Powerless 20
The 20 Most Powerless People in the Art World: 2025 Edition
Hyperallergic’s annual antidote to the lists of wealthy collectors, royals, and so-called tastemakers that pervade the art media.
Powerless 20
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The 20 Most Powerless People in the Art World: 2024 Edition
Our annual list recognizes and celebrates those in our community who are left in the shadows of the powerful.
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The 20 Most Powerless People in the Art World: 2023 Edition
Our annual list highlights the people who exist outside of an art world that favors the wealthy and privileged — or are just shit out of luck.
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The 20 Most Powerless People in the Art World: 2022 Edition
It’s the end of the year, so that means it’s time for our annual list that highlights those who are often rendered powerless in a system ruled by the oversized influence of the super-rich and their courtiers.
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The 20 Most Powerless People in the Art World: 2021 Edition
Welcome to our annual list which highlights those who are rendered powerless in a system unduly influenced by the super-rich and the institutions and businesses that serve them.
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The 20 Most Powerless People in the Art World: 2020 Edition
Welcome to our annual list which highlights those who are rendered powerless in a system influenced by the super wealthy and the commercial galleries, nonprofits, museums, and publications that serve them.
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The 20 Most Powerless People in the Art World: 2019 Edition
Welcome to our annual list which highlights those who are rendered powerless in a system greatly influenced by the super wealthy and the commercial galleries and vanity museums that serve them.
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The 20 Most Powerless People in the Art World: 2017 Edition
Some people think the art world is a series of champagne lunches, private jet trips, auctions, freeports, and VIP lounges, but that part of the scene doesn’t interest us. Welcome to the latest edition of our annual list compiling those who are rendered powerless in a system created for the affluent
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The 20 Most Powerless People in the Art World: 2016 Edition
Some people care about money, fame, and power; we prefer to look elsewhere.
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The 20 Most Powerless People in the Art World: 2015 Edition
Forget the rich and powerful — they're predictable. We're more interested in the powerless. That's where the real stories are, where the future is decided, where creativity starts. Here is our annual list of the art world’s most powerless.
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The 20 Most Powerless People in the Art World: 2014 Edition
While other publications sing the praises of the rich and powerful, we like to look at those who are largely overlooked in order to understand the real state of the art world and its discontents.
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The 20 Most Powerless People in the Art World: 2013 Edition
It's our favorite time of year. Why's that you ask? Well, Art Review recently published their hilarious thoughtful pandering art world power list that starts with a dictator Qatari royal and continues through a who's who of people — including an artist who "doesn't make a thing" — who must appear li