Worldwide Arts Society [The Encyclopedia]: Artists

Painting	Photography
Poetry	Comics and Iconotext
Theatre	Animation
Sculpture	Film
Decorative Arts	Outsider Art
Narrative Literature	Experimental Music
Architecture	Experimental Film
Music	Contemporary Art
Artification	Television
Dance	Video Game
Shameful Influences	Precisions

Name	Birth	Death	Era	Nation	Tags*	Gender	Currents	Effects
Francisco Goya	1746	1828	1	Spain	Disability	Man	Romanticism	Early Modern Painting, Varied Techniques, Last of the Old Masters, Influence
Francisco Goya first became known as a court painter. In 1793, a disease left him deaf. Shortly after, his carreer took a shift and he adopted his distinctive bleak, strange and often fantastical style. He will been called both the last of the Old Masters and the first modern painter.
Adélaïde Labille-Guiard	1749	1803	1	France	Censored	Woman	Neoclassicism	Feminism, Portrait, Varied Techniques, Rococo
Adélaïde Labille-Guiard has been a miniaturist and portraitist for the Royal Family. When the Revolution came, she chose not to flee and painted portraits of Robespierre and other revolutionaries instead. A powerful advocate for young women artists, she is also known for her daring representations of women.
Katsushika Hokusai	1760	1849	1	Japan		Man		Ukiyo-e, Painter and Printmaker, Influence, Master or Professor
After getting expelled from the Katsukawa school, Hokusai developed a personal Ukiyo-e style. Known for his landscapes, he's extremely successful as a book illustrator. He will have a huge influence on western Art, from impressionism to Art nouveau, and his daughter Ōi will become an accomplished painter.
Caspar David Friedrich	1774	1840	1	Germany		Man	Romanticism	Romanticism, Influence, Folklore
Caspar David Friedrich is regarded as the leading German artist of his time. Known for his sublime romantic landscapes and Gothic ruins, he will influence several avant-gardes of the 20th century before suffering rejection for a while because of the appropriation of his paintings by the Nazis.
Joseph Mallord William Turner	1775	1851	1	England		Man	Romanticism	Painter and Printmaker, Early Modern Painting, Influence, Master or Professor
William Turner is credited with giving landscape painting its current prestige. He has worked as an architectural draftsman in his youth, and taught perspective at the academy. He will exert a huge influence on subsequent artists, especially on Claude Monet and John Ruskin.
Utagawa Kuniyoshi	1798	1861	1	Japan		Man		Ukiyo-e, Early Manga, Utagawa School, Painter and Printmaker
After years of struggle, Utagawa Kuniyoshi achieved success by painting subjects from old warrior tales to which he adds fantastical elements. One of the last great masters of Ukiyo-e, he has produced innovative works in all of its genres and taught many artists who will become influential in their own right.
Rosa Bonheur	1822	1899	1	France	Queer	Woman	Realism	Painter and Sculptor, Feminism, Animalier Painting
Rosa Bonheur is the most famous woman artist of her time. A specialist of animalière sculpture and painting, she's known for her masterful and often monumental works. Openly lesbian, and wearing men's clothing for practical reasons, she consistently breaks boundaries and paves the way for subsequent women artists.
Gustave Courbet	1819	1877	1	France		Man	Realism	Early Modern Painting, Paris Commune, Influence
Gustave Courbet is the leading figure of the realist movement in painting. He's known for embracing the imperfection of his subjects. A devoted socialist, he refused the Légion d'Honneur and has worked as a reformer of the Art world during the Paris Commune. He will become a hero for the modern avant-garde.
Mary Cassatt	1844	1926	1	U.S.A		Woman	Impressionism	Feminism, Painter and Printmaker, Influence
Mary Cassat is a masterful genre painter who will meet success in Europe and become especially influential in the U.S.A. Invited by Edgar Degas, with whom she's often worked, she joined the impressionist circle, befriended Berthe Morisot and convinced Louisine Havemeyer, a suffragist herself, to be their patron.
Paul Cézanne	1839	1906	1	France		Man	Impressionism, Post-Impressionism	Post-Impressionism, Early Modern Painting, Influence
Trained by Camille Pissaro and encouraged by Émile Zola, Paul Cézanne is regarded as a leading figure of post-impressionism. He's known for exploring optical effects and distortions, and will be revered as the spiritual father of many avant-gardes in the early 20th century.
Vincent van Gogh	1853	1890	2	Netherlands	Institutionalized	Man	Post-Impressionism, Expressionism	Post-Impressionism, Early Expressionism, Influence
Vincent Willem van Gogh is a major figure of post-impressionism and a pioneer of expressionism. He won't gain recognition during his lifetime, which will be marked by severe mental distress. He will later become one of the best-known modern painters and examples of the tortured artist archetype.
Henri-Edmond Cross	1856	1910	2	France		Man	Post-Impressionism, Pointillism	Neo-Impressionism, Divisionism, Early Fauvism, Influence
Henri-Edmond Cross is a major figure of post-impressionism and a leader in two of its subcurrents: pointillism and divisionism. He will exert a strong influence on subsequent avant-gardes, especially fauvism and cubism. He is close to the anarchist movement.
Anna Ancher	1859	1935	2	Denmark		Woman	Impressionism	Skagen Group, Feminism, Influence
Anna Ancher is a leading figure, and the only woman, of the Skagen group of painters. Known for her impressionist genre paintings, she'll be recognized as one of the most renowned artists in Denmark's history. She studied painting with both Pierre Puvis de Chavannes and Vilhelm Kyhn.
Edvard Munch	1863	1944	2	Norway	Institutionalized	Man	Modernism, Expressionism, Symbolism	Early Expressionism, Influence, Bohemianism
Edvard Munch is a pioneer of expressionism who has experimented with many different painting styles in his youth. Suffering from severe anxiety, he lived a bohemian life under the influence of Hans Jæger before moving to Berlin and meeting artists such as Holger Drachmann and August Strindberg.
Wassily Kandinsky	1866	1944	2	Russia, Germany, France		Man	Modernism, Expressionism, Bauhaus	Abstract Art, Bauhaus, Art Theory, Synesthesia
Both as a painter and as an art theorist, Wassily Kandinsky is a leading figure of the emerging modern Art. He pioneered abstract and synesthetic painting, taught at the Bauhaus school and co-founded Der Blaue Reiter. He expressed antisemitic views in a letter to his Jewish friend Arnold Schoenberg.
Henri Matisse	1869	1954	2	France		Man	Modernism, Fauvism, Post-Impressionism	Painter, Printmaker and Sculptor, Fauvism, Influence, Collage
Along with André Derain, Henri Matisse is the leading figure of fauvism, which largely contributed to the redefinition of visual arts in the early 20th century. He's been notably inspired by African, Islamic and Japanese Art. When a cancer surgery left him unable to sculpt or paint, he began creating collages.
Piet Mondrian	1872	1944	2	Netherlands		Man	Modernism, Cubism	De Stijl, Abstract Art, Art Theory, Influence
Piet Mondrian is known for co-founding the influential visual Arts movement and journal De Stijl with Theo van Doesburg. His gradual shift towards abstraction and minimalism led him to master a wide variety of styles and techniques. His practice is influenced by his theosophical faith.
Eleanor Fortescue-Brickdale	1872	1945	2	England		Woman	Symbolism	Pre-Raphaelism, Master or Professor, Multitalented Artist, Glasswork
Eleanor Fortescue-Brickdale is a prominent painter and illustrator of pre-Raphaelite style. She's also known for her stained-glass works and for her teaching at Byam Shaw's art school. In 1919 she put together and illustrated the Golden Book of Famous Women, an influential anthology of prose and poems.
Romaine Brooks	1874	1970	2	U.S.A	Queer	Woman	Symbolism	Unique Style, Portrait, Early Surrealism, Automatic Art
Romaine Brooks is a prominent painter and a pioneer of automatic drawing known for working outside conventional currents. She frequents many artists and often paints their portraits. Among them are d'Annunzio, Ida Rubinstein, and her lifelong, non-exclusive partner Natalie Barney.
Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis	1875	1911	2	Lithuania		Man	Symbolism, Art Nouveau	Composer and Painter, Unique Style, Synesthesia, Abstract Art
Mikalojus Čiurlionis is a prominent symbolist and Art Nouveau painter, a pioneer of abstract and synesthetic Art and one of the most influential Lithuanian artists in history. He has composed over 400 pieces of music, created over 300 paintings and written numerous poems.
Paula Modersohn-Becker	1876	1907	3	Germany		Woman	Modernism, Fauvism, Expressionism	Worpswede Community, Early Expressionism, Portrait
Paula Modersohn-Becker is a major figure of early modern and expressionist painting. She's been active in the Worpswede artists community, and notably painted portraits of her close friends Clara Westhoff and Rainer Rilke. She is also known as the first woman artist to paint nude self-portraits.
Paul Klee	1879	1940	3	Switzerland, Germany		Man	Surrealism, Expressionism, Bauhaus, Cubism	Art Theory, Synesthesia, Abstract Art, Bauhaus
Paul Klee is one of the most influential modern painters. A master of many avant-garde styles, he's known for his innovative use of color. Like his friend Kandinsky, he wrote for Der Blaue Reiter, taught at the Bauhaus, made major contributions to art theory and explored the representation of music in visual arts.
Kazimir Malevich	1879	1935	3	Russia, Ukraine, Poland	Censored	Man	Modernism, Fauvism, Cubism	Suprematism, Abstract Art, Avant-garde, Influence
After mastering and abandoning almost every existing current of modern art, Kazimir Malevich became the founder of suprematism, a radical and influential abstract art movement forerunning minimalism. After the revolution, he faced repression from the Stalinist regime and was forced to adopt socialist realism.
Natalia Goncharova	1881	1935	3	Russia, France		Woman	Modernism, Expressionism, Futurism	Der Blaue Reiter, Russian Futurism, Rayonism, Multitalented Artist
Natalia Goncharova is a major figure of the Russian avant-garde. She co-founded the rayonist movement, the radical group Donkey's Tail, and participated in many others. Active as a painter, illustrator, costume and set designer, and she starred in Drama in the Futurists' Cabaret No. 13, the world's first avant-garde film.
Aleksandra Ekster	1882	1949	3	Russia, Ukraine		Woman	Modernism, Futurism, Constructivism	Russian Futurism, Multitalented Artist, Master or Professor
Aleksandra Ekster has been a central figure of both Kiev's and Paris' avant-gardes. A master of the cubist, suprematist and constructivist styles, she's active as a painter, illustrator, puppetmaker and as a stage, costume and fashion designer. She will have an substantial influence on the Art Deco movement.
Zinaida Serebriakova	1884	1967	3	Russia, Ukraine, France		Woman	Post-Impressionism, Neoclassicism	Mir Iskusstva, Monumental Art, Orientalism
Zinaida Serebriakova is known for her masterful representations of family life, rural areas, theatre world, and for her orientalist nudes. She's been part of the influential revivalist group Mir iskusstva. One of her monumental Art commissions led her to leave Russia for Paris, where she still lives.
Sonia & Robert Delaunay	1885 1885	1979 1941	3	Russia, Ukraine, France	Couple	Mixed	Modernism, Cubism	Multitalented Artist, Abstract Art, Orphism
Sonia & Robert Delaunay are the founders of orphism, an abstract art movement focusing on color experimentation. They've been part of several avant-gardes in France, Spain and Portugal. In addition to her paintings, Sonia has also produced textile, stage and fashion design.
Maggie Laubser	1886	1973	3	South Africa		Woman	Expressionism, Fauvism, Modernism	Painter and Printmaker, Influence, New Group
Maggie Laubser is known, along with Irma Sterm, for introducing expressionism in South Africa. Her paintings were first met with fierce criticism there, but she eventually beame one of the country's most renowned artists.
Marc Chagall	1887	1985	3	Russia, Belarus, France	Persecuted	Man	Cubism, Expressionism, Symbolism, Surrealism	Multitalented Artist, Unique Style, Folk Art, Expressionism
Marc Chagall is a major figure of modernist painting known for his distinctive style, which blends several avant-garde influences. In addition to his paintings he produces illustrations, ceramics and tapestries, stage sets and stained glass windows. He's been described as "the world's pre-eminent Jewish artist".
Georgia O'Keeffe	1887	1986	3	U.S.A	Institutionalized	Woman	Modernism	Mother of American Modernism, Precisionism, Influence, Master or Professor
Georgia O'Keeffe is the leading figure of American modernist painting. She's known both for her abstract and for her precisionist works. Through Alfred Stieglitz, she met America's most influential photographers. She will strongly influence feminist Art and be cited as a pioneer of "female iconography".
René Magritte	1898	1980	4	Belgium		Man	Modernism, Cubism, Surrealism	Language in Visual Arts, Surrealism, Socialism
René Magritte is a prominent member of the surrealist group and a forerunner of both pop Art and minimalism. His mysteriously contradictory images will also have a major influence on conceptual Art. He produces fake Picassos, de Chiricos and Braques for a living.
Tamara de Lempicka	1898	1980	4	Poland	Queer	Woman	Art Deco, Cubism, Neoclassicism	Unique Style, Art Deco, Portrait
Tamara de Lempicka is a leading figure of Art deco painting. Taking inspiration from late cubism and neoclassicism, she developed a highly distinctive style. Known for her portraits and nudes, she also paints abstract works. She befriends Colette, Vita Sackville-West, Trefusis and had a relationship with Suzy Solidor.
Frida Kahlo	1903	1954	4	Mexico	Lifelong Illness, Queer	Woman		Folk Art, Socialism, Feminism, Influence
Frida Kahlo is a major figure of the Mexicayotl movement of indigenous Mexican Art. Known for her self-portraits, she is admired by the surrealists and will become a major reference for Chicanxs and feminist artists. Her relationship with Diego Rivera, leader of the muralist movement and fellow communist, is notorious.
Lois Mailou Jones	1905	1998	4	U.S.A	Racialized	Woman	Harlem Renaissance, Négritude	Harlem Renaissance, Négritude, Painter, Illustrator and Decorative Designer, Master or Professor
Lois Mailou Jones is the best-known painter of the Harlem Renaissance movement. Taking inspiration in the francophone Négritude, she traveled across many African countries, interviewed artists, documented their works and drew inspiration from them. She's also a masterful textile designer and a renowned Art teacher.
Leonor Fini	1907	1996	4	Argentina		Woman	Surrealism	Multitalented Artist, Surrealism, Unique Style
Leonor Fini is a major figure of surrealism known for her erotic paintings depicting women in positions of power. She notably befriends Cartier-Bresson, Dalí, Anna Magnani, Picasso and Giorgio de Chirico. She's also a writer, costume designer, and designed the bottle for Elsa Schiaparelli's perfume "Shocking".
Lee Krasner	1908	1984	4	U.S.A		Woman	Abstract Expressionism	Collage, Influence, New York School, Abstract Expressionism
Lee Krasner is a major figure of abstract expressionism and a prominent member of the New York School. She has produced influential collages, color-field paintings and practiced action painting. Although she greatly influenced her husband Jackson Pollock, her contribution is often overshadowed by his fame..
Maria Helena Vieira da Silva	1908	1992	4	Portugal, France		Woman	Modernism, Expressionism	Informalism, Influence, Multitalented Artist, Glasswork
Maria Helena Vieira da Silva is a leading figure of informalism regarded as the greatest modern Portuguese artist. A painter, sculptor and printmaker, she has also produced tapestries and masterful glassworks. She notably studied with Fernand Léger and Antoine Bourdelle.
Miriam Schapiro	1923	2015	4	Canada, U.S.A		Woman	Modernism, Abstract Expressionism	Feminism, Femmage, Pattern and Decoration, Multitalented Artist
Miriam Schapiro is a pioneer of feminist Art and a leader of the Pattern and Decoration movement. A masterful creator in many disciplines, she invented the femmage, a feminist practice of collage and assemblage. Along with Judy Chicago, she also established the first Feminist Art Program, which will be hugely influential.
Audrey Flack	1931		4	U.S.A		Woman	Postmodernism	Photorealism, Painter and Sculptor, Influence, Master or Professor
Audrey Flack is a leading figure and pioneer of photorealism. She's known for her influential hyper-realist paintings, and for her monumental bronze sculptures. Her early works were linked to abstract expressionism, and her most recent ones are inspired by Baroque art.
Nasreen Mohamedi	1937	1990	4	India		Woman	Constructivism, Minimalism, Postmodernism	Multitalented Artist, Collage, Abstract Art, Master or Professor
Although Nasreen Mohamedi won't achieve international fame during her lifetime, she'll eventually be considered one of the major artists of her time. Known for her black & white grid-based drawings, she also produces paintings, collages and photographs. She draws inspiration from her many travels and she keeps diaries.
Layla Al-Attar	1944	1993	5	Iraq	Executed	Woman	Postmodernism, Expressionism	Feminism, Anti-Imperialism, Curation
Layla Al-Attar is a prominent painter and feminist who serves as the director of the Iraqi National Art Museum. She came to International attention after creating a mosaic depicting Bush Sr. on the floor of the Al-Rashid Hotel, forcing visitors to step on him. In 1993 She will be killed by a US missile.
Sliman Mansour	1947		5	Palestine	Persecuted	Man	Postmodernism	New Visions, Liberation Art Movement, Assemblage
Sliman Mansour is a leading figure of the New Visions movement, which gathers Palestinian artists in protest against the Israeli occupation. Some of his works focus on traditional rural life while others depict destroyed villages or fights for liberty. He boycotts Israeli supplies and uses local materials, such as mud and henna.
Fathi Hassan	1957		5	Egypt, Sudan		Man	Postmodernism	Painter and Sculptor, Installation Art, Language in Visual Arts, Calligraphy
Fathi Hassan is a prominent artist known for blending calligraphy with painting, sculpture and installation art. His works explore issues related to the loss of language under imperialism, and the relationship between language and tradition. A strong advocate for African Arts, he notably studied their influence on cubism.
Jean-Michel Basquiat	1960	1988	5	Haiti, Puerto Rico, U.S.A	Racialized, Queer	Man	Pop Art, Postmodernism, Afrofuturism	Antiracism, Language in Visual Arts, Multitalented Artist, Street Art
Jean-Michel Basquiat is a leading figure of neo-expressionism, a popular icon and one of the most renowned postmodern artists. Both a street artist and a painter, he masterfully blends art forms and art styles to develop visually striking works which frontally address political issues.
Fang Lijun	1963		5	China		Man	Surrealism, Postmodernism	Cynical Realism, Painter and Printmaker, Satire
Fang Lijun is a leading figure of the cynical realist movement, which aims to redefine the role of Chinese artists and reconnect them to ordinary people, notably through self-derision. He's famous for his bald-headed characters designed to look stupid. Although his style is modern, he uses traditional techniques.
Wangechi Mutu	1972		5	Kenya, U.S.A	Racialized	Woman	Afrofuturism, Postmodernism	Afrofuturism, Black Feminism, Multitalented Artist
Wangechi Mutu is one of the most renowned afrofuturist artists. She's known for her unique painting style, which involves collage, but she's also active as an installation and performance artist, sculptor and filmmaker. Her works mostly focus on political subjects. She has notably collaborated with David Adjaye.
Raqib Shaw	1974		5	India, England	Queer	Man	Postmodernism	Unique Style, Postmodernism, Painter and Sculptor
Raqib Shaw is a prominent sculptor and painter known for his extremely detailed fantastical scenes inlaid with embossed gold and jewels. These large environments blend very diverse images and symbols. They contain references to several domains, genres and traditions from the Flemish Old Masters to Asian pottery.
Kehinde Wiley	1977		5	U.S.A	Racialized, Queer	Man	Postmodernism	Portrait, Antiracism, Painter and Sculptor
Kehinde Wiley is known for his heroic portraits of African-Americans, in poses referencing Old Masters paintings, surrounded with intricate and colorful motifs. In 2017 he was chosen to paint the official portrait of former president Obama, and its unveiling doubled the number of visitors at the Smithsonian Museum.
Farah Atassi	1981		5	Belgium, Syria	Racialized	Woman	Postmodernism, Op Art, Constructivism, Cubism	Op Art, Constructivism, Cubism
Farah Atassi draws inspiration from folk Art, decorative Arts and early modernist avant-gardes to produce "figurative paintings that depict abstraction". Her use of perspective to represent strange spaces is reminiscent of Op-Art.
Njideka Akunyili Crosby	1983		5	Nigeria, U.S.A	Racialized	Woman	Postmodernism	Black Feminism, Collage, Varied Techniques
Njideka Akunyili Crosby is known for blending photography, collage and painting to depict an intricate fabric of reality in which both her Nigerian heritage and her struggle as an African-American are explored. She sometimes trades paintings with her mentor Wangechi Mutu or with her friend Kehinde Wiley.

