A panoramic insiders account of the global art industry revealing the fascinating but mysterious workings of the world of contemporary art. Over the last few decades the contemporary art world has become more globalized and more visible than ever before and yet in many ways it remains closed and obscure. What actually happens behind the doors of a contemporary artists studio At an auction house before a major sale In the vaults of an art storage unit How can art museums keep up with and why does everyone seem to hate art fairs Join curator writer and art historian Matthew Israel on a yearlong journey through the contemporary art world. From Los Angeles to Hong Kong via Venice Basel Paris and New York from biennials in summer to auction houses in autumn Israel reveals the joys and anxieties of this sometimes baffling often intimidating field. Blending an insiders knowledge with indepth profiles interviews with key artworld figures and a keen ear for an anecdote A Year in the Art World is a compelling generous companion for any artlover curious about how art is being made valued sold cared for and looked at today.