Art & Design ; 1) Record-Breaking Auctions, Dynamic Gallery Owners, Savvy Artists London has Recently Underlined Its Status As the Global Capital of Contemporary Art, the Nexus Between America, Asia and Now the Huge and Ready Wealth of Russia.These Are the Key Players in the Worlds Most Exciting Market2) Galleries . Museums . Auction Houses . Dealers . Artists . Philanthropists . Patrons . Publicists

Evening Standard - London › October 08, 2008

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Summary

THE TOP FIVE

Sir Nicholas Serota, 62 TATE, DIRECTOR With charm, political nous and nerves of steel, Sir Nicholas, the son of Labour peer and minister Baroness Serota, has consolidated his position as the eminence grise of the London art world. Revised plans for the new Tate Modern extension have assuaged critics though he still faces a tough time fund-raising. He needs to jockey for position now that the National Gallery has declared an interest in post-1900 art (think Picasso).

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Art & Design ; 1) Record-Breaking Auctions, Dynamic Gallery Owners, Savvy Artists London has Recently Underlined Its Status As the Global Capital of Contemporary Art, the Nexus Between America, Asia and Now the Huge and Ready Wealth of Russia.These Are the Key Players in the Worlds Most Exciting Market2) Galleries . Museums . Auction Houses . Dealers . Artists . Philanthropists . Patrons . Publicists

Charles Saatchi, 65 COLLECTOR Britains most famous contemporary collector is re-entering the big time with the unveiling of his major new gallery in Chelsea, having relocated from the former County Hall. The Baghdad-born advertising guru has been a key player in the art market since starting to buy nearly 40 years ago and, most significantly, drove interest in the Young British Artists of the Nineties. Publicity-shy, he leaves third wife Nigella Lawson to be the glamorous front-woman of his artistic ventures.

Damien Hirst, 43 ARTIST The most famous and richest of the Young British Artists,Hirst continues to dazzle, following his diamond- encrusted skull with his recent audacious and wildly successful [pounds]111m auction at Sothebys.He remains an enthusiastic buyer and is still restoring the Grade I-listed Toddington Manor near Cheltenham to house his collection.He is loud-mouthed and controversial but generous to charity and the Tate, to whom he gave four key works.

Neil MacGregor, 62 BRITISH MUSEUM, DIRECTOR Ever more influenti...

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