Name	Birth	Death	Era	Nation	Tags*	Gender	Currents	Effects
William Blake	1757	1827	1	England		Man	Romanticism	Artist's Book, Poet and Painter, Influence, Radicalism
Although he won't achieve recognition during his lifetime, William Blake will later be regarded as one of the greatest artists in Britain's history. His collections of illustrated mystical poems will be seen as forerunners of modern Artist's Books. He advocates for free love and is a radical thinker whose thoughts forerun anarchism.
Friedrich Hölderlin	1770	1843	1	Germany	Institutionalized	Man	Romanticism	Poet and Philosopher, German Idealism, Influence
Friedrich Hölderlin is a leading figure of German romanticism. Suffering from schizophrenia, he struggled to establish as a poet, but will eventually influence Nietzsche, Brahms, Heidegger, Adorno, Hesse, Celan, and earn a reputation as one of the greatest poets and philosophers in Germany's history
Marceline Desbordes-Valmore	1786	1859	1	France		Woman	Romanticism	Early French Romanticism, Influence, Multitalented Artist, Notre-Dame-des-Pleurs
Marceline Desbordes-Valmore is a pioneer of French romanticism and the most renowned French poetess of her time. She has little education and she's self-taught in poetry. Before turning to poetry, she's been an actress for 20 years. She will greatly influence Rimbaud, Baudelaire, Balzac, Anna de Noailles and Aragon.
Percy Bysshe Shelley	1792	1822	1	England		Man	Romanticism	Early Socialism, Philosophical Poetry, Influence, Vegetarianism
Percy Bysshe Shelley is regarded as one of the greatest lyric and philosophical poets in England's history. As a radical thinker, he will notably influence Marx, Tolstoï, Gandhi and Martin Luther King. He's famously married to Mary Shelley and his close friends include Keats, Byron, Thomas Love Peacock and Leigh Hunt.
Giacomo Leopardi	1798	1837	1	Italy	Queer	Man	Romanticism, Neoclassicism	Poet and Philosopher, Art Theory, Influence
Giacomo Leopardi is regarded as the greatest Italian poet and philosopher of his time. His writings have encompassed the great movements of his era: neoclassicism, enlightenment and romanticism. His philosophical pessimism will have an important influence on the nihilistic schools of thought.
Adam Mickiewicz	1798	1855	1	Poland		Man	Romanticism	Slavic Bard, Master or Professor, Multitalented Writer
Adam Mickiewicz is known for his epic poems and poetic dramas. Regarded as Poland's greatest poet, he forms the "three bards" trinity with Zygmunt Krasiński and Juliusz Słowacki. A major figure of Europe's intellectual life, he met Goethe and the Pope, befriended Pushkin and Chopin, and lectured at the Collège de France.
Alexander Pushkin	1799	1843	1	Russia		Man	Romanticism, Realism	Influence, Multitalented Artist, Golden Age of Russian Poetry
Alexander Pushkin is considered to be the founder of modern Russian literature. A masterful poet, playwright and novelist, he explored genres ranging from the novel in verse to the fairytale. His works encompass neoclassicism, romanticism and realism. He notably wrote Eugene Onegin and Boris Godunov.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning	1806	1861	1	England	Lifelong Illness	Woman	Romanticism	Abolitionism, Feminism, Influence
Elizabeth Barrett Browning is a major figure of Victorian poetry whose works will notably influence Dickinson and Poe. She's also known as a prominent campaigner against slavery and child labor. Her numerous friends include John Ruskin, George Sand, Margaret Fuller, Harriet Beecher Stowe and Harriet Hosmer.
Théophile Gautier	1811	1872	1	France		Man	Romanticism	Early Symbolism, Influence, Multitalented Writer, Art Theory
Théophile Gautier is a leading figure of romantic poetry, and a forerunner of parnassianism, symbolism, decadentism and modernism. He will influence most of the subsequent major poets, from Charles Baudelaire to Ezra Pound. He is also active as a novelist, playwright, painter, and critic of literature, art, dance and theatre.
Emily Dickinson	1830	1886	1	U.S.A	Queer	Woman	Modernism	Unique Style, Early Modern Poetry, Influence
Emily Dickinson is a pioneer of modernist poetry and one of the greatest poets in the U.S.A. Known for her reclusive and eccentric lifestyle, she rejects conventions both as a woman and as a poet. Her use of punctuation, capitalization and slant rhyme is extremely innovative and will have a lasting influence.
Stéphane Mallarmé	1842	1898	2	France		Man	Symbolism	Influence, Parnassianism, Early Modern Poetry
Stéphane Mallarmé is a central figure of parnassianism and one of the most influential French poets. His salons have shaped the Parisian intellectual life of the late 19th century. Also active as an institutor, he's written very few poems, but those will have a seminal influence on cubism, futurism, dadaism and surrealism.
Arthur Rimbaud	1854	1891	2	France	Queer	Man	Symbolism	Early Modern Poetry, Influence, Popular Success
Arthur Rimbaud is a cultural icon, a forerunner of modernist literature and one of the most revered poets in history. He permanently abandoned literature at the age of 20 to become a firearm dealer in Ethiopia. He famously lived the life of a vagabond and went through an abusive relationship with Paul Verlaine.
Rabindranath Tagore	1861	1941	2	India		Man	Modernism	Influence, Contextual Modernism, Multitalented Artist, Nobel
Rabindranath Tagore is a universal genius and polymath, the first non-European recipient of the Nobel prize in literature, and the main influence of modern Bengali and Indian arts. He is a masterful poet, writer, composer, philosopher, painter and theorist who refused knighthood in protest against British violence.
Mirza Alakbar Sabir	1862	1911	2	Azerbaijan		Man	Realism	Satire, Poet and Philosopher, Master or Professor
Mirza Alakbar Sabir is a satirical poet and philosopher whose influence reshaped Azerbaijani literature. As a very popular writer for Molla Nasraddin, a magazine read "from Morocco to East Asia", he uses numerous pen names to avoid persecutions. His writings have influenced revolutionary movements in Iran and Turkey.
Constantine P. Cavafy	1863	1933	2	Egypt, Greece	Queer	Man		Historical Poetry, Philosophical Poetry, Poet and Journalist
Constantine Peter Cavafy is a major figure of Greek poetry who played a crucial role in its international recognition. He's known for his aesthetic perfectionism and for his exploration of psychology, nostalgia and pessimism. His works range from sensuous homoeroticism to historical and philosophical poetry.
Masaoka Shiki	1867	1902	2	Japan	Lifelong Illness	Man	Realism	Modern Haïku, Art Theory, Poet and Writer
Masaoka Noboru, known under the pen name Masaoka Shiki, is hailed as the founder of modern Japanese poetry and reformer of the haiku and tanka forms. He is one ofthe four great haiku masters, along with Bashō, Buson and Issa. He notably befriends Natsume Sōseki. He suffered from tuberculosis for most of his life.
Rubén Darío	1867	1916	2	Nicaragua		Man	Modernism	Modernismo, Influence, Poet, Writer and Diplomat, Prince of Castilian Letters
Rubén Darío is a prominent poet known as the founder of modernismo, a literary movement which exerts a tremendous influence over Spain and Latin America. He served as a diplomat and traveled extensively, notably befriending Jacinto Benavente, Juan Jiménez and Ramón María del Valle-Inclán.
Else Lasker-Schüler	1869	1945	2	Germany	Persecuted	Woman	Expressionism	Poet and Playwright, Bohemianism, Expressionist Poetry, Salon
Else Lasker-Schüle is a major figure of expressionist poetry. Her poems have notably been published in the prestigious journals Der Sturm and Die Fackel. Her literary salon, "Kraal", famously introduced by Martin Buber, has been very influential on most Jewish writers of her time.
Qiu Jin	1875	1907	2	China	Executed	Woman		Feminism, Revolutionary Action, Influence
Qiu Jin is a major figure of China's literary and revolutionary history. She'll be executed at age 31 because of her activism, and become a national heroine of both republicanism and feminism. Through her extremely erudite yet revolutionary poems, she fights every oppressive power.
Rainer Maria Rilke	1875	1926	2	Austria		Man	Modernism	Influence, Poet and Writer, Popular Success
Rainer Maria Rilke is one of the most renowned and popular modernist poets. He will also be known for his expressionist novel The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge and for his correspondence, which includes the famous Letters to a Young Poet. He's married to sculptor Clara Westhoff.
Natalie Clifford Barney	1876	1972	3	U.S.A	Queer	Woman	Modernism	Salon, Feminism, Lesbian Fiction, Multitalented Writer
Natalie Clifford Barney is a central figure of the early 20th century's avant-gardes and an icon of lesbian literature. She holds one of the most influential salons of the era, which gathers the likes of Colette, Rodin, Fitzgerald, Tagore, Lempicka or Duncan. She founded the Académie des Femmes to honour women writers.
Hilda Doolittle	1886	1961	3	England	Queer	Man	Modernism	Imagism, Poet and Writer, Feminism
Hilda Doolittle, known under the pen name H.D., is a founder of imagism, which marked the beginning of American modernist poetry. She is a protégée of Ezra Pound and a friend of Marianne Moore and William Carlos Williams. She's known for her lifelong questioning of gender roles and sexual repression.
Sakutarō Hagiwara	1886	1942	3	Japan		Man	Modernism	Free Verse, Early Japanese Modernism, Art Theory
Sakutarō Hagiwara is known for introducing free verse and modernism in Japanese poetry. He's influential both as a poet and as a prolific essayist and critic. He takes inspiration in concepts which range from Buddhism to western philosophy, especially nihilism. He plays mandolin and lives a bohemian life.
Marianne Moore	1887	1972	3	U.S.A		Woman	Modernism	Art Theory, Suffragism, Influence
Marianne Moore is a prominent modernist poet whose formal innovations have notably earned her the admiration of Pound, Williams, Hilda Doolittle. and T.S Eliot. She mentored many poets of the next generation, such as Elizabeth Bishop or Allen Ginsberg. She's also known for her active support of woman suffrage.
Fernando Pessoa	1888	1972	3	Portugal		Man	Modernism	Heteronyms, Poet and Philosopher, Occultism
Fernando Pessoa is a prominent modernist poet and the major Portuguese writer of his era. He's known for using numerous pen names to which he attributes different personalities, views and styles independent of his own. A flâneur, an occultist and a philosopher, he produced a diverse and mysterious output.
Claude McKay	1889	1948	3	Jamaica, U.S.A	Racialized, Queer	Man	Modernism, Harlem Renaissance	Poet and Novelist, Antiracism, Harlem Renaissance
Claude McKay is a leading figure of the Harlem Renaissance movement. He wrote his first poems in Jamaican Creole. Regarded as "the foremost left-wing black intellectual of his age", heeventually retreated from communism and converted to catholicism.
Anna Akhmatova	1889	1966	3	Russia		Woman	Modernism	Acmeism, Soul of the Silver Age, Influence
Anna Akhmatova is a founder of the acmeist movement and of the Guild of Poets, alongside Osip Mandelstam and Sergey Gorodetsky. Her poems have inspired a huge number of Russian women to begin writing. A central figure of Russian modernism, she notably befriends Pasternak, Mayakovsky, Tsvetaeva and Chukovskaya.
Gabriela Mistral	1889	1957	3	Chile	Queer	Woman	Modernism	Nobel, Master or Professor, Influence
Gabriela Mistral is the first Latin American recipient of the Nobel prize in literature. Her formal education ended before she was 12. She had to teach herself but eventually became a professor and a diplomat. She has notably fought for the rights of poor and orphaned children, and for their access to education.
Juana de Ibarbourou	1892	1979	3	Uruguay		Woman	Modernism	Feminism, Poet and Writer, Juana de América
Juana de Ibarbourou is one of the major Latin American poets of her era. She's known for her sensuous poems and for her feminist views. She's been nominated for the Nobel prize in literature 4 times.
Djuna Barnes	1892	1982	3	U.S.A	Queer	Woman	Modernism	Multitalented Artist, Feminism, Lesbian Fiction
Djuna Barnes is a central figure of both European and American modernist circles. She's been active as a poet, novelist, illustrator, and as an eccentrically innovative journalist. Her novel Nightwood will become a classic of lesbian modernist literature. She notably befriends Joyce, Marianne Moore and Natalie Barney.
Vladimir Mayakovsky	1893	1930	4	Russia		Man	Modernism, Futurism	Socialism, Russian Futurism, Multitalented Artist, Propaganda Art
Vladimir Mayakovsky is a leading figure of Russian futurism, and the author of the movement's manifesto. Although he's a devoted supporter of the communist party, he rejects socialist realism. He's been active as a poet, playwright, visual artist and actor. His relationship with Lilya Brik is notorious.
Langston Hughes	1901	1967	4	U.S.A	Racialized, Queer	Man	Modernism, Harlem Renaissance, Jazz	Antiracism, Multitalented Artist, Jazz Poetry, Harlem Renaissance
Langston Hughes is the leader of the Harlem Renaissance movement, one of the most influential modernist poets and a major inspiration for the francophone Négritude movement. He' been active not only as a poet, but also as a journalist, playwright, novelist and activist.
Léopold Sédar Senghor	1906	2001	4	Senegal	Racialized	Man	Négritude	Négritude, Poet and Politician, Influence
Léopold Sédar Senghor is the major theoretician of Négritude, a framework of literary and political theory which will have a great influence across the Afro-diasporic world. He serves as the first president of the newly independent Senegal. He is the first African member of the Académie Française.
José García Villa	1908	1997	4	Philippines, U.S.A	Racialized	Man	Modernism, Surrealism, Pointillism	Multitalented Artist, Art Theory, Influence
José García Villa, also known under the pen name Doveglion, will be regarded as an influential pioneer of Asian American literature. Known for his formal innovations in poetry, he developed a punctuation style inspired by pointillism. He is also active as a painter, critic and short story writer.
Gherasim Luca	1913	1994	4	Romania, Apatrid	Persecuted, Exile	Man	Modernism, Surrealism	Cubomania, Art Theory, Multitalented Artist
Born Salman Locker and known under several other names, Gherasim Luca is a prominent surrealist poet and artist. When antisemitic persecution forced him to leave Romania, he met the French avant-garde, theorized the surautomatist subcurrent of surrealism, and invented a collage technique he called cubomania.
Aimé Césaire	1913	2008	4	France, Martinique	Racialized	Man	Négritude	Négritude, Socialism, Poet and Playwright, Anti-Colonialism
Aimé Césaire is one of the main theoreticians and representatives of the Négritude movement. A masterful poet, playwright and teacher, he greatly influenced Frantz Fanon and later inspired the Caribbean literary movement known as the Créolité. He also served as a communist mayor and deputy for Martinique.
Gisèle Prassinos	1920	2015	4	Turkey, Greece, France	Exile, Persecuted	Woman	Modernism, Surrealism	Multitalented Artist, Automatic Art, Surrealism
Gisèle Prassinos is a poet, novelist and artist known for the automatic texts she started writing at the age of 14. These have been deeply admired by the macho surrealists, among whom she never felt at ease. She stopped writing for a while to translate Nikos Kazantzakis to French, and later returned as a novelist.
James Baldwin	1924	1987	4	U.S.A	Racialized, Queer	Man	Modernism	Influence, Multitalented Artist, Antiracism, Queer Activism
James Baldwin is one of the major writers of his era, a central figure of the artistic and political life of the US, and an icon of both antiracist and gay literature. He's active as a poet, novelist, playwright and essayist. He frequents countless artists, from Joséphine Baker to Nina Simone, Sartre, Marlon Brando or Miles Davis.
Maya Angelou	1928	2014	4	U.S.A	Racialized	Woman	Modernism	Influence, Multitalented Artist, Antiracism, Feminism
Maya Angelou is a legend of civil rights activism, as well as a hugely influential poet and memoirist. She's worked countless different jobs in her tumultuous life before gaining recognition as a playwright and screenwriter. She will become a reference for feminist writers and for the modern hip-hop culture.
Alda Merini	1931	2009	4	Italy	Institutionalized	Woman	Modernism	Poet and Writer, Unique Style, Influence
Alda Merini is a major figure of Italian poetry. She's known for exploring her experience with mental health and institutionalization in her masterful and often mystic works. These have notably earned her the admiration of Pier Paolo Pasolini, Giorgi Manganelli and Salvatore Quasimodo.
Sylvia Plath	1932	1963	5	U.S.A	Institutionalized	Woman	Modernism	Poet and Writer, Confessional Poetry, Influence
Sylvia Plath is a major figure of confessional poetry. Through her writing, she has documented most of her life, bringing to poetry many subjects or situations usually left untold. Ultimately led to suicide by her lifelong struggle with abuse and mental distress, she'll become iconic as a blighted genius.
Arun Kolatkar	1932	2004	5	India		Man	Postmodernism	Indian Postmodernism, Little Magazine Movement, Poet and Visual Artist
Arun Kolatkar is a leading figure of Indian Postmodernism and Marathi poetry, as well as an originator of what's known as the avant-garde "little magazine movement". He's known for his use of local argot, and for blending Indian tradition with western experimental approaches. He's also a successful graphic designer.
Forough Farrokhzad	1934	1967	5	Iran	Censored	Woman	Modernism	Multitalented Artist, Feminism, Influence
Forough Farrokhzad is Iran's most renowned woman poet, as well as a major figure of Iranian modernism and Persian poetry. Her outspoken feminist voice has often sparked controversy, and her works have been censored for many years. She's also known as a filmmaker and as a painter.
Audre Lorde	1934	1992	5	U.S.A	Racialized, Queer	Woman	Postmodernism	Black Feminism, Queer Activism, Publishing
Audre Lorde is a major poet, writer and activist who's fought most of the great fights of her era against injustice. Describing herself as a "black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet", she focuses her masterful works on the complex fabric of identity. She foreruns the theory which will become known as intersectionality.
June Jordan	1936	2002	5	Jamaica, U.S.A	Queer, Racialized	Woman	Postmodernism	Black Feminism, Master or Professor, Lesbian Fiction, Poet of the People
June Jordan is a major figure of black feminism and LGBT literature. She wrote her first texts when she was 7 and never stopped. She continuously creates poetry, novels, essays, columns, librettos and biographies. As a teacher at Berkeley, she founded the "Poetry for the People" program.
Molara Ogundipe	1940	2019	5	Nigeria		Woman	Postmodernism	Black Feminism, Publishing, Influence, Master or Professor
Molara Ogundipe is a major figure of black feminism and African poetry. She's not only an influential poet but also a powerful activist, critic, theorist, professor and editor. She's credited with greatly inspiring and enhancing the voices of several subsequent artists and feminists across Africa.
Kishwar Naheed	1940		5	Pakistan	Censored, Persecuted, Exile	Woman		Poet and Writer, Black Feminism, Socialism
Kishwar Naheed is a major figure of Urdu literature and Pakistani feminism, for which her poem We Sinful Women is considered an anthem. She faced violent opposition both as a young girl seeking education and as an established, engaged artist. Her violent memories of India's partition are a pivotal subject in her works.
Hedwig Gorski	1949		5	U.S.A, Poland		Woman	Postmodernism, Futurism	Performance Poetry, American Futurism, Avant-garde
Hedwig Gorski is a major figure of postmodern Arts regarded as the founder of performance poetry, a precursor to slam poetry. Active in the fields of experimental theatre, performance, theory, writing and video, she developed an aesthetic she calls "American futurism".
Bei Dao	1949		5	China, Apatrid, U.S.A	Exile, Censored	Man	Postmodernism	Misty Poetry, Master or Professor, Poet and Writer
Bei Dao is a major figure of the Chinese postmodern movement called misty poetry. He's been part of the Red Guard in his youth but later participated in the Tiananmen protests, after which he's been forced to exile. He's an eternal nominee for the Nobel prize in literature.
Giannina Braschi	1953		5	Puerto Rico, U.S.A	Racialized	Woman	Postmodernism	Anti-Imperialism, Multitalented Artist, Master or Professor
Giannina Braschi is a major figure of McOndo literature and Nuyorican culture. A poet, novelist, playwright, philosopher, professor and activist, she's known as an advocate for Puerto Rican independence and as an influential avant-garde Latina author.

