractions. The artist has acquired special fame for his fascination with large-scale reflective sculptures that raise profound psychological and emotional responses in viewers.

Sam Taylor-Johnson is a multidisciplinary contemporary artist known for her achievements in photography, video, and film. Her main subject of creative exploration has long been the intricate boundary between celebrities’ public images and private selves. The best example of Taylor-Johnson’s work that may help embrace this creative focus is Crying Men (2002-2004), a series of photographs of famous men in moments of sorrow and intense emotion.