This compelling narrative goes behind the scenes with important living artists around the world to humanize and demystify contemporary art. When people think of contemporary art they often think of the market: eye-popping prices for splashy works. But Sarah Thornton argues that, for artists, the key marker of success isn’t money but credibility. 33 Artists in 3 Acts explores the strategies deployed by artists from international superstars to unheralded teachers. Thornton challenges the romantic vision of the lone artist, showing how these driven, inventive personalities interact with professional and intellectual networks of supporters, collaborators, and assistants. Drawing from interviews with 130 artists on four continents, Thornton crafts a brilliantly structured narrative that reveals the dynamicsof creative lives.