Name	Birth	Death	Era	Nation	Tags*	Gender	Currents	Effects
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe	1749	1832	1	Germany		Man	Romanticism	Sturm und Drang, Weimar Classicism, Multitalented Artist, Early Romanticism
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is a universal genius and polymath regarded as Germany's greatest writer. He's an influential playwright, novelist, poet, memoirist, art theorist and scientist. Within the Sturm und Drang movement, he played a major role in the origination of both romanticism and Weimar classicism.
Susanna Rowson	1762	1824	1	U.S.A, England		Woman		Abolitionism, Feminism, Playwright and Novelist, Popular Success
Susanna Rowson is a prominent author and the first registered woman geographer. A playwright, novelist, poet, educator and religious writer, she wrote the most popular best-seller of her era, Charlotte Temple. She's also an influential activist who has fought for the education of women and the abolition of slavery.
Ira Aldridge	1807	1867	1	U.S.A, England	Racialized	Man		Abolitionism, Influence, Playwright and Actor
Ira Aldridge is the first actor and playwright of African descent to achieve a triumphant international fame. Fighting persistent discrimination, he's one of the most successful actors in Europe, Russia and America, inspiring many subsequent black actors. He often addresses the public against slavery after his plays.
Cheng Changgeng	1811	1880	1	China		Man		Father of Peking Opera, Performer and Theatre Director, Influence
Cheng Changgeng is regarded as the founder of Pekin opera. He's also known for creating Laosheng, the old gentlemen role in Chinese theatre. He serves as the leader of Beijing's actor's guild. One of his disciples, Tan Xinpei, will also become a legend of Chinese opera and the greatest performer of his generation.
William Wells Brown	1814	1884	1	U.S.A	Racialized	Man		Abolitionism, Feminism, Multitalented Artist, Influence
Born into slavery, William Wells Brown became the first African-American novelist, playwright and travel writer after escaping and educating himself. He has notably fought for the abolition of slavery, women's suffrage, pacifism and prison reform. He did so as an orator, as an historian and as a writer.
Henrik Ibsen	1828	1906	1	Norway		Man	Naturalism, Realism	Naturalism, Popular Success, Influence, Father of Realism
Henrik Ibsen is regarded as the greatest playwright of his era and as a founder of both realism and modernism in theatre. His popular success is unprecedented and he will soon become the most performed playwright worldwide after Shakespeare.
Machado de Assis	1839	1908	1	Brazil	Racialized	Man	Romanticism, Realism	Multitalented Artist, Influence, Unique Style
Although he won't achieve international recognition before his death, Machado de Assis will soon be regarded as Brazil's greatest writer and as one of the greatest black writers in history. A self-taught multilinguist from a poor family, he writes plays, novels, poetry, and founded Brasil's academy of letters.
Gabriela Zapolska	1857	1921	1	Poland		Woman	Naturalism	Naturalism, Feminism, Playwright and Writer
Gabriela Zapolska is a pioneer of modern Polish drama. A prominent actress and playwright, she has performed in more than 200 productions and written over 40 plays. She has also created numerous novels, short stories, articles and one film script. Her works focus on the lives of the poor, the vulnerable and the outcasts.
August Strindberg	1849	1912	1	Sweden		Man	Naturalism, Expressionism	Nobel, Early Expressionism, Playwright and Painter
August Strindberg is regarded as the founder of modern Swedish literature and as an influential pioneer of expressionism. A playwright, poet, novelist, essayist and painter, he's known for his experimental and radical approach of the arts, for his occultism, and for his struggle with mental distress.
Anton Tchekhov	1860	1904	1	Russia		Man	Modernism	Modern Theatre, Theatre of Mood, Influence, Playwright and Doctor
Anton Tchekhov is a founder of modern theatre. He's also regarded as one of the greatest writers of both plays and short stories. Throughout his career, he never stopped practicing as a medical doctor. He's known for developing a peculiar style of drama which has notably been labeled as a "theatre of mood".
Arthur Schnitzler	1862	1931	2	Austria		Man	Modernism	Decadentism, Playwright and Novelist, Young Vienna
Arthur Schnitzler is a major figure of the Young Vienna avant-garde movement and a prominent writer of decadent theatre. Also a novelist and short story author, he's known for his strong opposition to antisemitism and for his exploration of sensuous relationships in fiction. He's often been labeled as a pornographer.
Konstantin Stanislavski	1863	1938	2	Russia		Man	Symbolism, Naturalism, Socialist Realism	Naturalism, Socialist Realism, Art Theory, Influence
Konstantin Stanislavski is the co-founder of the Moscow Art Theatre. He's regarded as one of the greatest actors and stage directors of his era. His name will be internationally associated with the influential system of actor training he conceived. He's notably been a mentor to Vsevolod Meyerhold.
Lesya Ukrainka	1871	1913	2	Ukraine, Russia		Woman	Modernism	Multitalented Artist, Feminism, Socialism
Lesya Ukrainka is a major figure of Ukrainian literature. A playwright, poet, writer and essayist, she's also known for her political activism. An influential communist revolutionary and feminist, she was arrested in 1907 and has lived under surveillance ever since.
Alfred Jarry	1873	1907	2	France		Man	Symbolism	Pataphysics, Early Dada, Influence, Theatre of the Absurd
Alfred Jarry is a major symbolist writer regarded as a forerunner of Dada, surrealism and futurism. A versatile playwright, poet, novelist and essayist, he's known as the creator of Ubu. He also founded Pataphysics, an absurdist philosophical and artistic movement which will remain active well into the 21st century.
Vsevolod Meyerhold	1874	1940	2	Russia	Executed, Censored	Man	Symbolism, Constructivism, Futurism	Constructivism, Futurism, Influence
Vsevolod Meyerhold is the best-known and most influential Russian director of his era, as well as a major figure of symbolist and constructivist theatre. He's known for his radical and experimental approach. Although he never opposed communism, he will be tortured and executed during the great purge.
Antonin Artaud	1896	1956	2	France	Institutionalized	Man	Modernism	Theatre of Cruelty, Influence, Art Theory
Antonin Artaud is a major figure of modern theatre known for theorizing the Theatre of Cruelty, an experimental form inspired by Asian traditions. Active as an actor, poet, screenwriter and theatre director, he has collaborated with Germaine Dulac, Abel Gance or Theodor Dreyer. He spent critical years in psychiatry.
Bertolt Brecht	1898	1956	2	Germany	Exile	Man	Modernism	Epic Theatre, Playwright and Poet, Socialism
Bertolt Brecht is a major figure of modern theatre known as the main theoretician of epic theatre. This political form influenced by dialectical materialism is based on the "distancing effect" he developed. As a Marxist, he lived in exile during the Nazi period. He also writes poems, essays and fiction.
Mani Madhava Chakyar	1899	1990	2	India		Man		Therukoothu, Kathakali, Master or Professor, Emperor of Rasa-Abhinaya
Mani Madhava Chakyar is regarded as the greatest modern performer of the Thereunto and Koodiyattam Arts. He's known worldwide for his ability to act using just his eyes. His authority in the practice, theory and teaching of Indian performing Arts is unmatched.
Theodore Ward	1902	1983	2	U.S.A	Racialized	Man	Modernism, Harlem Renaissance	Chicago Black Renaissance, Master or Professor, Antiracism, Dean of Black Dramatists
Theodore Ward is a major figure of the Black Chicago Renaissance movement. He's known for his advocacy of social justice reform and for his innovative, nuanced depiction of the black experience. He co-founded the N*gro Playwrights Company with Langston Hughes, Paul Robeson and Richard Wright.
Lilian Hellman	1905	1984	2	U.S.A		Woman	Modernism	Socialism, Feminism, Popular Success
Lilian Hellman is a major Hollywood screenwriter and Broadway playwright. At the peak of her career, she was famously blacklisted because of her communist activism. She's best known as the author of The Little Foxes, which will become a classic of American drama.
Samuel Beckett	1906	1989	3	Ireland		Man	Modernism	Playwright and Novelist, Theatre of the Absurd, Nobel, Resistance
Samuel Beckett is a major figure of modern literature. An influential playwright, novelist, essayist and poet, he's best known for his play Waiting for Godot. In his youth he's assisted James Joyce on several projects, including Finnegan's Wake. He writes alternatively in French and English, and translates his own works.
Cao Yu	1910	1996	3	China		Man	Modernism	Influence, Modern Theatre, China Theatre Association
Cao Yu is regarded as the most influential Chinese playwright of his time. Credited with bringing Chinese drama into its first golden age, he's known for exploring taboo subjects, such as the damage caused by incest. Although he's critical of Mao, the social subtext of his plays made them even more popular under his rule.
Littlewood, Joan	1914	2002	3	England		Woman	Modernism	Theatre Workshop, Fun Palace, Mother of Modern Theatre
Joan Littlewood is a central figure of British modern theatre known for founding the Theatre Workshop. She's also created a concept of cultural celebrations called Fun Palaces, which will become reality 12 years after her death. She's lived under surveillance for over 10 years because of her communist activism.
Krishnan Nair & Kalyanikutty Amma	1914 1915	1990 1999	3	India	Couple	Mixed		Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, Master or Professor, Influence
Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair & Kalyanikutty Amma are respectively regarded as the greatest modern performers of Kathakali and Mohiniyattam, two traditional performing Arts. Kalyanikutty Amma is credited with resurrecting Mohiniyattam and making it popular in India and beyond.
Tadeusz Kantor	1915	1990	3	Poland		Man	Modernism	Happening, Experimental Art, Multitalented Artist
Tadeusz Kantor is an influential figure of experimental and postdramatic theatre. Active as a director, theorist, set designer and painter, he's also involved in the creation of happenings and assemblages. He takes interest in every aspect avant-garde creation.
Stormé DeLarverie	1920	2014	3	United States		Woman	Modernism	Antiracism, Queer Activism, Multitalented Artist, Rosa Parks of the Gay Community
Stormé DeLarverie is one of the most influential drag kings in History, as well as a major figure of queer and antiracist activism. Known as the \"guardian of lesbians\" in Greenwich Village, she's been a central protagonist of the Stonewall rebellion.
Maria Callas	1923	1977	3	Greece		Woman		La Divina, Influence, Popular Success
Maria Callas is one of the most popular and influential modern opera singers. She's known for having considerably enhanced the importance of theatrical interpretation within opera performance. She will be remembered internationally as both the ultimate opera singer and the perfect archetype of the diva.
Efua Sutherland	1924	1996	3	Ghana		Woman	Modernism, Pan-Africanism	Anti-Colonialism, Multitalented Artist, Influence, Pan-Africanism
Efua Sutherland is a major figure of pan-Africanism and an internationally renowned promoter of African arts. She's founded many Ghanaian cultural institutions, pioneered African studies and inspired the PANAFEST. She's active and influential as a playwright, director, poet, publisher, activist and professor.
Dario Fo	1926	2016	3	Italy		Man	Postmodernism	Nobel, Socialism, Pataphysics
Dario Fo is one of the most popular, influential and controversial playwrights of his era. He's known for taking inspiration in the ancient Commedia dell'arte and Giullari jest styles, and for exploring many taboo subjects through a left-wing lense. He's also active as a director, stage designer, actor, painter and songwriter.
Heiner Müller	1929	1995	3	Germany	Censored	Man	Postmodernism	Postdramatic Theatre, Appropriation Art, Multitalented Artist
Heiner Müller is a major figure of postmodern, experimental and postdramatic theatre. Active as a playwright, theatre director, poet, writer and essayist, he's best known for introducing the technique of "sampling" in dramaturgy.
Lorraine Hansberry	1930	1965	4	U.S.A	Racialized, Queer	Woman	Postmodernism, Pan-Africanism	Black Feminism, Queer Activism, Postcolonialism
Lorraine Hansberry is the first African-American woman to write a Broadway play. She's also active as a director, essayist, screenwriter. As a prominent activist, she fights sexism, racism and the discrimination of LGBT people. She's the person who inspired her friend Nina Simone's song "To Be Young, Gifted and Black".
Augusto Boal	1931	2009	4	Brazil	Exile, Censored	Man	Postmodernism	Socialism, Theatre of the Oppressed, Participatory Art
Augusto Boal is a prominent stage director known for founding the Theatre of the Oppressed, an influential and international movement linked to leftist popular education. In 1971, he was arrested, tortured and forced to quit Brazil by the military regime. He's now a UNESCO "World Theatre Ambassador".
Fernando Arrabal	1932		4	Spain	Exile	Man	Postmodernism, Surrealism, Dadaism	Anarchism, Multitalented Artist, Pataphysics
Fernando Arrabal Terán is a prolific poet, playwright, filmmaker, novelist and essayist. A co-founder of Panic, he's associated with numerous avant-garde artists. In 1967 he was famously imprisoned as a political opponent of Franco's regime despite the efforts of Samuel Beckett, François Mauriac or Arthur Miller.
Jerzy Grotowski	1933	1999	4	Poland	Censored	Man	Postmodernism	Experimental Art, Art Theory, Influence
Jerzy Grotowski is a major figure of experimental theatre. Influential both as a director and as a theorist, he developed a unique approach to acting. Taking inspiration in Afro-Caribbean traditions, he's explored wordless means of verbal expression. He's been a mentor to Eugenio Barba and a model to Peter Brook.
Wole Soyinka	1934		4	Nigeria	Exile, Censored	Man	Postmodernism	Nobel, Art Theory, Master or Professor, Playwright and Poet
Wole Soyinka is the first sub-Saharan African recipient of the Nobel prize in literature and a major figure of Nigeria's political and cultural history. Active as a playwright, director, poet, novelist, essayist and professor, he has fought several military regimes and was imprisoned for 2 years.
Hélène Cixous & Ariane Mnouchkine	1937 1939		4	France, Algeria		Woman		Théâtre du Soleil, Feminism, Socialism, Multitalented Artist
Ariane Mnouchkine, also known as a filmmaker, is known for founding the Théâtre du Soleil, an influential avant-garde ensemble inspired by multiple Asian traditions and left-wing politics. Hélène Cixous, who's known as a prominent philosopher and feminist, acts as a recurrent playwright for the company.
Caryl Churchill	1938		4	England		Woman	Postmodernism	Feminism, Epic Theatre, Socialism
Caryl Churchill is a major figure of British theatre. She's known for experimenting with techniques drawn from epic theatre, theatre of cruelty and dance-theatre to explore feminist questions and subjects on stage. She has also produced several successful radio and television plays.
Gao Xingjian	1940		4	China, France	Censored	Man	Postmodernism	Nobel, Theatre of the Absurd, Multitalented Artist
Gao Xingjian is a major figure of absurd theatre and Chinese literary avant-garde. A playwright, novelist, painter, photographer, filmmaker and critic, he faced persecution and censorship as a political opponent during the 70's, but was later chosen to work for the Beijing People's Art Theatre.
Robert Wilson	1941		4	U.S.A	Queer	Man	Postmodernism	Experimental Art, Multitalented Artist, Light Art
Robert Wilson is a major figure of avant-garde theatre and opera. He has collaborated with Philip Glass, Ludinda Childs, Tom Waits, Lady Gaga and Mikhail Baryshnikov. A choreographer, performer, painter, theatre director, sculptor and video artist, he's known for his especially masterful lighting design.
Elfriede Jelinek	1946		4	Austria		Woman	Postmodernism	Nobel, Grazer Gruppe, Feminism, Multitalented Artist
Elfriede Jelinek is a major figure of contemporary and postdramatic theatre. A playwright, novelist, screenwriter, video artist and musical prodigy, she's known for her feminist and communist commitments. Her novel The Piano Teacher was famously adapted into film by Michael Haneke.
Ntozake Shange	1948	2018	5	U.S.A	Racialized	Woman	Postmodernism	Black Feminism, Multitalented Artist, Choreopoem
Ntozake Shange is a major figure of black feminism known as the creator of the choreopoem, an Art form that blends poetry and dance. Close to the Black Arts Movement at first, she developed a personal style which focuses on intersectionality and differs greatly from the BAM's male-dominated aesthetic.
Zorica Jevremović	1948		5	Serbia, Yugoslavia		Woman	Postmodernism	Multitalented Artist, Avant-garde, Art Theory, Feminism
Zorica Jevremović is a major figure of Serbian culture. A playwright, director, filmmaker, choreographer, theorist, activist and historian, she's known for working within alternative Art groups in communities abandoned by the traditional art world. She's married to the expert on Yugoslav culture Ranko Munitić.
Ai Nagai	1951		5	Japan		Woman	Realism, Postmodernism	Satire, Influence, Playwright and Stage/Theatre Director
Ai Nagai is a major figure of Japanese contemporary theatre known for her realist and satirical style. She first achieved recognition with her two-women shows within the Nitosha Company, before becoming one of the most successful Japanese playwrights, directors and company leaders of her time.
Cherríe Moraga	1952		5	U.S.A	Racialized, Queer	Woman	Postmodernism	Black Feminism, Chicanx Art, Art Theory
Cherríe Moraga is a major figure of Chicanx Art. A playwright, poet, essayist and activist, she has collaborated with Gloria Anzaldúa, Barbara Smith and Audre Lorde. Her works and theory focus on fighting patriarchy, capitalism, imperialism and hetero-normativity.
Spiderwoman Theater	1976		5	U.S.A	Indigenous, Queer	Woman	Postmodernism	Feminism, Anti-Imperialism, Experimental Art, Indigenous Art
Spiderwoman Theater is a troupe of indigenous women known for pioneering feminist theatre and urban performance. They famously question all forms of oppression and provide free education on performing Arts practice.
Oriza Hirata	1962		5	Japan		Man	Postmodernism	Contemporary Colloquial Theater, Art Theory, Master or Professor
Oriza Hirata is known for creating the contemporary colloquial theater, or quiet drama. As a theorist, playwright and stage director, he tries to free Japanese theatre from the emulation of Western drama, while also working in international collaborations. He's also active in the fields of robotics and communication-design.
Lynn Nottage	1964		5	U.S.A	Racialized	Woman	Postmodernism	Black Feminism, Playwright and Screenwriter, New Media Art, Master or Professor
Lynn Nottage is a major figure of black feminist Art. She's a prominent playwright and director, screenwriter, professor also known for creating transmedia works and installations. She's the only woman to have won 2 Pulitzer prizes for drama, and she was included in 2019's Time 100 list.
TG Stan	1989		5	Belgium		Mixed	Postmodernism	Experimental Art, Avant-garde, Postmodernism
TG Stan is an influential collective of avant-garde theatre. It operates on a democratic principle and each of its members takes part in all aspects of creation. Most of its productions are text-based and focus on the acting work. Its name is an acronym for "Stop Thinking About Names".
Sarah Kane	1971	1999	5	England	Institutionalized	Woman	Expressionism, Postmodernism	Experimental Art, In-Yer-Face Theatre, Playwright and Poet
Although she won't achieve critical success during her lifetime, Sarah Kane will soon be regarded as a major figure of contemporary theatre. Her plays are known for the scandals caused by their extreme violence. They've been described as part of the In-Yer-Face theatre genre. She will commit suicide at the age of 28.
Koleka Putuma	1993		5	South Africa	Queer	Woman	Postmodernism	Anti-Imperialism, Playwright and Poet, Feminism
Koleka Putuma is an internationally acclaimed poet, playwright and theatre director. She's known for focusing her works on queer, decolonial and feminist issues. She's the best-selling poet in South Africa's history.

