Contemporary art is difficult. Who in the world is it and how is it valued?
If you have ever tried to learn about contemporary art, you may have had such a puzzling experience.
Read the "100 People for Understanding Contemporary Art" series to get a comprehensive overview of the major national and international players in the art world.

8. Georges-Philippe & Nathalie Vallois: Galerie Vallois

Georges-Philippe & Nathalie Vallois are the owners of the Paris-based gallery of the same name.
Together they have produced contemporary and neo-photorealist artists of the same era, up-and-coming and mid-career artists.
He has introduced Jacques Villeglé and Niki de Saint Phalle, who make collages of posters and other works, as well as American Photorealism artist Robert Cuttingham and sculptor John de Andrea.

9. Thaddaeus Ropac: Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac

Thaddaeus Ropac is a gallerist from Austria. The gallery has a presence in Paris, London, Salzburg, and Seoul, and has been a major force in Europe for many years.
The gallery represents a wide range of major living artists such as Elizabeth Peyton, Alex Katz, Antony Gormley, and Gilbert & George, as well as younger, well-known artists such as Adrian Geaney.

10. nicholas logsdail: lisson gallery

Nicholas Logsdail is the founder and owner of the London-based Lisson Gallery.
The gallery represents well-known artists such as Marina Abramovic, Ryan Gander, Anish Kapoor, Lee Ufan, and Sean Scully. It also handles mid-career artists such as Haroon Mirza and other installation artists.

11. marian goodman: marian goodman gallery

Marian Goodman is the owner of Marian Goodman Gallery, a world-class gallery with locations in NY, Paris, and London.
She has introduced important European artists such as Gerhard Richter and Joseph Beuys to the United States. He has also handled and presented many other important contemporary artists, including Steve McQueen, Pierre Huygues, Tacita Dean, Maurizio Cattelan, and William Kentridge.

12. Charles Saatchi: Saatchi Gallery

Charles Saatchi is the owner of Saatchi Gallery, which has been in existence since 1985.
He and his brother Maurice originally ran an advertising agency called Saatchi & Saatchi in the 1980s, which later changed its name to M & C Saatchi. Saatchi's art collection is famous for consisting of YBAs (Young British Artists) and includes artists such as Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin.
After purchasing his first Sol LeWitt work in 1969, he gradually added to his collection and expanded his own Saatchi Gallery.
He is one of the key gallerists who shaped the huge art market of today.

13. Victoria Marion Miro: Victoria Miro Gallery

Victoria Miro is the owner of Victoria Miro Gallery with offices in London and Venice.
She was the first to discover and exhibit acclaimed artists such as the Chapman brothers, filmmaker Sam Taylor-Wood, Cecily Brown, and Thomas Dimand.

14. michael kohn: kohn gallery

Michael Kohn is the owner of Kohn Gallery, based in Hollywood, California.
The artists he handles include painters such as Keith Haring, Wallace Berman, and Maria Berio.
In 2015, the gallery was listed in the Wall Street Journal as "the most important gallery exhibiting modern art on the West Coast of the United States."

15. manuele Wirth, Ian Wirth, Ursula Hauser: Hauser & Wirth

Hauser & Wirth is a mega-gallery with exhibition spaces in 11 cities worldwide.
Its co-owners, Manuele and Ian Wirth and Ursula Hauser, are responsible for some of the most important artists in the history of art, with exhibition quality at the level of large museums.
The gallery handles prominent living artists such as Mark Bradford, George Condo, Camille Henrot, Wilhelm Sasnal, and Pipilotti Rist.