We celebrate 30 years of our Contemporary Artists Series with art star-studded parties in New York and London

There aren’t many books you could truly say have changed the way we look at and understand art. But Phaidon’s Contemporary Artist series, launched 30 years ago this year, can make that claim - 100 times over. Which is why an art star studded cast joined Phaidon in London and New York this week to celebrate the series’ birthday and its 100th publication.

Antony Gormley, Dana Schutz, Jordan Casteel, Lisa Yuskavage, William Monk, Nigel Cooke, Paul Graham, Mark Dion, Trevor Paglen, and Gillian Wearing were among the special guests at parties at Sotheby’s, New York and 45 Park Lane, London. (All photos Quadir Moore and Jack Hall BFA.com).

Antony Gormley (foreground Leonie Gombrich) (background Tim Marlow)

They were joined by fellow artists, contributors to the books, and luminaries from across the creative industries, alongside UOVO's Co-Chairman Steve Novenstein, CMO Nicole Levinson, Head of Business Development Alexandra Kelly, in New York, and Lily Ackerman of Ackerman Studios and Victoria Glenn and Lee Kelly at 45 Park Lane in London.

Michele Robecchi, Lisa Yuskavage, Barry Schwarbsky

All 100 books from the series were on show in an incredible display at the New York event. Artspace limited editions from artists in the series, including recent releases with Yoko Ono, William Monk and Dana Schutz, were also on view at both events.

Dana Schutz

The gathering of all 100 books was one of only three complete collections worldwide. One of these complete collections is for sale priced $5,000 U.S. at Phaidon.com here. You can also buy limited edition artworks commissioned by Artspace for the series, here, or any of the books in the Contemporary Artists Series here.

The New York gathering was one of the final events Sotheby’s will hold in the space before they relocate their US headquarters to the Breuer Building next month (November).

Georgia Powell, Lily Ackerman, Liza Shapiro

In London, Iwona Blazwick, the former director of The Whitechapel Gallery, who started the Contemporary Artists Series 30 years ago, gave a short speech in which she thanked current series editor Michele Robecchi for “doing an incredible job in creating and developing the series.” And she told the assembled partygoers about some of the ways in which the groundbreaking books revolutionised the approach to art monographs 30 years ago, along with a couple of anecdotes from the early days of the series.

Ingrid Mössinger

“I don't know if anyone here remembers 30 years ago, but the formula that was accepted by publishers back then was that monographs would have one editor and that the book would become a definitive view on a certain process,” Blazwick said.

“But what we decided to do, was to give a full spectrum 360 view of artists, and their practice. So there are many kinds of writing: we have an interview, we have an overview, and we ask one author to put artworks in focus. Artists are incredibly voracious in their appetite for knowledge. So we asked the artist to choose one of their favourite pieces of writing. We got some very surprising, and revelatory, choices.”

Paul Graham

“Christian Boltanski lied about everything because he hated the idea of being defined,” she said. “When we asked Paul McCarthy to send us his writing it arrived covered in ketchup. It was stiff with brown sauce. It was actually a great work of art. His choice for an artist’s writing was Eric Satie’s Gnossiennes,” she told the crowd at 45 Park Lane.

Gilda Williams, Iwona Blazwick, Michele Robecchi

“So everything that came together to tell the story made for a kind of hub. It was a way of bringing all of these all of these different and creative voices to the centre stage, to add to our understanding [of their work]. What resulted from it are definitive books about artist practice that don't close ideas down, they're not retrospective - the artists are often mid-career – and they open up interpretation. I'm forever grateful to Phaidon Press and their belief in this series, and their belief in contemporary art.”

William Monk, Nigel Cooke, Michele Robecchi

Artist Jordan Casteel was at the New York event and told partygoers how it felt to be the 100th published artist in the series.

"Having my monograph included in such a celebrated series, now in its 30th year, and being the 100th artist featured makes this a particularly special occasion. Phaidon’s Contemporary Artist Series is unique in that these aren’t books about artists, but books made with artists. My monograph, releasing this December, offers readers a seat at the table, or maybe, more accurately, a seat in the studio, bringing my deeply intimate and community-driven practice into one's home." Casteel went on to thank those involved in making her book.

Jordan Casteel

"It takes a village of people to make a book like this. I’m endlessly grateful to Casey Kaplan and my team, Veronica Levitt, Kaytlin Nodine, and Jennifer Hoffman-Williamson, for holding me down every step of the way. Deep thanks to the writers Asma Naeem, Katherine Brinson, and Legacy Russell for journeying with me through your words. And lastly, thank you to everyone who’s ever returned my hello, welcoming me and my painting practice into their lives.

"To Phaidon, thank you for continuing to publish a series that makes the voices and visions of so many brilliant artists accessible, inspiring generations of artists and art lovers alike."

Bethan Laura Wood and friend

Michele Robecchi, the long serving current commissioning editor of the series was present at both the New York and London events. In New York, Robecchi recounted a story about meeting Jordan Casteel for the first time.

“The first time I met Jordan and her work was in 2016, when I paid her a visit at the Studio Museum in Harlem where she was artist-in-residence. It probably wasn’t a particularly consequential meeting for her, but it was for me. I walked away thinking how great it would have been to work with her on a book project. And nine years later, here we are. Dreams come true sometimes.”

Ute Decker, Tim Borton

He thanked Phaidon’s owners, it’s CEO Bob Miller, and publisher, Deb Aaronson, alongside Phaidon’s marketing, design, and production departments for their support of the series, and all of the editors and authors who’ve worked on the series over the years.

And he paid tribute to series founder Iwona Blazwick, saying “This is all happening because of your vision, of your creativity, and your hard work. But the founding spirit of the series was to make books in collaboration with the artists, and they are the ones who makes these books special,” Robecchi added.

Satta Matturi, Natalie Frank

Robecchi thanked the numerous artists and contributors present at both the London and New York events who included: Lisa Yuskavage (who will be the 101st artist), along with fellow artists Jordan Casteel, Antony Gormley, Nigel Cooke, William Monk, Gillian Wearing (who holds the unique honour of being the subject of one book in the series and contributing to another); Trevor Paglen, Paul Graham and Dana Schutz. He also announced future titles in the series from Rosa Barba, Tavares Strachan, Glenn Ligon and Huma Bhabha.

Kamari Carter, Thelma Golden

Additional notable guests included artists Glenn Ligon, Tom Sachs, Y. Z. Kami, Milena Dragicevic, Franko B, Natalie Frank, Andro Semeiko, Michael Landy, Lala Meredith-Vula, Nicky Hoberman, Daniel Crews-Chubb, Dohyun Baek, Sokari Douglas Camp and Charlotte Cullinan. The Design Museum’s Tim Marlow, 50 Best’s William Drew, Purple PR founder Fergus Lawlor, designer Bethan Laura Wood, jewellers Ute Decker and Satta Matturi, art writers Craig Burnett, Clara Dublanc, Roger Malbert, Kate Keohane and Jo Manby.

Lisa Yuskavage, Glenn Ligon, Anthony Elms

Press attendees included journalists and photographers from Vanity Fair Italia, BA Highlife, Knightsbridge Magazine, Bella Freud’s Fashion Neurosis Podcast also attended, as well as series contributors Ian Alteever, Julia Bryan-Wilson, Thelma Golden, RoseLee Goldberg, Barry Schwabsky, Ingrid Mössinger, John Slyce, Margaret Iversen, Nora L. Lawrence and photographer/filmmaker Jason Schmidt. Both Frank Bowling’s sons (Ben and Sacha) were also present, representing their father.

Trevor Paglen, Julia Bryan-Wilson, Michele Robecchi