Name	Birth	Death	Era	Nation	Tags*	Gender	Currents	Effects
Antonio Canova	1757	1822	1	Italy		Man	Neoclassicism	Sculptor and Painter, Neoclassicism, Baroque Renaissance, Influence
Antonio Canova is regarded as the greatest neoclassical sculptor in history. He's the most celebrated artist of his time in Europe. His numerous patrons include Napoleon, Thomas Jefferson and the Pope. He will become a lot less popular during the following century, after the aesthetic shift caused by romanticism.
Anne Whitney	1821	1915	1	U.S.A	Queer	Woman		Feminism, Abolitionism, Sculptor and Poet
Anne Whitney is a major figure of American sculpture. She's known for living a free, unconventional life and being a strong advocate for women's rights and the abolition of slavery. Even though she's a radical, she still attracts prestigious commissions. She notably befriends fellow sculptors Harriet Hosmer and Edmonia Lewis.
Harriet Hosmer	1830	1908	1	U.S.A		Woman	Neoclassicism	Technical Innovation, Neoclassicism, Sculptor and Painter
Harriet Goodhue Hosmer is regarded as the first professional woman sculptor, as well as the most renowned of her century in America. She's known for her many technical innovations. Her numerous artist friends include Nathaniel Hawthorne, George Eliot, George Sand and Elizabeth Barrett.
Jules Dalou	1831	1908	1	France	Exile	Man		Paris Commune, New Sculpture, Socialism
Jules Dalou is regarded as one of the greatest European sculptors of his time. His socialist commitment prevented him from receiving the Prix de Rome. His involvement in the Paris Commune alongside Gustave Courbet forced him to take refuge in England, where he participated in the new sculpture movement.
Augustus & Louis Saint-Gaudens	1848 1854	1907 1913	1	Ireland, U.S.A	Siblings	Man		American Renaissance, Cornish Colony, Master or Professor
Augustus & Louis Saint-Gaudens are major figures of the American Renaissance era. They're known as the founders of the influential Cornish art colony, and as the authors of several prestigious memorials. Augustus is also a renowned teacher and coin artist.
Auguste Rodin & Camille Claudel	1840 1864	1917 1943	1	France	Institutionalized, Couple	Mixed	Modernism	Early Modern Sculpture, Master or Professor, Influence
Auguste Rodin & Camille Claudel are the most renowned pioneers of modern sculpture. Auguste was already a famous artist when Camille began studying with him. She became highly acclaimed and influential herself but sexism restrained her career. She will be forcefully institutionalized at the request of her brother Paul.
Lola Mora	1866	1936	1	Argentina		Woman		Sculptor and Painter, Technical Innovation, Influence
Lola Mora is a major figure of Argentina's artistic history. Known for her innovative charcoal drawings and her prestigious sculpture commissions, she paved the way for subsequent Latin American women artists. She also detains many patents in various domains, including mining devices and a system of film projection on vapor.
Käthe Kollwitz	1867	1945	1	Germany		Woman	Realism, Expressionism	Socialism, Sculptor and Printmaker, Influence
Käthe Kollwitz is a major figure of both expressionism and realism. She's not only influential as a sculptor, but also as a painter and printmaker. She's known for her cycles generally centered on revolutions, wars and persecutions. She's a committed pacifist and communist.
Constantin Brâncuși	1876	1957	1	Romania		Man	Modernism	Early Modern Sculpture, Influence, Sculptor and Photographer, Abstract Art
Constantin Brâncuși, sometimes referred to as the patriarch of modern sculpture, is one of the most internationally influential artists of his era. Taking inspiration from folk Art and non-European traditions, he pioneered western abstract sculpture. He's also active as a photographer and builds his own furniture.
Ivan Meštrović	1883	1962	1	Croatia, Yugoslavia		Man	Symbolism, Art Nouveau, Vienna Secession	Sculptor and Architect, Art Nouveau, Vienna Secession
Ivan Meštrović is a major figure of Croatian Art and the leader of the Medulić group. His European influence has been described by Auguste Rodin as "the greatest phenomena among the sculptors". He's known for his monuments inspired by the Gothic, expressionist and secession styles.
Edmonia Lewis	1844	1907	2	U.S.A	Indigenous, Racialized	Woman	Neoclassicism	Neoclassicism, Abolitionism, Influence
Edmonia Lewis is the first internationally renowned African-American sculptor. A neoclassical master, she's known for not hiring assistants as most other sculptors do. Many of her works explore her mixed indigenous and African heritage.
Alexander Archipenko	1887	1964	2	Ukraine, Russia, U.S.A		Man	Modernism, Cubism, Constructivism	Avant-garde, Multitalented Artist, Cubism
Alexander Archipenko is a pioneer of cubist sculpture and an influential figure of modern Arts. He's also active as a painter, graphic artist and photographer. While living in Paris, he was part of the Section d'Or group.
Sophie Taeuber-Arp	1887	1964	2	Switzerland		Woman	Modernism, Constructivism, Dadaism	Concrete Art, Dadaism, Multitalented Artist
Sophie Taeuber-Arp is a major figure of concrete Art who's been fruitfully associated to various major avant-gardes, from Dada to constructivism. She's active as a sculptor, painter, theorist, architect, dancer, and as a designer for textile, furniture and interiors. She's married to fellow artist Jean Arp.
Vera Mukhina	1889	1953	2	Latvia		Woman	Modernism, Realism, Cubism, Socialist Realism	Sculptor and Painter, Cubism, Queen of Soviet Sculpture, Propaganda Art
Vera Mukhina is regarded as the greatest Soviet sculptor and as the leader of socialist realism. Before that, she's been involved in various avant-gardes and has worked as a painter and costume designer. She protected Riga's freedom monument from being turned into a statue of Stalin.
Naum Gabo	1890	1977	2	Russia		Man	Modernism, Constructivism, Bauhaus, Cubism	Early Kinetic Art, Avant-garde, Influence, Bauhaus
Naum Gabo is regarded as one of the most influential modern sculptors. A central figure of constructivism, he has been associated to most of the major avant-gardes of his time. He's best known for creating the first kinetic sculpture. He's also active as a printmaker, Art theorist, and taught at the Bauhaus.
Joan Miró	1893	1983	2	Spain		Man	Modernism, Expressionism, Surrealism	Artist's Book, Sculptor and Painter, Ceramics, Influence
Joan Miró is one of the best-known artists of the 20th century. He's influential as a painter, sculptor and as a ceramicist. He's known for the unique surrealist style he developed after exploring most of the major aesthetics of his time. He's a pioneer of automatic drawing and has produced over 250 artist's books.
Louise Nevelson	1899	1988	2	U.S.A		Woman	Modernism	Assemblage, Influence, Found Object, Conceptual Art
Louise Nevelson is a major figure of American sculpture and one of the most influential artists in the fields of assemblage, found object and conceptual Art. She's also been active as a painter and printmaker. Although she's not a feminist, she will have a strong influence on the feminist Art movement.
Edna Manley	1900	1987	2	Jamaica, England		Woman	Modernism	Art Theory, Master or Professor, Socialism
Edna Manley has been called the "mother of Jamaican art". She's known for organizing and teaching Art classes across the country, and for creating its first public monument to depict a black man, Paul Bogle. In addition to her efforts in honoring the black people of Jamaica, she's known for her socialist and feminist influence.
Alberto Giacometti	1901	1966	2	Switzerland		Man	Modernism, Expressionism, Cubism, Surrealism	Sculptor and Painter, Cubism, Surrealism
Alberto Giacometti is one of the best-known sculptors of the 20th century. Before turning to expressionism, he's been a major figure of surrealist sculpture. Also active as a theorist, painter, draftsman and printmaker, he's known for his slender figurines. Two of them will become the most expensive sculptures ever sold.
Joseph Cornell	1903	1972	3	U.S.A		Man	Modernism, Surrealism	Early Assemblage, Experimental Film, Multitalented Artist, Influence
Joseph Cornell is a pioneer of assemblage, installation Art and experimental cinema. Self-taught and reclusive, he creates sculptures with fragments of objects. He stopped showing his films after Dalí yelled at him. He's in a platonic relationship with Yayoi Kusama. He'll be regarded as a forerunner of pop Art.
Barbara Hepworth	1903	1975	3	England		Woman	Modernism	Unit One, Abstraction-Création, Tachism, Sculptor and Printmaker
Barbara Hepworth is a major figure of modernist sculpture. She's known for creating the pierced shapes that will be imitated by many renowned artists such as Henry Moore. She co-founded the Unit One movement and has been a leading figure of the St Ives colony, which notably gathers Naum Gabo and Ben Nicholson.
Marina Núñez del Prado	1910	1995	3	Bolivia		Woman	Modernism	Indigenous Art, Influence, Varied Techniques
Marina Núñez del Prado is a major figure of Latin American sculpture. Taking inspiration from indigenous Bolivian Art, she developed a unique modernist style. She travels extensively, meeting many influential artists from Latin America, Europe and the US in an effort to bring the world together through Art.
Louise Bourgeois	1911	2010	3	France		Woman	Modernism, Expressionism, Surrealism	Feminism, Installation Art, Sculptor and Painter, Influence
Louise Bourgeois is one of the best-known sculptors of the 20th century and a major figure of feminist Art. Active as an installation artist, painter and printmaker, she's close to the abstract expressionists but remains independent. She has created artworks in support of LGBT equality.
Lily Garafulic	1914	2012	3	Chile		Woman	Modernism	Generación del 40, Art Theory, Master or Professor
Lily Garafulic is a major figure of Chilean Art and in the Generación del 40 movement. Also active as a printmaker, professor and curator, she has notably worked at Atelier 17 after receiving a Guggenheim Fellowship.
Mira Schendel	1919	1988	3	Brazil	Exile, Persecuted	Woman	Modernism	Multitalented Artist, Language in Visual Arts, Installation Art
Mira Schendel is a major figure of Brazilian Art. Active as a sculptor, poet and painter, she's known for her use of language and calligraphy in installation Art. In her youth she was forced to leave Italy, where she was studying Art and philosophy, because of persecutions against the Jews.
Anne Truitt	1921	2004	3	U.S.A		Woman	Modernism, Minimalism	Minimalism, Color Field, Influence
Anne Truitt is a major figure of American Art and an influential pioneer of minimalism. She's known for her rectangular pillars inspired by color field painting. Unlike most contemporary artists, she creates her monumental works by hand with the help of a cabinetmaker, applying up to 40 coats of paint on them.
Elsa Gramcko	1925	1994	3	Venezuela		Woman	Modernism	Tachism, Assemblage, Sculptor and Painter
Elsa Gramcko is a major figure of Venezuelan Art. She went through many creative phases, notably producing abstract, metallic assemblages, geometric paintings, tachist paintings and mixed-media expressionist canvases.
Niki de Saint Phalle	1930	2002	3	France, U.S.A	Queer	Woman	Modernism, Nouveau Réalisme	Visionary Environment, Multitalented Artist, Feminism, Influence
Niki de Saint Phalle is one of the best-known sculptors of the 20th century and a major figure of feminist Art. With no formal training, she creates assemblages, paintings, films, monumental sculptures and visionary environments. She has collaborated with many renowned artists, including her husband Jean Tinguely.
Takako Saito	1929		3	Japan		Woman	Fluxus, Postmodernism	Installation Art, Performance Art, Sculptor and Contemporary Artist
Takako Saito is an influential and versatile Fluxus artist. After studying psychology she joined the "creative Art education" movement and several avant-garde groups. Then, she has notably produced influential artist's multiples, installations, performances and special chess sets.
Ángela Gurría	1929		4	Mexico		Woman	Modernism	Public Art, Muralism, Master or Professor
Ángela Gurría is a major figure of Mexican Art and the first woman to join the Academia de Artes. At first, she had to use male pseudonyms, but she eventually gained enough recognition to be commissioned a monumental sculpture for the 1968 Olympics. She doesn't sign her sculptures, saying "she is her work".
Marisol Escobar	1930	2016	4	Venezuela, France		Woman	Postmodernism, Pop Art, Nouveau Réalisme	Feminism, Nouveau Réalisme, Pop Art, Multitalented Artist
Marisol Escobar is a prominent sculptor known for her feminist assemblages. She exerts a tremendous influence on Northern American Pop artists, although her views are rather opposed to theirs. She also practices embroidery and drawing.
Magdalena Abakanowicz	1930	2017	4	Poland		Woman	Postmodernism, Minimalism	Fiber Art, Public Art, Influence
Magdalena Abakanowicz is regarded as Poland's greatest visual artist. She's known for her textile Art, fiber Art, and for her outdoor installations comprised of numerous figurines. She served as a nurse during WWII, when she was only 14.
Myriam Bat-Yosef	1931		4	Palestine, France, Iceland		Woman	Modernism	Sculptor and Painter, Body Art, Installation Art
Myriam Bat-Yosef is a multitalented artist who has applied her unique style to the fields of sculpture, painting, body Art and installation Art. Born in Germany from a Lithuanian family, she had to flee the Nazi regime and has lived in Palestine, France, Italy, Iceland and in the U.S.A.
Fernando Botero	1932		4	Colombia		Man	Postmodernism	Influence, Public Art, Sculptor and Painter
Fernando Botero is regarded as the most renowned visual artist from Latin America. He's known for his sculptures and paintings of large persons depicted in a distinctive, round style known as Boterismo. He famously documented the US abuse of Iraqi prisoners in a series of controversial paintings.
Helen Escobedo	1934	2010	4	Mexico		Woman	Modernism	Land Art, Installation Art, Art Theory
Helen Escobedo is a major figure of Mexican Art. She's active as a sculptor, painter, printmaker, writer, performance artist, curator and professor. She's primarily known for her site-specific installations and land Art which addresses ecological and social issues.
Pedro Friedeberg	1936		4	Mexico		Man	Postmodernism, Surrealism	Multitalented Artist, Unique Style, Occultism
Pedro Friedeberg is a major figure of Mexican surrealism. Although he's primarily known for his famous hand-chair sculptures, he also produces fantastic architectural drawings, furniture design and psychedelic, occult visual designs inspired by op Art.
Nobuo Sekine	1942	2019	4	Japan		Man	Postmodernism	Mono-Ha, Installation Art, Conceptual Art
Nobuo Sekine is a central figure of the influential Mono-ha contemporary movement, alongside Kishio Suga, Susumu Koshimizu, Jiro Takamatsu and Lee Ufan. His conceptual land Art piece Phase-Mother Earth is considered the founding act of this new aesthetic. He's also known for his Phase Of Nothingness series.
Ana Maria Pacheco	1943		4	Brazil		Woman	Expressionism	Sculptor and Painter, Installation Art, Expressionism
Ana Maria Pacheco is a prominent sculptor known for her expressionist installations made of painted wood sculptures. She studied music and worked as a teacher at several universities. She's also active as a painter and a printmaker.
El Anatsui	1944		4	Ghana		Man	Postmodernism	Installation Art, Fiber Art, Ceramics
El Anatsui is a major figure of African contemporary Art. Working with materials ranging from clay to wood, he's mainly known for his sculptural installations made of recycled aluminum pieces sewn together. He's also active as an educator.
Huma Bhabha	1962		4	Pakistan, U.S.A	Racialized	Woman	Postmodernism	Assemblage, Installation Art, Multitalented Artist
Huma Bhabha is a major figure of contemporary sculpture. Working with a wide variety of materials, techniques and found objects, she's known for her grotesque and dismembered characters. She also produces drawings, collages and prints.
Bodys Isek Kingelez	1948	2015	5	Congo		Man	Postmodernism	Installation Art, Assemblage, Unique Style
Bodys Isek Kingelez is a prominent sculptor known for his models of utopian buildings and cities made of found and recycled materials. He will produce over 300 of these works which he calls his "Extrême Maquettes". He's entirely self-taught and began his career as an Art restorer.
Jane Alexander	1959		5	South Africa		Woman	Postmodernism, Expressionism	Installation Art, Sculptor and Contemporary Artist, New Media Art
Jane Alexander is a major figure of South African Art. Active as a sculptor, photographer, professor and video artist, she's known for her bleak and figurative site-specific installations. These works usually explore South Africa's tragic political history.
Bita Fayyazi	1962		5	Iran		Woman	Postmodernism	Public Art, Ceramics, Sculptor and Contemporary Artist
Bita Fayyazi is a major figure of Iranian contemporary Art best known for pioneering public in the country. She developed a distinctive style, which has been labeled as "dark ceramics". Her large, conceptual and theatrical installations and sculptures have received international acclaim.
Roxanne Swentzell	1962		5	U.S.A	Indigenous	Woman	Postmodernism	Pueblo Ceramics, Indigenous Art, Public Art
Roxanne Swentzell is one of the best-known Native American contemporary artists and a major figure of pueblo ceramics. Active as a sculptor, ceramicist, curator and activist, she's known for her masterful and expressive figures. She built her own home and homeschooled her children.
Rachel Whiteread	1963		5	England		Woman	Postmodernism	Young British Artists, Installation Art, Public Art
Rachel Whiteread is a major figure of the Young British Artists movement. She's known for her public installations and sculptures, which are mostly casts, and often materialize the "negative" space between objects or buildings.
Simone Leigh	1967		5	U.S.A	Racialized	Woman	Postmodernism	New Media Art, Sculptor and Contemporary Artist, Black Feminism
Simone Leigh is a major figure of black feminist Art. She's known for her monumental sculptures of women with large dresses. She also creates video Art, installation Art and performances. She also organized social practice projects in homage to the free people's clinics opened by the Black Panthers in the late 60's.
Bharti Kher	1969		5	India, England	Racialized	Woman	Postmodernism	Folklore, Installation Art, Multitalented Artist
Bharti Kher is a major figure of Indian contemporary Art. She's known for taking inspiration in the country's traditions, and she notably uses bindis in unusual ways. She's active as a sculptor, painter, writer and installation artist.
Reena Saini Kallat	1973		5	India		Woman	Postmodernism	Multitalented Artist, Information Art, Fiber Art
Reena Saini Kallat is a major figure of Indian contemporary Art. In addition to sculpture, she notably produces drawings, photographs, video Art and fiber Art.
Su-Mei Tse	1973		5	Luxembourg	Racialized	Woman	Postmodernism	Multitalented Artist, New Media Art, Golden Lion
Su-Mei Tse is a multitalented artist known for combining sculpture, photography, film, installation, performance and music. As a young child, she's been an award-winning classical cellist.
Diana al-Hadid	1981		5	Syria, U.S.A	Racialized	Woman	Postmodernism	Installation Art, Sculptor and Painter, Varied Techniques
Diana al-Hadid is an internationally renowned contemporary artist. She primarily produces installations and sculptures using a wide variety of common materials, but she's also known for her mixed-media panels and drawings. Her distinctive style is bleak and evokes either melting or dripping materials.

Name	Birth	Death	Era	Nation	Tags*	Gender	Currents	Effects
Pierre Fontaine & Charles Percier	1762 1764	1853 1838	1	France	Queer, Couple	Man	Neoclassicism	Directoire, Empire, Master or Professor, Multitalented Artist
Pierre-François-Léonard Fontaine & Charles Percier are known for inventing the Directoire and Empire styles of architecture and interior design. Working and living together, they've also been influential on Regency style, collaborated with the Sèvres manufacture and taught many students.
Owen Jones	1809	1874	1	England, Wales		Man		Modern Colour Theory, Decorative Design, Architect and Designer
Owen Jones is known as a pioneer of colour theory and will have a lasting influence on decorative design and ornament. Mainly active as an architect, he developed his theories after studying Islamic decoration at the Alhambra. He's also influential as an editor and print designer.
Charles Frederic Worth	1825	1895	1	England		Man		Textile Work, Haute Couture, Influence
Charles Frederick Worth is regarded as the founder of haute couture. He's the first creator to hire models, to sew labels on clothes, and to make his salon a meeting point for clients instead of making private consultations. He notably reformed women's clothes to make them more practical.
Christopher Dresser	1834	1904	1	Scotland		Man		Early Design, Aestheticism, Anglo-Japanese Style
Christopher Dresser is known as the first independent designer and as a major figure of both aesthetism and Anglo-Japanese style design. His views prefigure the Arts and Crafts movement, and his creations forerun modern design and Art deco.
Eugène Grasset	1845	1917	1	Switzerland		Man	Art Nouveau	Art Nouveau, Multitalented Artist, Decorative Design
Eugène Grasset is regarded as a founder of Art nouveau. Heavily influenced by Japanese and Islamic Art, he has worked as a painter, sculptor, architect, and as a designer of furniture, tapestries, ceramics or jewellery before achieving success as a graphic designer.
Peter Carl Fabergé	1846	1920	1	Russia		Man		Jewellery, Enameling, Popular Success
Peter Carl Fabergé is an influential jeweler. He's internationally known for the special easter eggs he began creating for the empress of Russia. He will produce 69 of these Fabergé eggs, each one unique and invaluable. He's greatly influenced by Japanese Art.
Jeanne Lanvin	1867	1946	1	France		Woman	Modernism	Haute Couture, Textile Work, Perfumery, Influence
Jeanne Lanvin is known as the founder of Lanvin, which will become one of the most prestigious, and the longest-living maison of haute couture worldwide. She has designed theatre costumes for Louis Jouvet and Pierre Fresnay. Francis Poulec, Nadia Boulanger and Louise de Vilmorin have dedicated works to her.
Margaret & Charles Mackintosh	1864 1868	1955 1928	1	England, Scotland	Couple	Mixed	Symbolism, Art Nouveau	Glasgow Style, Art Nouveau, Multitalented Artist
Margaret Macdonald and Charles Rennie Mackintosh are known for creating the Glasgow style of decorative Art. They will have a strong influence on the Secessionsstil and Art nouveau movements. She's a decorative designer. He's an architect. They're both designers and work in tight collaboration.
Alphonse Mucha	1860	1939	1	Czechia, Austria		Man	Art Nouveau	Decorative Designer and Painter, Master or Professor, Influence
Alphonse Mucha is a major figure of Art nouveau and one of the most influential illustrators of the 20th century. He's also been active as a decorative designer and is now spending his late life painting his magnum opus, The Slav Epic, a series of 20 monumental canvases.
Ernest Gimson	1864	1919	1	England		Man	Arts and Crafts	Architect and Designer, Arts and Crafts, Socialism
Ernest Gimson is regarded as one of the most influential designers of his time and as a major figure of the Arts and Crafts movement. He's also active as an architect and has taken interest in many traditional crafts through the Art Workers' Guild.
Constance Spry	1886	1960	2	England		Woman		Flower Design, Master or Professor, Gastronomy
Constance Spry is a major figure of flower design. She's hugely influential in that field as an artist, as an educator and as a theorist. She notably brought roses back into fashion. She's also an influential cook known for inventing the coronation chicken recipe and encouraging people to grow their own food.
Bernard Leach	1887	1979	2	England		Man		Influence, Ceramics, Father of British Studio Pottery, Master or Professor
Bernard Leach learned pottery making in Japan with many prominent artists. He's known for establishing a studio in St Ives where he taught many disciples. His work, inspired by both eastern and western traditions, inspired numerous potters worldwide, including the Japanese Mingei movement.
Kaare Klint	1888	1954	2	Denmark		Man	Modernism	Danish Modern, Architect and Designer, Influence
Kaare Klint is known for founding the Danish modern style, which will have a huge influence on furniture design over the 20th century. His father, Peder Vilhelm Jensen-Klint, whose works he completed after his death, was regarded as one of the greatest Danish architects.
Dorothy Draper	1889	1969	2	U.S.A		Woman		Hollywood Regency, Baroque Renaissance, Interior Decoration
Dorothy Draper is a major figure of interior decoration. She's known as the creator of the Hollywood regency and modern baroque styles. Especially influential during the depression, when her columns ran in 70 newspapers, she made colorful, exuberant rococo designs immensely popular.
Raymond Loewy	1893	1986	2	France, U.S.A		Man	Modernism, Art Deco	Streamline Moderne, Industrial Design, The Man who Shaped America
Raymond Loewy is regarded as a founder of industrial design and streamlining. His locomotives, logos, packages and products have shaped the international image of the U.S.A. Their streamlined look will remain the best-remembered visual feature of these times in the future.
Varvara Stepanova	1894	1958	2	Russia		Woman	Modernism, Constructivism, Futurism	Multitalented Artist, Textile Work, Avant-garde, Master or Professor
Varvara Stepanova is a major figure of constructivism. Active as a poet, graphic designer, teacher and painter, she's mainly known as a designer of sets, costumes, clothes, typefaces and textiles. She's married to Alexander Rodchenko.
Aino & Alvar Aalto	1894 1898	1949 1976	2	Finland	Couple	Mixed	Modernism, International Style	Nordic Classicism, International Style, Multitalented Artist, Gesamtkunstwerk
Aino Maria Marsio-Aalto & Hugo Alvar Henrik Aalto are major figures of Scandinavian design and architecture. They're known for inventing bent plywood furniture and founding the influential company Artek. Although they have worked in close collaboration, Aino's output is largely overlooked.
Shōji Hamada	1894	1985	2	Japan		Man		Mingei, Ceramics, Influence, Living National Treasure
Shōji Hamada is a major figure of the Mingei folk Art movement and one of the most influential potters of modern times. Inspired by the St Ives colony, he formed an internationally renowned community of artists in Mashiko. He notably befriends Yanagi Sōetsu, Kawai Kanjirō and Bernard Leach.
Marguerite Wildenhain	1896	1985	2	U.S.A		Woman	Modernism, Bauhaus	Ceramics, Pond Farm, Master or Professor, Bauhaus
Marguerite Wildenhain is credited with introducing studio pottery in the U.S.A. One of the first students of the Bauhaus school, she established a studio in Netherlands before moving to America. There, she started teaching at the artists colony of Pond Farm.
Ryūjo Hori	1897	1984	2	Japan		Woman		Dollmaking, Living National Treasure, Multitalented Artist
Ryūjo Hori is the first woman and the first largely self-taught artist to become a living national treasure of Japan. Before becoming an influential dollmaker, she was active as a painter. She's known for developing a unique style of kimekomi-ningyō.
Alma Siedhoff-Buscher	1899	1944	3	Germany		Woman	Modernism, Bauhaus	Toy Design, Bauhaus, Industrial Design
Alma Siedhoff-Buscher's output as a designer ranges from interiors and furniture to puppet theaters and toys. She was a student at the Bauhaus when she started conceiving toys, which displeased Walter Gropius. Some of her creations, such as the Kleine Schiffbauspiel construction set, are still appreciated today.
Suzanne Belperron	1900	1983	3	France		Woman	Modernism, Art Deco	Jewellery, Unique Style, Resistance
Suzanne Belperron is a major figure of modern jewellery. Supported by Diana Vreeland, she became inescapable both in Europe and America, befriending numerous fashion designers and attracting the most prestigious clients. Her pieces are so original she doesn't sign them, saying her style is her signature.
Lucie Rie	1902	1944	3	Austria, England	Persecuted	Woman	Modernism	Ceramics, Master or Professor, Influence
Lucie Rie is one of the most influential studio potters in history. She studied pottery at a Wiener Werkstätte-associated school of arts and achieved recognition in Vienna before being forced to flee the Nazi regime and settle in England. She hired and trained Hans Coper, who is now a famous potter too.
George Nakashima	1905	1990	3	U.S.A	Racialized	Man	Modernism	Woodwork, Architect and Designer, American Craft
George Nakashima is regarded as a founder of the American craft movement and as one of the most influential furniture designers of modern times. Active as a woodworker and as an architect, he has also designed furniture for Knoll.
Eva Zeisel	1906	2011	3	Hungary, U.S.A		Woman	Modernism	Industrial Design, Ceramics, Multitalented Artist
Eva Zeisel is a major figure of industrial design. Her ceramics are both extreme commercial successes and lauded works of Art which have been exhibited in prestigious museums. She was initially a painter. She spent 16 months in prison after being falsely accused of plotting against Stalin.
George Nelson	1908	1986	3	U.S.A		Man	Modernism	American Modernism, Architect and Designer, Master or Professor, Art Theory
George Nelson is regarded as the founder of American modernist design. As a theorist, he's notably coined the concepts of family room and storage wall. His company has employed such luminaries as Ray & Charles Eames and Isamu Noguchi. He's also credited with creating the office cubicle.
Gertrud & Otto Natzler	1908 1908	1971 2007	3	Austria, U.S.A	Persecuted, Couple	Mixed	Modernism, Vienna Secession	Ceramics, Influence, Master or Professor
Gertrud & Otto Natzler are among the most influential ceramicists of modern times. Largely self-taught, they have achieved international recognition. Gertrud usually conceives the shapes and throws the pieces, while Otto is in charge of the glaze.
Astrid Sampe	1909	2002	3	Sweden		Woman	Modernism	Textile Work, Decorative Design, Influence
Astrid Sampe is a major figure of modern textile design. She has collaborated with many artists, designers and architects such as Sven Markelius, Arne Jacobsen and Viola Gråsten. Although she's known for her work at Nordiska Kompaniet, she has also created designs for Knoll.
Charles & Ray Eames	1907 1912	1978 1988	3	U.S.A	Couple	Mixed	Modernism	Multitalented Artist, Influence, Experimental Art
Charles Ormond & Bernice Alexandra "Ray" Kaiser Eames are two of the most influential designers of their time. They're best known for their pioneering use of molded plywood. They are also active and renowned as architects, Ray is a painter, and they have produced many experimental films.
Warja Lavater	1913	2007	3	Switzerland		Woman	Modernism, Bauhaus, Arts and Crafts	Artist's Book, Decorative Design, Arts and Crafts, Multitalented Artist
Warja Lavater is known for recreating tales as wordless series of geometric figures. These works are arguably the first modern artist's books. She has also worked as a graphic designer, type designer, and as a director of synesthetic short films.
Rut Bryk	1916	1999	4	Finland		Woman	Modernism	Ceramics, Influence, Ceramicist and Graphic Designer
Rut Bryk is known as a reformer of modern Finnish ceramics. A versatile and innovative artist, she developed many distinct styles. Her idyllic motifs are seen as a counterpoint to the darkness of WWII. She has also worked as a graphic designer
Whang-od	1917		4	Philippines	Indigenous	Woman		Tattoo Art, Indigenous Art, Living National Treasure, Master or Professor
Whang-od Oggay is known as the oldest of the mambabatok, the traditional tattooists of the Kalinga peoples. She started her practice at the age of 15 and is still active as a centenarian. Breaking with patriarchal tradition, she only teaches women disciples.
Daniel de Montmollin	1921		4	Switzerland		Man		Potter and Poet, Technical Innovation, Asceticism
Daniel de Montmollin has lived in the Taizé religious community since he was 21. He humbly signs his pieces as just D. Taizé. He's best known for his scientifically documented glaze experiments, which exert a huge influence on modern ceramics and have made further experiments possible for many potters.
S. Libenský & J. Brychtová	1921 1924	2002 2020	4	Czechoslovakia, Czechia	Couple	Mixed	Postmodernism	Multitalented Artist, Contemporary Glass Art, Master or Professor
Stanislav Libenský & Jaroslava Brychtová are among the most influential glass artists of modern times. They're known for their mysterious geometric pieces. Jaroslava has previously worked as a sculptor and Stanislav as a painter. He has also taught many glass artists who have since become renowned.
Fukumi Shimura	1924		4	Japan		Woman	Modernism	Mingei, Living National Treasure, Textile Work, Master or Professor
Fukumi Shimura is an influential textile artist and one of the greatest modern creators of kimonos. Alongside her daughter Yoko Shimura, also a textile artist, she has worked as an educator, promoter and theorist of this Art.
Yasuki Hiramatsu	1926	2012	4	Japan		Man	Modernism	Jewellery, Influence, Master or Professor
Yasuki Hiramatsu is known as the founder of modern Japanese jewellery. He's influential both as a craftsman and as a teacher. He notably befriends Onno Boekhoud and Hermann Jünger, pioneers of modern jewellery and great admirers of his work.
Maija Isola	1927	2001	4	Finland		Woman	Modernism, Arts and Crafts	Textile Work, Decorative Design, Popular Success
Maija Isola is a textile designer known for creating over 500 patterns for the Marimekko company, which became extremely successful and popular thanks to them. These colorful and extravagant designs will remain popular for decades. She's also active as a painter.
Vivianna Torun Bülow-Hübe	1927	2004	4	Sweden		Woman	Modernism	Jewellery, Metalwork, Influence
Vivianna Torun Bülow-Hübe is a major figure of modern jewellery and the first internationally renowned woman silversmith. Unwilling to work for rich clients only, she developed what she called "anti-status jewelry". Some of her models, like the Vivianna watch and the Mobius bracelet, have become classics.
Alessandro Mendini	1931	2019	4	Italy		Man	Postmodernism	Architect and Designer, Radical Design, Master or Professor
Alessandro Mendini is a major figure of radical design and a pioneer of postmodern design. In his youth, he has worked within the avant-gardist Studio Alchimia, alongside Ettore Sottsass and Michele De Lucchi. He's also an influential teacher.
Wendell Castle	1932	2018	4	U.S.A		Man	Postmodernism	American Craft, Art Furniture, Woodwork
Wendell Castle is the founder of the Art furniture movement and a major figure of American craft. Known for his radical, extravagant and elegant pieces, he's also an influential teacher of woodworking and furniture design.
Dieter Rams	1932		5	Germany		Man	Postmodernism	Functionalism, Industrial Design, Influence
Dieter Rams is a major figure of functionalist design. He's known for his peculiar approach of design, which he summarized with the formula "Less, but better", and for his widely influential "good design" principles. He has worked within the Braun company for decades.
Giorgetto Giugiaro	1938	1941	5	Italy		Man	Postmodernism	Industrial Design, Influence, Car Designer of the Century
Giorgetto Giugiaro is regarded as the greatest car designer in history. From supercars to very popular models, he has notably designed the DMC DeLorean, the Volkswagen Golf, the Fiat Punto, the Maserati Quattroporte, the Lotus Esprit, the Simca 1000 and a new pasta shape, the "Marille".
Vivienne Westwood	1941		5	England		Woman	Postmodernism, Punk	Fashion Design, Punk, Influence, Vegetarianism
Vivienne Westwood is known for elaborating the punk style while working for the cult SEX boutique in London, and as the stylist of the Sex Pistols. She's a vocal supporter of the Labour Party, the Liberty civil rights group, animal welfare and various other causes.
Rei Kawakubo	1942		5	Japan		Woman	Postmodernism	Fashion Design, Haute Couture, Influence
Rei Kawakubo is regarded as one of the most influential contemporary fashion designers. Known as the founder of Comme des Garçons and Dover Street Market, she's active in both haute couture and anti-fashion. Her admirers include Donna Karan, Alexander McQueen and Jean-Paul Gaultier.
Carol McNicoll	1943		5	England		Woman	Postmodernism	Ceramics, Influence, Fashion Design
Carol McNicoll is a major figure of British studio pottery. Along with a handful of other artists such as Elizabeth Fritsch, she's credited with completely reshaping the domain during the 70's. She has also worked as a costume designer for theatres and for Brian Eno. Some of her designs became iconic of glamrock.
Susan Kare	1954		5	U.S.A		Woman	Postmodernism	Early Pixel Art, Early GUI Design, Typeface Design, Multitalented Artist
Susan Kare is a pioneer of pixel Art and graphical computer interface design. She has notably worked for Microsoft, IBM, Sony, Facebook and Pinterest, but is best known for her seminal work on the first Apple Macintosh. Her type designs include Chicago and Geneva, the first variable width digital fonts.
Carol Twombly	1959		5	U.S.A		Woman	Postmodernism	Typeface Design, Jewellery, Multitalented Artist
Carol Twombly is a major figure of contemporary type design. She has mostly worked within the Adobe company. The fonts she created there include Trajan, Myriad and Caslon. She retired in 1999 to focus on her work as a jeweler, textile artist and basket-maker.
Kate Malone	1959		5	England		Woman	Postmodernism	Ceramics, Competition Program, Influence
Kate Malone is one of the best-known British studio potters. Known for her large, realistic fruit-shaped vessels, she's also active as a TV host in a program that helped make ceramics more popular.
Guo Pei	1967		5	China		Woman	Postmodernism	Haute Couture, Fashion Design, Influence
Guo Pei is regarded as one of the most influential contemporary fashion designers. She's known for her spectacular and intricate dresses which can take years to make. She was included in 2016's Time 100 list.
Makoto Azuma	1976		5	Japan		Man	Postmodernism	Flower Design, Botanical Sculpture, Unique Style
Makoto Azuma is the creator of a new floral Art which he calls botanical sculpture. He's known for combining avant-garde floral arrangements with installation Art and photography. His continuously innovative approach made him a prominent figure of contemporary decorative Arts.

Name	Birth	Death	Era	Nation	Tags*	Gender	Currents	Effects
Germaine de Staël	1766	1817	1	Switzerland, France	Exile	Woman	Romanticism	Coppet Group, Travel Literature, Writer and Politician, Feminism
Germaine de Staël is a major figure of the artistic, intellectual and political life of her time. A novelist, travel writer and essayist, she leads the hugely influential Coppet group, which will be instrumental in the development of romanticism and liberalism across Europe. She'll be regarded as a pioneer of feminism.
Jane Austen	1775	1817	1	England		Woman	Realism	Romance Novel, Popular Success, Influence, Feminism
Jane Austen is known as a pioneer of realist literature and as a master of dialogue, irony and social commentary. Although not widely acknowledged in her lifetime and published under pseudonym, several of her novels will become classics of international literature.
Victor Hugo	1802	1885	1	France	Exile	Man	Romanticism	Multitalented Artist, Influence, Mastery of many Styles, Popular Success
Victor Hugo is a major figure of French romanticism sometimes regarded as the greatest writer in France's history. He's known for mastering all of the western literary genres of his time. He has also produced over 4000 drawings and campaigned for various social causes. This caused him to live in exile for a while.
Mary Shelley	1797	1851	1	England		Woman	Romanticism, Science Fiction	Gothic Novel, Early Science Fiction, Feminism, Popular Success
Mary Shelley is a major figure of Gothic literature and a pioneer of both science fiction and feminism. She's Mary Wollstonecraft and William Godwin's dautghter. She's mainly known as the author of Frankenstein, one of the most popular literary classics. Her output includes historical novels, biographies and travelogues.
Hans Christian Andersen	1805	1875	1	Denmark	Queer	Man		Multitalented Writer, Fairy Tale, Danish Golden Age, Popular Success
Hans Christian Andersen, a prolific author of novels, poems, travelogues and plays, will be remembered through ages as one of the greatest writers of fairy tales. Several of his stories, such as The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling, The Snow Queen or Thumbelina will become lasting icons of western culture.
Edgar Allan Poe	1809	1849	1	U.S.A		Man	Romanticism, Science Fiction	Novelist and Poet, Popular Success, Early Science Fiction
Edgar Allan Poe is a major figure of romanticism, a pioneer of science fiction and the inventor of detective fiction. He's regarded as the first great Northern American writer. Mainly known for his Gothic tales, he has also written satires, hoaxes, poetry, essays, articles and plays.
Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda	1814	1873	1	Cuba, Spain	Censored	Woman	Romanticism	Abolitionism, Multitalented Artist, Feminism
Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda is a major figure of Cuban and Spanish literature. Forcefully engaged at the age of 13, she has refused the wedding and developed strong feminist and abolitionist views. An author of poems, autobiographies and plays, she came to fame with her first novel, the controversially abolitionist Sab.
Charlotte, Emily & Anne Brontë	1816 1818 1820	1855 1848 1849	1	England	Siblings	Woman	Romanticism, Realism	Novelist and Poet, Influence, Feminism, Popular Success
Charlotte, Emily & Anne, the 3 Brontë sisters, all stand among the greatest writers of England. Each one will produce an international classic, respectively Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. Alongside their brother Branwell, they've developed a wide common imaginary world during their childhood.
George Eliot	1819	1880	1	England		Woman	Realism	Psychological Novel, Feminism, Radicalism
Mary Ann Evans, best known under the pen name George Eliot, is a major figure of realist literature. Her novel Middlemarch will often be cited as the best novel in English language. She's also influential as a critic, as an editor, as a poet and as a radical thinker.
Fyodor Dostoevsky	1821	1881	1	Russia	Exile, Censored	Man	Realism	Psychological Novel, Early Existentialism, Influence
Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky is a major figure of golden age Russian literature, psychological literature, and a pioneer of both existentialism and Freudianism. He spent years in prison and exile as an opponent to the tsar. While he has always denied being antisemitic, he wrote some terrible things.
Leo Tolstoy	1828	1910	2	Russia		Man	Realism	Anarchism, Vegetarianism, Influence, Popular Success
Leo Tolstoy is regarded as one of the greatest writers in history. After fighting the Crimean war and witnessing a public execution in Paris he became a Christian anarchist. As an advocate for non-violence, he will influence Gandhi and King. He's assisted in his writing by his wife Sophia Behrs, who acts as a copist and editor.
Louisa May Alcott	1832	1888	2	U.S.A	Queer	Woman		Abolitionism, Feminism, Novelist and Poet
Louisa May Alcott is a prominent author of children's and young adult novels. Known as the author of Little Women, she also wrote the second detective fiction in history, and sensation novels under a pen name. She's a strong advocate for women's suffrage and the abolition of slavery. She served as a nurse during the war.
Selma Lagerlöf	1858	1940	2	Sweden	Queer	Woman		Nobel, Feminism, Socialism, Master or Professor
Selma Lagerlöf is the first woman to win the Nobel prize in literature and the first to join the Swedish academy. An advocate for women's suffrage and socialism, she notably befriends Nelly Sachs and Fredrika Limnell. Her relationship with fellow writer Sophie Elkan will last until her death, for more than 20 years.
Natsume Sōseki	1867	1916	2	Japan		Man		Novelist and Poet, Art Theory, Satire, Influence
Natsume Sōseki is regarded as the greatest modern Japanese writer. An author of short stories and novels, he's mostly known for writing I Am a Cat, which will become a classic. He's also an influential professor and studied haiku composition with his friend Masaoka Shiki.
Marcel Proust	1871	1922	2	France	Queer, Lifelong Illness	Man	Modernism	Influence, Art Theory, Early Modern Literature
Marcel Proust is known as the author of In Search of Lost Time, his only completed novel, which is often cited as the greatest ever written and as a blueprint for modernist literature. He's also a poet, a translator of John Ruskin, a critic, an influential theorist, a socialite, and the favorite author of whoever wrote this.
Colette	1873	1954	2	France	Queer	Woman	Modernism	Multitalented Artist, Early Autofiction, Influence
Colette is a major figure of modern French literature. She's known for her semi-autobiographical novels, which often deal with independence and sexuality. She has also been active as a mime, an actress and a journalist. Her first husband initially took credit for her first 4 novels. She's opposed to women's suffrage.
Thomas Mann	1875	1955	2	Germany	Queer, Censored	Man	Modernism	Nobel, Influence, Exilliteratur
Thomas Mann is a major figure of modern literature and one of the best-known German writers to oppose Hitler. Three of his children have become renowned authors. A writer of plays, essays, novellas, short stories and novels, he produced two international classics: The Magic Mountain and Death in Venice.
Radclyffe Hall	1880	1943	2	England	Queer, Censored	Woman	Modernism	Lesbian Fiction, Novelist and Poet, Influence
Marguerite Radclyffe Hall is a major figure of lesbian literature. She's best known for her pioneering novel The Well of Loneliness, which was banned following an obscenity trial. Also active as a poet, she's a commercially and critically successful writer.
Lu Xun	1881	1936	2	China		Man	Modernism	Art Theory, Influence, Master or Professor
Lu Xun is a major figure of modern Chinese literature. Although he never joined the communist party, he leads the league of left-wing writers. He will be made a symbol by the post-revolution government and Mao will call him a saint. He will also be cited as the greatest modern Asian writer by Kenzaburō Ōe.
Virginia Woolf	1882	1941	2	England	Queer, Institutionalized	Woman	Stream of Consciousness, Modernism	Feminism, Stream of Consciousness, Influence, Bloomsbury Group
Virginia Woolf is a major figure of modernist literature, a pioneer of the stream of consciousness narrative mode and a central member of the Bloomsbury group. She's influential as a novelist, critic, publisher and feminist essayist. She suffers from severe mental distress. Some of her writings contain racist stereotypes.
James Joyce	1882	1941	3	Ireland		Man	Stream of Consciousness, Modernism	Stream of Consciousness, Influence, Avant-garde, Multitalented Writer
James Joyce is a major figure of modernist and avant-garde literature, as well as a pioneer of the stream of consciousness narrative mode. An influential critic, teacher, novelist and poet, he's mostly known for the groundbreaking Ulysses and Finnegans Wake. Although he travels extensively, he mostly writes about Dublin.
Sigrid Undset	1882	1949	3	Norway	Exile	Woman	Stream of Consciousness, Modernism	Nobel, Stream of Consciousness, Folklore
Sigrid Undset is a major figure of Scandinavian literature. She's known for her depictions of life in the European middle ages. Her magnum opus Kristin Lavransdatter earned her the Nobel prize in literature. An agnostic at the beginning of her career, she's now a Catholic.
Franz Kafka	1883	1924	3	Austria-Hungary, Czechoslovakia		Man	Modernism	Influence, Fantastic Literature, Unique Style
Franz Kafka is a major figure of modern literature. His distinctive approach to alienation and absurdity will lead to the term Kafkaesque being widely used outside literature. Working as a clerk, he doesn't publish his works and will ask Max Brod to destroy some of them after his death. These instructions will be ignored.
Nikos Kazantzakis	1883	1957	3	Greece		Man	Modernism	Socialism, Multitalented Writer, Existentialism
Nikos Kazantzakis is a major figure of modern Greek literature, a pioneer of existentialism and an advocate for the literary use of Demotic Greek. An author of plays, travelogues, memoirs and essays, he's known for his novels, especially Zorba the Greek and The Last Temptation of Christ.
Taha Hussein	1889	1973	3	Egypt	Disability	Man	Modernism, Nahda	Nahda, Art Theory, Influence
Taha Hussein is a major figure of the Nahda renaissance. He's often regarded as the greatest modern writer in Arabic language. An influential theorist, professor, journalist, translator, philosopher and poet, he served as a minister of knowledge and advocates for a wider access to education. He's blind.
Jean Rhys	1890	1979	3	Dominica, England		Woman	Modernism, Postmodernism	Feminism, Anti-Colonialism, Stream of Consciousness
Jean Rhys is a major figure of both British and Caribbean literature. She's an innovative novelist, short story writer and essayist known for documenting the struggle of women, exiles and slaves. Her most famous novel, Wide Sargasso Sea, is a feminist and anti-colonial response to Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre.
Mário de Andrade	1893	1945	3	Brazil	Queer	Man	Modernism	Multitalented Artist, Master or Professor, Influence, Art Theory
Mário de Andrade is a founder of Brazilian modernism and one of the most influential Latin American writers. He's also a pioneer of ethnomusicology. A polymath, poet, novelist, professor, critic and photographer, he notably organized the "week of modern Art", which had a tremendous influence on several domains of creation.
Miroslav Krleža	1893	1981	3	Croatia, Austria-Hungary, Yugoslavia	Censored	Man	Modernism, Expressionism	Socialism, Multitalented Writer, Influence
Miroslav Krleža is often regarded as the greatest writer in both Croatia and Yugoslavia's history. A novelist, playwright, poet, memoirist, essayist, critic and philosopher, he has led several leftist literary reviews and opposed the soviet great purge.
Na Hye-sok	1896	1948	3	Korea, South Korea	Censored	Woman	Modernism	Multitalented Artist, Feminism, Influence
Na Hye-sok is both the first Korean woman to become a professional writer and the first to become a professional painter. She's also a modern dramatist, an influential pioneer of feminism in the country and was jailed for her opposition to Japanese rule.
William Faulkner	1897	1962	3	U.S.A		Man	Modernism, Stream of Consciousness	Southern Renaissance, Nobel, Multitalented Writer
William Faulkner is a major figure of modern literature and a pillar of the southern renaissance movement. An author of screenplays, essays, poems, short stories and novels, he's known for setting most of them in the same extended fictional universe, Yoknapatawpha. He will have a deep influence on Latin American literature.
Miguel Ángel Asturias	1899	1974	4	Guatemala		Man	Modernism, Surrealism	Nobel, Multitalented Writer, Postcolonialism, Magic Realism
Miguel Ángel Asturias is an originator of the Latin American boom and a major figure of surrealist literature. He's known for his opposition to dictatorship and for his defence of indigenous cultures against European imperialism. He's a recipient of both the Nobel and Lenin prizes.
Jorge Luis Borges	1899	1986	4	Argentina		Man	Modernism, Surrealism	Writer and Poet, Fantastic Literature, Philosophical Literature
Jorge Luis Borges is a major figure of Latin American, surrealist and philosophical literature, as well as a pioneer of magical realism. An author of short stories, essays, screenplays and prose poems, he's also known for his literary forgeries.
Ding Ling	1904	1986	4	China	Censored, Persecuted	Woman	Modernism, Socialist Realism	Feminism, Socialist Realism, Influence
Ding Ling is a major figure of modern Chinese literature. A feminist writer and a left-wing revolutionary, she was jailed by the Kuomintang and later by Mao's regime. She has authored more than 300 works. Her influences span from Latin American to African literature.
Augusto Roa Bastos	1917	2005	4	Paraguay, Argentina	Exile	Man	Modernism, Surrealism	Dictator Novel, Magic Realism, Multitalented Writer
Augusto Roa Bastos is a major figure of the Latin American boom. He fought the Chaco war and lived through several dictatorships. He was forced to exile more than once. These experiences shaped his literary style. His dictator novel I, the Supreme garnered international recognition.
Leonora Carrington	1917	2011	4	England, Mexico	Exile, Institutionalized	Woman	Modernism, Surrealism	Avant-garde, Feminism, Multitalented Artist
Leonora Carrington is a major figure of surrealism and feminist Art. She's active as a writer, painter and sculptor. After fleeing the Nazis, she settled in Mexico where she creates public Art, murals, and was a founder of the country's women's liberation movement. Some of her works document her psychotic experience.
Nadine Gordimer	1923	2014	4	South Africa	Censored	Woman	Modernism	Nobel, Antiracism, Multitalented Writer
Nadine Gordimer is a major figure of contemporary literature, a Nobel prize recipient and a major opponent of apartheid. She's also active in the HIV/AIDS movement, and has fought against state censorship. She's a close friend and collaborator of Nelson Mandela.
Ursula K. Le Guin	1929	2018	4	U.S.A		Woman	Postmodernism	Influence, Popular Success, Science Fiction, Multitalented Writer
Ursula K. Le Guin is a major figure of North American literature and one of the most critically acclaimed authors of science fiction and fantasy. She's credited with broadening speculative fiction and bringing it to mainstream recognition. She's known for exploring issues of racism, gender and sexuality in her stories.
Chinua Achebe	1930	2013	4	Nigeria	Exile	Man	Modernism	Master or Professor, Postcolonialism, Multitalented Writer, Father of Modern African Writing
Chinua Achebe is a major and central figure of contemporary literature. He has authored essays, short stories, children's literature, and is active both as an Igbo chief and as a publisher. His most famous novel, Things Fall Apart, inspired numerous subsequent African writers.
Toni Morrison	1931	2019	4	U.S.A	Racialized	Woman	Postmodernism	Nobel, Antiracism, Multitalented Writer, Popular Success
Toni Morrison is the first black woman to receive the Nobel prize in literature. One of the most influential writers of her time, she's credited with bringing African American literature into the mainstream. She's active as a teacher, novelist, activist, essayist, and as a publisher who has notably collaborated with Angela Davis.
Monique Wittig	1935	2003	4	France	Queer	Woman	Postmodernism	Feminism, Lesbian Fiction, Multitalented Writer
Monique Wittig is a major figure of lesbian and avant-garde literature. A founder of the French women's liberation movement, she's co-founded Gouines rouges, the first lesbian group in Paris. She later moved to the US to become an influential philosopher, teacher, and theorist of materialist feminism.
Assia Djebar	1936	2015	5	Algeria		Woman	Postmodernism	Feminism, Postcolonialism, Multitalented Artist
Assia Djebar is a major figure of Arabic, feminist and anti-colonial literature. She's active as a novelist, short story writer, poet, professor, translator, historian, playwright, essayist and filmmaker. She's the first North African member of the Académie Française and a longtime contender for the Nobel prize.
Mario Vargas Llosa	1936		5	Peru, Spain		Man	Postmodernism	Nobel, Writer and Politician, Influence
Mario Vargas Llosa is a major figure of the Latin American boom. A novelist, journalist, professor, playwright, essayist and politician, he has written numerous works which range from modernism to Postmodernism and encompass many genres.
Ngugi wa Thiong'o	1938		5	Kenya	Exile, Censored	Man	Postmodernism	Writer and Playwright, Postcolonialism, Master or Professor
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o is a major figure of contemporary literature. He's active as a playwright, novelist, professor, children's literature writer and essayist. He was jailed and forced to exile as a political opponent. He's known for developing a unique form of participatory and political theatre.
Nuruddin Farah	1945		5	Somalia		Man	Postmodernism	Feminism, Writer and Playwright, Postcolonialism
Nuruddin Farah is a major figure of contemporary literature. A novelist, essayist and professor, he's known for his use of second-person narration and for his exploration of gender and race issues. He has lived in many countries across 3 continents and is an eternal nominee for the Nobel prize in literature.
Octavia E. Butler	1947	2006	5	U.S.A	Racialized	Woman	Postmodernism, Science Fiction, Afrofuturism	Afrofuturism, Black Feminism, Influence
Octavia Estelle Butler is a major figure of science fiction literature and afrofuturism. She's known for using speculative fiction to explore issues of race, gender and class. She's written several influential cycles such as the Patternist and Xenogenesis series. She's dislexic.
Stephen King	1947		5	U.S.A		Man	Postmodernism, Science Fiction	Science Fiction, King of Horror, Mastery of many Styles, Popular Success
Stephen King is one of the best-selling and most frequently adapted contemporary writers. He's regarded as a master of horror and fantasy but wrote numerous novels and short stories in many other styles. In 89 he has collaborated with Barbara Kruger to create an artist's book.
Theresa Hak Kyung Cha	1951	1982	5	South Korea, U.S.A	Racialized	Woman	Postmodernism	Multitalented Artist, Avant-garde, Influence
Theresa Hak Kyung Cha is a major figure of avant-garde literature. She's been active in ceramics, performance Art, filmmaking, literature and film studies before attracting international acclaim with her groundbreaking novel, Dictee. It will become an instant classic. She will be murdered a week after its publication.
Olga Tokarczuk	1962		5	Poland		Woman	Postmodernism	Nobel, Writer and Psychologist, Vegetarianism, Feminism
Olga Nawoja Tokarczuk is a major figure of contemporary European literature. She's alos active as a psychologist and takes inspiration from C.G. Jung's writings. Both commercially and critically successful, she's known for her leftist, feminist and ecologist commitments.
Zadie Smith	1975		5	England	Racialized	Woman	Postmodernism	Postcolonialism, Multitalented Writer, New Sincerity, Hysterical Realism
Zadie Smith is a major figure of postmodern literature. Her first novel White Teeth has been cited as one of the greatest novels of the 21st century. It provoked the essay in which James Wood coined the term "hysterical realism". She's also active as a professor, playwright, editor and short stories writer.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie	1977		5	Nigeria, U.S.A	Racialized	Woman	Postmodernism	Multitalented Writer, Black Feminism, Influence
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a major figure of postcolonial literature and intersectional feminism. An extremely successful author of novels, short stories and essays, she's credited with bringing lots of new readers to African and feminist literatures. She was sampled in Beyoncé's song "***Flawless".

Name	Birth	Death	Era	Nation	Tags*	Gender	Currents	Effects
Karl Friedrich Schinkel	1781	1851	1	Germany		Man	Neoclassicism, Romanticism	Architect, Painter and Designer, Gothic Revival, Greek Revival
Karl Friedrich Schinkel is a major figure of German painting and architecture. He's known as a master of the neoclassical and neogothic styles, and as a noted proponent of the Greek revival. His design for the Bauakademie will be regarded as a precursor to modernist architecture.
Decimus Burton	1800	1881	1	England		Man	Neoclassicism	Greek Revival, Regency, Mastery of many Styles
Decimus Burton is regarded as an unmatched master of many architectural trends: the Greek and Roman revivals, Georgian neoclassicism and the Regency style. A founder of the royal institute of British architects, he notably designed most of London's parks.
Eugène Viollet-le-Duc	1814	1879	1	France		Man		Architect and Restorator, Art Theory, Master or Professor, Influence
Eugène Viollet-le-Duc is one of the most renowned and influential restorators of medieval landmarks. He's also a major theorist of architecture and a pioneer of academic history of Arts. He notably directed the restorations of Notre-Dame de Paris, the Mont Saint-Michel and the walled city of Carcassonne.
Louise Blanchard Bethune	1856	1913	1	U.S.A		Woman	Modernism, Neoclassicism	Gothic Revival, Master or Professor, Feminism
Louise Blanchard Bethune was the first woman to become a professional architect in the US. She's best known for her masterful neoclassical designs. She refused prestigious commissions in protest against extreme gender pay gaps.
José Luís Monteiro	1848	1942	1	Portugal		Man	Neoclassicism	Second Empire, Influence, Master or Professor
José Luís Monteiro is the most influential Portuguese architect of his time. He's known for his innovations in the use of metal in iron vaults. A renowned master of the neoclassical and Second Empire styles, he notably designed Lisbon's famous Estação Rossio and the city hall of Paris.
Antoni Gaudí	1852	1926	1	Spain		Man	Modernism	Catalan Modernism, Unique Style, Gothic Revival, God's Architect
Antoni Gaudí is the leading figure of Catalan modernism. He's known for his unique style inspired by neo-gothic and Islamic traditions. Working on all aspects of architecture, he also designs interiors, furniture, and masters several different crafts. He's especially known as the architect of the Sagrada Familia and Parc Güell.
Louis Sullivan	1856	1924	1	U.S.A		Man	Modernism	Father of Skyscrapers, Influence, Father of Modernism
Louis Sullivan is a major figure of the Chicago school. He's known as a founder of modern architecture and as a pioneer of skyscraper design. He mentored Frank Lloyd Wright and coined the famous "form follows function" principle. His distinctive style typically features intricate Art nouveau ornaments.
Victor Horta	1861	1947	1	Belgium		Man	Modernism, Art Nouveau	Art Nouveau, Architect and Designer, Influence, Gesamtkunstwerk
Victor Horta is a founder of Art nouveau and a pioneer of modern architecture. Mainly influenced by Hector Guimard, he developed innovative uses of iron, glass and steel. These techniques allowed him to design the first Art nouveau buildings. Four of them will be listed as UNESCO heritage sites.
Frank Lloyd Wright	1867	1959	1	U.S.A		Man	Modernism	Influence, Organic Architecture, Prairie School, Architect and Designer
Frank Lloyd Wright is a founder of organic architecture and a leading figure of the Prairie School. One of the most influential modern architects, he's often cited as the greatest in US history. He's also a prominent dealer of Japanese Art.
Edwin Lutyens	1869	1944	1	England		Man	Modernism, Neoclassicism, Arts and Crafts	Architect and Urbanist, Memorial Design, Influence
Edwin Lutyens is regarded as one of the greatest architects in British history. He's best known for planning the construction of New Delhi and designing its most important public buildings. His designs are mostly influenced by Arts and crafts, Tudor and vernacular styles.
Josef Hoffmann	1870	1956	2	Austria, Austria-Hungary		Man	Vienna Secession, Modernism, Art Deco	Architect and Designer, Wiener Werkstätte, Vienna Secession, Master or Professor
Josef Hoffmann is a leading figure of the Vienna secession, a pioneer of Art deco and a founder of the Wiener Werkstätte, an influential association of artists and craftsmen. He has notably collaborated with Klimt on the Palais Stoclet, one of the most famous landmarks in Vienna.
Marion & Walter Griffin	1871 1876	1961 1937	2	U.S.A	Couple	Mixed	Modernism	Vegetarianism, Architect and Urbanist, Prairie School
Marion Mahony & Walter Burley Griffin are major figures of the Prairie School and pioneers in the use of reinforced concrete. It will later be known that Frank Lloyd Wright's best-known drawings were in fact drawn by Marion. She also supervised the construction of the Australian capital, Canberra.
Julia Morgan	1872	1957	2	U.S.A		Woman	Modernism	Architect and Engineer, Technical Innovation, Influence
Julia Morgan is one of the first licensed woman architects and the first to receive the AIA Gold Medal. She has designed over 700 buildings and pioneered the use of reinforced concrete. She's widely known for designing the Hearst Castle, where press magnate W. R. Hearst receives most of Hollywood's superstars.
Beatrix Farrand	1872	1959	2	U.S.A		Woman		Landscape Architect and Gardener, Landscape Design, Influence
Beatrix Farrand is a major figure of landscape design. She was the only woman among the founders of the American society of landscape architects. She has notably designed public spaces for several prestigious universities, the gardens of the White House, and over a hundred private gardens.
Eileen Gray	1878	1976	2	Ireland	Queer	Woman	Modernism, International Style, Art Deco	Architect and Designer, Lacquerware, Early International Style
Eileen Gray is a major figure of modern architecture. Active as a renowned architect, designer and lacquerware artist, she has notably collaborated with fellow architects Kathleen Scott, Le Corbusier or Adrienne Górska, and artists such as Ezra Pound, James Joyce and Elsa Schiaparelli.
Anna Keichline	1889	1943	2	U.S.A		Woman	Modernism	Architect and Engineer, Suffragism, Technical Innovation
An architect and inventor, Anna Keichline is known for designing the K Brick, a forerunner of the concrete block. She holds several other patents, notably for innovative kitchen designs. She's a leading suffragist and has served as a spy during the first world war.
Paul R. Williams	1894	1980	2	U.S.A	Racialized	Man	Modernism	Googie, Architect and Landscape Architect, Mastery of many Styles
Paul Revere Williams is one of the first African-American architects. He achieved recognition by designing homes for celebrities such as Frank Sinatra or Lucille Ball. His Googie buildings are especially memorable, but he masters a wide variety of other styles.
Hassan Fathy	1900	1989	2	Egypt		Man	Modernism	Sustainable Architecture, Architect and Engineer, Influence, Aga Khan
Hassan Fathy is the most renowned and influential architect of modern Egypt. He's been an early proponent of appropriate technology and sustainable architecture, reintroducing traditional materials and designs such as the Nubian vault and windcatchers.
Liang Sicheng & Lin Huyin	1901 1904	1972 1955	2	China	Censored, Couple	Modernism		Multitalented Artist, Master or Professor, Art Theory, Influence
Liang Sicheng & Lin Huiyin are known as the founders of modern Chinese architecture. They're not only influential as architects but also as historians, theorists, professors, restorers, urban planners, and as the creators of the "national style". Lin is also a renowned poet.
Louis Kahn & Anne Tyng	1901 1920	1974 2011	2	U.S.A	Couple	Mixed	Modernism, International Style	Master or Professor, Influence, Art Theory
Louis Isadore Kahn & Anne Griswold Tyng are among the most influential architects of their time. They're also prominent professors and theorists. Anne's name will remain overshadowed by her husband's for a long time. It is even left unmentioned on projects for which she's the main creator and technician.
Luis Barragán	1902	1988	3	Mexico		Man	Modernism	Pritzker, Architect and Engineer, Influence
Luis Barragán is the leading figure of modern Mexican architecture. He's known for developing a unique and colorful style of "emotional architecture", comprised of simple geometrical shapes and opposed to functionalism. He notably designed Mexico's Torres de Satélite.
Oscar Niemeyer	1907	2012	3	Brazil	Exile	Man	Modernism, International Style	Socialism, Pritzker, Brazilian Modernism, Influence
Oscar Niemeyer is one of the most influential architcts in modern history. He's known for his pioneering aesthetic use of reinforced concrete, and for his work as the planner of Brasilia's construction. He has designed most of the city's official buildings. Because of his communist activism, he has lived part of his life in exile.
Eero Saarinen	1910	1961	3	Finland, U.S.A		Man	Modernism	Architect and Designer, Influence, Neo-futurism
Eero Saarinen is a major figure of American modern architecture and design. His best-known works include the Tulip chair, Saint Louis' Gateway Arch, New York's TWA flight center and Washington's Dulles airport. He notably befriends Florence Knoll or Ray & Charles Eames.
Ieoh Ming Pei	1917	2019	3	China, U.S.A		Man	Modernism, International Style, Cubism	Pritzker, Influence, Master or Professor
Ieoh Ming Pei is a major figure of modern and postmodern architecture. He notably designed the J.F.K library of Boston, the Bank of China tower in Hong Kong and the famous Louvre Pyramid. Most of his designs have initially sparked controversy but became widely popular after their construction.
Jørn Utzon	1918	2008	3	Denmark		Man	Modernism	Pritzker, Additive Architecture, Influence
Jørn Utzon is known as the theorist of additive architecture and as the designer of Sydney's opera house, one of the most recognizable buildings of the 20th century. His other notable designs include Kuwait's National Assembly building and the highly influential Kingo houses of Helsingør.
Geoffrey Bawa	1919	2003	3	Sri Lanka	Queer	Man	Modernism	Tropical Modernism, Influence, Aga Khan, Indigenous Art
Geoffrey Bawa is a major figure of modern Asian architecture. He's known for creating the distinctive style known as tropical modernism. Taking inspiration from traditional Ceylonese architecture, he's also playing an important part in the post-colonial renaissance of indigenous crafts and culture.
Muzharul Islam	1923	2012	3	Bangladesh		Man	Modernism	Bengali Modernism, Master or Professor, Influence
Muzharul Islam is regarded as the leader of Bengali modernism. Active as the country's major architect for over 50 years, he's also an influential teacher and activist. He established bonds between Bangladesh and notable western architects such as Louis Kahn and Konstantinos Doxiadis.
Robert Venturi & Denise S. Brown	1925 1931		3	U.S.A, South Africa	Couple	Mixed	Postmodernism	Pritzker, Master or Professor, Art Theory
Robert Venturi & Denise Scott Brown are among the most influential figures of architecture in the 20th century, not only as architects and planners, but also as professors and theorists. Their radical ideas have questioned the principles of modernism and paved the way to Postmodernism.
Norma Merrick Sklarek	1926	2012	3	U.S.A	Racialized	Woman	Modernism	The Rosa Parks of Architecture, Influence, Architect and Engineer
Norma Merrick Sklarek is the first African American woman to become a professional architect, and the first to own a practice, which she shared with other women. She notably designed the terminal 1 of the LA Airport and has collaborated with César Pelli on many projects without ever receiving proper credit.
Vann Molyvann	1926	2017	3	Cambodia		Man	Modernism	New Khmer Architecture, Influence, Architect and Urbanist
Vann Molyvann is the leading figure of new Khmer architecture. He served as Cambodia's state architect from the 1956 until the fall of Norodom Sihanouk, and later as the country's minister of culture and president of the council of ministers. He has also planned the construction of several important cities.
Rifat Chadirji	1926	2020	4	Iraq	Censored	Man	Modernism	Iraqi Modernism, Art Theory, Architect and Photographer
Rifat Chadirji is a major figure of the Modern Baghdad Group. He's regarded as the founder of Iraqi modernist architecture. He's also active as a photographer, activist and writer. He was jailed for 2 years for unfounded charges. Released by Sadam Hussein, he became Baghdad's renovator, and later taught at Harvard.
Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi	1927		4	India		Man	Modernism	Pritzker, Master or Professor, Sustainable Architecture, Architect and Photographer
Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi is a founder of Indian modernist architecture and the first Indian recipient of the Pritzker prize. He has notably worked with Louis Kahn and Le Corbusier. An influential teacher, he helped establish the Vastu-Shilpa Foundation, which provides pioneering innovations on low-income housing.
Frank Gehry	1929		4	Canada, U.S.A		Man	Postmodernism	Deconstructivism, Pritzker, Master or Professor
Frank Gehry is a major figure of Postmodernism and deconstructivism. He's often cited as the greatest architect of his era. The construction of Bilbao's Guggenheim, his most renowned work, has had such an economical impact it is now studied as the "Bilbao effect". He's also a professor and a designer.
Archigram	1962		4	England		Man	Postmodernism, Futurism	Psychedelia, Influence, Neo-Futurism, Avant-garde
Archigram is an influential collective of avant-garde architects. Inspired by Antonio Sant'Elia's futurism, they developed an influential style which perfectly suited the spirit of the 60's. Its members have developed experimental concepts such as the "walking", "plug-in" or "instant" cities.
Kisho Kurokawa	1934	2007	4	Japan		Man	Postmodernism	Metabolism, Sustainable Architecture, Art Theory, Avant-garde
Kisho Kurokawa is a founder of metabolism, a Japanese avant-garde architectural movement which takes inspiration from biology and Marxism. A longtime proponent of sustainable and ecological architecture, he's been instrumental in the rise of the green party in Japan. His theories will be highly influential.
Imre Makovecz	1935	2011	4	Hungary		Man	Modernism, Art Nouveau	Organic Architecture, Unique Style, Religious Art
Imre Makovecz is a major figure of organic architecture. He's known for his extremely distinctive, radical and sometimes figurative architectural style. It is inspired by a lifelong interest in folk Art and by a fervent catholic faith.
Moshe Safdie	1938		4	Israel, Canada		Man	Modernism	Architect and Urbanist, Art Theory, Master or Professor
Moshe Safdie is one of the foremost contemporary architects. He achieved worldwide recognition with his first project, Habitat 67, now considered a landmark in high-density housing. He's known for his extreme projects, such as Singapore's Marina Bay Sands and Jewel Changi airport or Chongqing's Raffles City.
Susana Torre	1944		4	Argentina, U.S.A		Woman	Postmodernism	Master or Professor, Art Theory, Feminism, Architect and Designer
Susana Torre is a major theorist of architecture and a pioneer in the academic history of women's presence in the field. Being a prominent architect, designer and urban planner herself, she showed how feminist, social and environmental concerns can be taken into account. She's also an influential professor.
Zaha Hadid	1950	2016	4	Iraq, England	Racialized	Woman	Postmodernism	Pritzker, Queen of the Curve, Influence, Deconstructivism
Zaha Hadid is one of the most influential architects in history and a major figure of deconstructivism, neo-futurism and parametricism. She's been the first woman to receive the Pritzker prize and the RIBA gold medal. Known for her immensely ambitious projects, she's credited with liberating the architectural geometry.
Kris Yao	1951		4	Taiwan		Man	Postmodernism	High-tech Architecture, Influence, Architect and Translator
Kris Yao is one of the foremost architects of the 21st century and a major figure of high-tech and postmodern architecture. A fervent Buddhist, he's active in the field of Buddhist studies as a translator. He has notably collaborated with Rem Koolhaas.
Yvonne Farrell & Shelley McNamara	1951 1952		5	Ireland		Woman	Postmodernism	Pritzker, Master or Professor, Art Theory
Yvonne Farrell & Shelley McNamara are among the major architects of their time. The first duo of women to receive the Pritzker prize and the RIBA gold medal, they've curated the Venice Biennale of 2018. They specialize in buildings for higher education, and they serve as professors themselves.
Odile Decq	1955		5	France		Woman	Postmodernism, Conceptual Architecture	Master or Professor, Multitalented Artist, Conceptual Architecture
Odile Decq is a prominent contemporary architect. She's known for her goth look and for her interdisciplinary, holistic approach which embraces urbanism, architecture, Art and design as a whole. An influential teacher, she leads her own school of architecture with a method focused on radicality and personal expression.
Amanda Levete	1955		5	England		Woman	Postmodernism, Conceptual Architecture	Avant-garde, Influence, Conceptual Architecture
Amanda Levete is a major figure of conceptual architecture and one of the most renowned architects of her time. Her most acclaimed designs include Lisbon's MAAT, The Lord's Media Centre in London and Bangkok's Central Embassy. She initially worked with neofuturist architect Jan Kaplický, who was her husband.
Kazuyo Sejima	1956		5	Japan		Woman	Postmodernism, Conceptual Architecture	Pritzker, Conceptual Architecture
Kazuyo Sejima is a major contemporary architect. A co-founder of the Pritzker-winning SANAA studio alongside Ryue Nishizawa, she notably designed the Rolex learning center, New York's New Museum and Tokyo's Sumida Hokusai museum. She's known for her innovative and heavily documented design process.
Maya Lin	1959		5	U.S.A, China	Racialized	Woman	Postmodernism	Memorial Design, Multitalented Artist, Sustainable Architecture, Installation Art
Maya Lin is a major figure of memorial design, sustainable architecture and installation Art. As an architect, she focuses on the environmental impact of buildings. As an artist and designer, she explores the fluid transition between the inside and the outisde of the dedicated space.
Jeanne Gang	1964		5	U.S.A		Woman	Postmodernism	Sustainable Architecture, Art Theory, Influence
Jeanne Gang is a major contemporary architect known for her internationally acclaimed Aqua Tower. The highest building designed by a woman, it will soon be surpassed by her own Vista Tower. Other notable designs include San Francisco's MIRA and the Arkansas Art center. She has collaborated with Rem Koolhaas.
Diébédo Francis Kéré	1965		5	Burkina Faso		Man	Postmodernism	Sustainable Architecture, Community-based Architecture, Aga Khan, Master or Professor
Although he's been successful in high-budget commissions, Diébédo Francis Kéré puts most of his efforts into improving life in poor areas and villages. He does so through extremely innovative projects of community-based and sustainable architecture. He's able to work with very little resources.
David Adjaye	1966		5	England, Ghana	Racialized	Man	Postmodernism	Multitalented Artist, Avant-garde, Sustainable Architecture
David Adjaye is a major contemporary architect known for designing Washington's national museum of African American history. He has collaborated with Olafur Eliasson and designed houses for many British artists, such as Alexander McQueen. He's also active as a teacher, contemporary artist, and as a screenwriter.
Marina Tabassum	1970		5	Bangladesh		Woman	Postmodernism	Master or Professor, Bengali Modernism, Sustainable Architecture, Aga Khan
Marina Tabassum is a major figure of Bengali modernism and sustainable architecture. She's known for designing the Bait-ur-Rouf Mosque, which earned her the Aga Khan award. She's also active as a professor.
Freddy Mamani	1971		5	Bolivia	Indigenous	Man	Postmodernism, Art Deco	Neo-Andean Architecture, Indigenous Art, Unique Style
Freddy Mamani is known as the founder of Neo-Andean architecture, an eccentric and colorful style conceived as a modern interpretation of the Aymaran culture and folklore. He has designed over 100 of these buildings called "Party Halls", which combine commercial galleries, dancing halls and habitations.

Name	Birth	Death	Era	Nation	Tags*	Gender	Currents	Effects
Ludwig van Beethoven	1770	1827	1	Germany	Disability	Man	Neoclassicism, Romanticism	Composer and Performer, Heroic Music, Influence, Popular Success
Ludwig van Beethoven is a pivotal figure in the transition between classical and romantic eras. He suffered from a gradual hearing loss that soon prevented him from performing in concerts. His output is usually divided into 3 periods: Viennese, Heroic and late. He's regarded as one of the greatest composers in history.
Franz Schubert	1797	1828	1	Austria	Institutionalized	Man	Neoclassicism, Romanticism	Composer and Performer, Master or Professor, Influence, Lieder
Franz Schubert is a major figure of late classical and early romantic music. He's regarded as one of the greatest western composers. Although he will only live for 31 years, he has written hundreds of lieders and numerous symphonies, operas and pieces of chamber music. He's also been active as a school teacher.
Frédéric Chopin	1810	1849	1	Poland		Man	Romanticism	Composer and Performer, Influence, Master or Professor, Popular Success
Frédéric Chopin is a major figure of romantic music and one of the earliest celebrities of the music world. His remarkably Polish works are early examples of national music. A master of improvisation, he's known for his formal innovations. He's a protégé of Jane Stirling, and his relationship with George Sand is notorious.
Robert & Clara Schumann	1810 1819	1856 1896	1	Germany	Institutionalized, Couple	Mixed	Romanticism	Composer and Performer, Art Theory, Master or Professor, Absolute Music
Robert & Clara Josephine Schumann are major figures of romantic music. While Clara is known as one of the greatest virtuosos of her time, Robert is famous for his compositions and writings. They're both performers, composers and teachers. Robert will be institutionalized after a suicide attempt in 1854.
Franz Liszt	1811	1886	1	Hungary		Man	Romanticism	Composer and Performer, Master or Professor, New German School, Symphonic Poem
Franz Liszt is a central figure of romantic music and a leader of the new German school, which is credited with pioneering modernist music. He's regarded as one of the greatest pianists in history. He's a prolific composer, essayist, and an influential teacher. He embodies the most progressive side in the "war of the romantics".
Giuseppe Verdi	1813	1901	1	Italy	Censored	Man	Romanticism	Italian Opera, Conducting, Composer and Politician, Popular Success
Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi is a major figure of Italian opera. Briefly involved in politics, he supported the risorgimento which sought to unify Italy. His most renowned works, such as La traviata, Otello, Rigoletto and Nabucco, will remain among the most performed operas worldwide well after his death.
Antonín Dvořák	1841	1904	1	Austria-Hungary, Czechia		Man	Romanticism	Influence, Religious Art, Popular Success, Folklore
Antonín Leopold Dvořák is a major figure of romantic music often regarded as the most versatile composer of his time. Following Bedřich Smetana's example, he took inspiration from Bohemian and Moravian folk music to develop a national style. It will contribute to re-affirm the Czech nation, which is still stateless.
Edvard Grieg	1843	1907	1	Norway		Man	Romanticism	Composer and Performer, Folklore, Influence, Antiracism
Edvard Grieg is a major figure of romantic music. He's known for his use of Norwegian folk music in an effort to develop the nation's musical identity. He notably wrote the music for Ibsen's Peer Gynt's premiere. He befriends Franz Liszt. He has canceled concerts in France in protest against the anti-semitic Dreyfus affair.
Gabriel Fauré	1845	1924	1	France		Man	Romanticism, Modernism	Composer and Performer, Master or Professor, Influence, Société Nationale de Musique
Gabriel Urbain Fauré is a major figure of the romantic era and an influential pioneer of modern music. A pupil of Saint-Saëns, he's a founding member of the Société Nationale de Musique. It has notably been attended by Bizet, Debussy and Ravel, his pupil. He composed for the premiere of Maeterlinck's Pelléas et Mélisande.
Teresa Carreño	1853	1917	1	Venezuela		Woman	Romanticism	Valkyrie of the Piano, Conducting, Composer and Performer, Merengue
Teresa Carreño is one of the most renowned virtuoso pianists of her time and a major Venezuelan composer. She's notably collaborated with Edvard Grieg, Gustav Mahler and Amy Beach, who's dedicated a composition to her, as did Edward MacDowell. She's also been active as a conductor and as a soprano singer.
Siti binti Saad	1880	1950	2	Zanzibar, Tanzania		Woman	Folk	Taraab, Feminism, Influence, Socialism
Siti binti Saad is a pioneer of Taraab music and the first East African woman to record an album, at the time when it was considered indecent for women to play music in Zanzibar. She uses her outstanding success to stand up against class oppression and patriarchy. She has inspired many subsequent women artists, such as Bi Kidude.
Dora Pejačević	1885	1923	2	Croatia, Hungary		Woman	Romanticism, Modernism	Early Modern Music, Composer and Performer, Socialism
Dora Pejačević is a major Croatian composer and a pioneer of modern symphony. Largely self-taught, she has composed chamber music, songs, piano works, but she's mostly renowned for orchestral pieces. She notably befriends Karl Kraus and Sidonie Nádherná von Borutín.
Sergei Prokofiev	1891	1953	2	Russia		Man	Modernism	Influence, Ballets Russes, Composer and Performer, Conducting
Sergei Prokofiev is regarded as one of the greatest composers of the 20th century. Because his first works were his most experimental, he has the reputation of a virtuoso rebel. Stravinsky has called him a genius. He has later composed for the Ballets Russes, Eisenstein's Alexander Nevsky, and for Vsevolod Meyerhold.
Bessie Smith	1894	1937	2	U.S.A	Racialized, Queer	Woman	Blues	Empress of the Blues, Influence, Antiracism, Feminism
Bessie Smith is a major and pioneering figure of blues, jazz and protest music. She's one of the most popular artists of her time. Born into poverty, she lost her parents early and began singing to support her siblings. She made her debut alongside Ma Rainey, mother of the blues. She's bisexual and lives a tumultuous life.
Umm Kulthum	1898	1975	2	Egypt	Censored	Woman	Neoclassicism	Composer, Performer and Actress, Egypt's fourth Pyramid, Popular Success
Umm Kulthum is a national icon of Egypt and one of the most popular Middle Eastern singers in history. A master of improvisation, she shares an emotional bond with her audience and the length of her songs is known to vary greatly. She takes pride in her humble origins and has embraced several popular causes.
Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald	1901 1917	1971 1996	2	U.S.A	Racialized	Mixed	Jazz	Composer and Performer, Scat, First Lady of Song, Popular Success
Louis Daniel Armstrong & Ella Jane Fitzgerald are major figures of jazz and swing, pioneers of the scat technique, and two of the greatest artists of the 20th century. Although they both have collaborated with many notable artists, the 3 albums they've recorded together stand among the most popular and influential of the era.
Billie Holiday	1915	1959	2	U.S.A	Racialized	Woman	Jazz	Popular Success, Influence, Lady Day, Antiracism
Eleanora Fagan, best known as Billie Holiday, is an icon of jazz. She's had a notoriously hard life, but she's credited with revolutionizing popular singing. She will be called the most influential singer of her time by Frank Sinatra, and has notably collaborated with Count Basie, Carmen McRae, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong.
Sister Rosetta Tharpe	1915	1973	2	U.S.A	Racialized	Woman	Gospel, Rock'n'Roll, Rhythm and Blues, Jazz, Blues	Influence, Songwriter and Performer, Godmother of Rock'n'Roll, Technical Innovation
Sister Rosetta Tharpe is a major figure of gospel, rhythm and blues, jazz, and a precursor of rock'n'roll. Tragically overlooked, she will influence every pioneer of the genre, from Little Richard and Chuck Berry to Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis. She authored the first rock'n'roll record in history.
Violeta Parra	1917	1967	2	Chile		Woman	Folk	Nueva Canción, Mother of Latin American folk, Multitalented Artist, Socialism
Violeta Parra is the leading figure of the Nueva Canción movement, which reshaped popular music in most Latin American countries. Active as a successful singer, songwriter and composer, she's also an influential folklorist. She has collaborated with Pablo Neruda, Elis Regina, Joan Baez, and with her brother Nicanor.
Ravi Shankar	1920	2012	2	India		Man	Neoclassicism	Hindustani Music, Influence, Composer and Performer, Vegetarianism
Pandit Ravi Shankar the most internationally renowned composer and performer of Hindustani classical music. He played at Woodstock and has collaborated with Philip Glass, the Beatles, Yehudi Menuhin and John Coltrane. His daughters Anoushka and Norah Jones will become prominent musicians in their own right.
Yma Sumac	1922	2008	3	Peru, U.S.A	Racialized	Woman		Extraordinary Vocal Range, Unique Style, Lounge Music
Yma Sumac is a major figure of exotica, mambo and lounge music. She's known for her extraordinary vocal range, which is believed to cover 5 octaves. Her innovative, mysterious and versatile singing has caused an international sensation. She has notably collaborated with Les Baxter and Billy Mayn.
John & Alice Coltrane	1926 1937	1967 2007	3	U.S.A	Racialized, Couple	Mixed	Jazz	Free Jazz, Composer and Performer, Avant-garde, Influence
John & Alice Coltrane are major and central figures of jazz music. Alice is known as the most influential jazz harpist, and John as an innovative proponent of hard bop and free jazz. They share a deep interest in spirituality. After his death, he'll be canonized by the African orthodox church, while she'll become a Hindu swamini.
Tom Jobim & João Gilberto	1927 1931	1994 2019	3	Brazil		Man	Jazz	Fathers of Bossa Nova, Influence, Composer and Performer, Popular Success
Antônio Carlos Jobim & João Gilberto, along with the poet Vinicius de Moraes, are the creators of bossa nova. Their songs, originally interpreted by Elizeth Cardoso, Astrud Gilberto or Nara Leão, had a worldwide impact and have notably been covered by Frank Sinatra or Ella Fitzgerald. They're also major figures of samba and jazz.
Odetta	1915	1940	3	U.S.A	Racialized	Woman	Blues, Jazz, Folk	Influence, Voice of the Civil Rights Movement, Antiracism, Folk
Odetta Holmes is a major figure of blues, jazz, spirituals and American folk music, which knew a period of revival under her influence. She's also one of the most influential supporters of the civil rights movement. She has greatly influenced Harry Belafonte, Janis Joplin and Bob Dylan and among others.
Barbara	1930	1997	3	France		Woman		Composer, Performer and Actress, Nouvelle Chanson, Unique Style
Barbara is a major figure of French chanson. She's known for her delicate compositions and uniquely intense performances. She didn't find success until she started singing her own songs, but she remains close to the writers who were part her early repertoire, such as Jacques Brel and Georges Brassens.
Fairuz	1934		3	Lebanon	Censored	Woman		Ambassador of the Arabs, Performer and Actress, Popular Success
Fairuz is a cultural icon of Lebanon and a pioneer in Arabic musical theatre. She's the highest-selling Middle Eastern artist in history, with over 150 million records sold. Over six decades, she has recorded almost 1500 songs, performed in over 20 plays and several films and TV shows.
Fela Kuti	1938	1997	3	Nigeria	Censored	Man	Funk, Jazz, Pan-Africanism	Composer and Performer, Early Afrobeat, Pan-Africanism, Anti-Colonialism
Fela Kuti is a major figure of highlife music, a pioneer of afrobeat and one of the most internationally influential African artists. An enemy of Nigeria's military regime and supporter of Pan-Africanism, he once founded what he called the Kalakuta Republic commune, a compound which was soon violently destroyed.
Ali Farka Touré	1939	2006	3	Mali		Man	Blues, Folk	Composer and Performer, Influence, African John Lee Hooker
Ali Farka Touré is a major figure of Malian blues and folk. One of the most internationally renowned African musicians, he's often cited among the greatest guitarists in history. He also served as the mayor of Niafunké, his town of origin, where he spent his own money to improve the roads and provide electricity.
Tina Turner	1939		3	U.S.A, Switzerland	Racialized	Woman	Rhythm and Blues, Soul, Rock'n'Roll, Pop	Queen of Rock'n'Roll, Film Soundtrack, Performer and Actress, Popular Success
Tina Turner is a major figure of rock'n'roll, soul and R&B often cited as one of the greatest musical artists of all time. She became known as part of a duo with Ike, her abusive husband, but has successfully led a solo career afterwards. She has notably collaborated with the Stones, David Bowie and Rod Stewart.
The Beatles	1960	1970	3	England		Man	Rock'n'Roll, Pop	Most Influential Band of All Time, Counterculture, Album Era, Popular Success
The Beatles is the highest selling musical act in history and the most influential band of all time. It's credited with shaping the 60's counterculture, the album era & psychedelia. Although its music is often experimental, it sparked an unprecedented popular enthusiasm referred to as the "Beatlemania". Lennon is an abusive asshole.
Cesária Évora	1941	2011	4	Cape Verde		Woman	Folk	The Barefoot Diva, Songwriter and Performer, Popular Success
Cesária Évora is a cultural icon of Cape Verde. A legend of morna music, she's credited with bringing the genre to international attention. She's known for performing barefoot. She has notably collaborated with Goran Bregovic, Emir Kusturica, Caetano Veloso, Marisa Monte and Linda Ronstadt.
Bob Dylan	1941		4	U.S.A		males	Folk, Blues, Rock'n'Roll, Gospel	Nobel, Multitalented Artist, Popular Success, Counterculture
Bob Dylan is a major figure of American counterculture, folk, blues, country and rock'n'roll. An international icon, he's one of the most influential songwriters of all time and the first to receive the Nobel prize in literature. He's also known as a supporter of the civil rights and anti-war movements. He's also a painter and a filmmaker.
Curtis Mayfield	1942	1999	4	U.S.A	Racialized	Man	Soul, Funk, Rhythm and Blues, Gospel	Film Soundtrack, Antiracism, Influence, Popular Success
Curtis Mayfield is a major figure of soul, funk and R&B music, as well as an influential civil rights activist. He first became known as a member of The Impressions. He has composed soundtracks for numerous blaxploitation films, including Super Fly. He will notably influence Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder.
Aretha Franklin	1942	2018	4	U.S.A	Racialized	Woman	Rock'n'Roll, Gospel, Pop, Rhythm and Blues, Soul	Antiracism, Popular Success, Influence, Queen of Soul
Aretha Franklin is an icon of soul music. She's regarded as one of the greatest musical artists in American history. A hugely popular singer, songwriter, pianist and actress, she's also a civil rights activist and a vocal supporter of feminist and indigenous causes.
Esma Redžepova	1943	2016	4	Macedonia, Bulgaria		Woman	Folk	Performer and Actress, Queen of the Gypsies, Folk
Esma Redžepova is an icon of Romani culture known for her outstandingly powerful voice. At a time when both Romani music and singing women were denigrated in Yugoslavia, she became immensely popular by blending traditional folk with elements as diverse as cha-cha, pop or psychedelia. She sings in numerous languages.
Pink Floyd	1965	2014	4	England		Man	Progressive Rock, Art Rock	Psychedelia, Influence, Counterculture, Popular Success
Pink Floyd is one of the highest-selling and most influential bands in history. A major act of psychedelic, experimental and progressive rock, it's credited with pioneering ambient music. It's also known for its BAFTA-winning musical film The Wall, and for composing the soundtrack of Michelangelo Antonioni's Zabriskie Point.
Earth, Wind & Fire	1969		4	U.S.A	Racialized	Mixed	Funk, Soul, Synth-Pop, Rhythm and Blues	Influence, Occultism, Popular Success
Earth, Wind & Fire is a major act of funk, soul, disco, pop and R&B regarded as one of the greatest and most influential bands of all time. Led by Maurice White and fueled by mystical influences, it's credited with transforming popular music with a continuous flow of successful innovations from the 70's onward.
Stevie Wonder	1950		4	U.S.A	Racialized	Man	Pop, Funk, Soul, Rhythm and Blues, Gospel, Jazz	Popular Success, Mastery of many Styles, Vegetarianism, Academy Award
Stevie Wonder is a major figure of R&B, soul, pop, gospel, funk, jazz, and one of the most influential composers of the 20th century. Blind from birth, he went from child prodigy to musical genius. A one-man band, composer and producer, he has created some of the most acclaimed albums in history and won 25 Grammys.
Nina Hagen	1955		4	Germany	Exile	Woman	Punk, Rock'n'Roll	Extraordinary Vocal Range, Post-Punk, Vegetarianism, Neue Deutsche Welle
Nina Hagen is a major figure of punk, post-punk and new wave music. Trained in opera and also active as an actress, she's known for her theatrical, spectacular vocals. Continuously experimenting, she blends musical genres ranging from reggae to electro. She's also an animal rights activist.
Salamat Sadikova	1956		4	Kyrgyzstan		Woman	Folk	Voice of Kyrgyzstan, Songwriter and Performer, Folk
Salamat Sadikova is a cultural icon of Kyrgyzstan and one of the most popular singers of Central Asia. Although she initially faced prejudice as a woman singer, she eventually became the leader of Kambarkan, the national folk music ensemble. She also serves as the head of Kyrgyzstan's coordination council.
Doces Bárbaros	1976		5	Brazil	Queer, Racialized	Mixed		Tropicália, MPB, Influence, Popular Success
Gal Costa, Gilberto Gil, Maria Bethania & her brother Caetano Veloso are 4 legends of Brazilian music known for founding the influential Tropicália movement. Although they've only gathered once under this name, they've collaborated continuously from 1969 onward, transforming MPB and opposing the military regime.
Ofra Haza	1957	2000	5	Yemen, Israel	Racialized	Woman	Synth-Pop, Folk	Performer and Actress, Madonna of the East, Popular Success
Ofra Haza is an Israeli cultural icon of Yemeni heritage. She's known for singing folk songs of both cultures as well as modern pop and dance hits. Radios have often refused to play her songs by fear of scandal. She has notably collaborated with Khaled, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Iggy Pop and Hans Zimmer.
Yellow Magic Orchestra	1978	2018	5	Japan		Man	Synth-Pop, Electronic Music	Influence, Early Techno, Technical Innovation, Cyberpunk
YMO is one of the most influential acts in electronic music. It's credited with pioneering synth-pop, J-pop and techno. Its founders Haruomi Hosono, Ryuichi Sakamoto & Yukihiro Takahashi (an assistant to Isao Tomita) are all successful in their own right. Its distinctive style combines parodic exotica with technical experiments.
Madonna	1958		5	U.S.A	Queer	Woman	Pop, Electronic Music, Folk	Queen of Pop, Influence, Multitalented Artist, Popular Success
Madonna is an international icon regarded as one of the most influential artists in popular music. She's the most successful solo artist in the Hot 100 chart history. Known for pushing boundaries, she has introduced many avant-garde ideas in her acts, sometimes unlawfully appropriating them. She dated Tupac and Basquiat.
Salt-N-Pepa	1985		5	U.S.A	Racialized	Woman	Hip Hop, Pop	Influence, Feminism, The First Ladies of Rap and Hip Hop
Salt-N-Pepa is the first Female rap act to achieve gold and platinum status, as well as the first to receive a Grammy. Their influential feminist hits have transformed the reputation of hip hop. They've notably collaborated with Queen Latifah, Run-DMC, Missy Elliott, Public Enemy, Antoinette and Roxanne Shanté.
Pochonbo Electronic Ensemble	1985		5	North Korea		Woman	Synth-Pop, Electronic Music, Folk	Influence, Propaganda Art, Folk
The Pochonbo Electronic Ensemble is the most popular music act of North Korea and its first electropop band. It's known for its innovative rendition of revolutionary and folk songs, and much of its hits have now become classics. One of its members, Hyon Song Wol, is now a leader of the Moranbong Band and Samjiyon Orchestra.
Bikini Kill	1990		5	U.S.A	Queer	Woman	Punk	Riot Grrrl, Influence, Feminism
Bikini Kill is a major act of punk and alternative rock. They're known for pioneering the Riot Grrrl underground movement. As the foremost radical feminist band of the era, they face extremely violent reactions. They've notably collaborated with Joan Jett from the Runaways and Molly Neuman from Bratmobile.
Wu-Tang Clan	1992		5	U.S.A	Racialized	Man	Hip Hop	Influence, Hardcore Hip Hop, Popular Success
Wu-Tang Clan is a major group of east coast and hardcore hip hop often regarded as the greatest and most influential hip hop act in history. Their classic Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) is credited with triggering the east coast renaissance and inspiring Mobb Deep, Notorious B.I.G, Jay-Z or Nas among others.
Beyoncé	1981		5	U.S.A	Racialized	Woman	Rhythm and Blues, Pop, Hip Hop	Popular Success, Multitalented Artist, Influence, Black Feminism
Beyoncé is an international icon regarded as the most defining artist of the 21st century. She became known as part of Destiny's Child, one of the most successful girl groups. She received 70 Grammy nominations and is the first artist to have their first 6 albums debut at number 1 on the billboard 200. She's also an actress.
Rihanna	1988		5	Barbados	Racialized	Woman	Rhythm and Blues, Pop, Hip Hop	Influence, Performer and Actress, Popular Success, Fashion Design
Rihanna is an international icon of both music and fashion. At age 31, she surpassed the Beatles as the artist with the highest count of certified sales in history. The "Rihanna Day" is a yearly time of national celebration in Barbados. She's also known as an actress, businesswoman and philanthropist.

Name

Birth

Death

Era

Nation

Tags*

Gender

Currents

Effects

Ludwig van Beethoven

1770

1827

1

Germany

Disability

Man

Neoclassicism, Romanticism

Composer and Performer, Heroic Music, Influence, Popular Success

Ludwig van Beethoven is a pivotal figure in the transition between classical and romantic eras. He suffered from a gradual hearing loss that soon prevented him from performing in concerts. His output is usually divided into 3 periods: Viennese, Heroic and late. He's regarded as one of the greatest composers in history.

Franz Schubert

1797

1828

1

Austria

Institutionalized

Man

Neoclassicism, Romanticism

Composer and Performer, Master or Professor, Influence, Lieder

Franz Schubert is a major figure of late classical and early romantic music. He's regarded as one of the greatest western composers. Although he will only live for 31 years, he has written hundreds of lieders and numerous symphonies, operas and pieces of chamber music. He's also been active as a school teacher.

Frédéric Chopin

1810

1849

1

Poland

Man

Romanticism

Composer and Performer, Influence, Master or Professor, Popular Success

Frédéric Chopin is a major figure of romantic music and one of the earliest celebrities of the music world. His remarkably Polish works are early examples of national music. A master of improvisation, he's known for his formal innovations. He's a protégé of Jane Stirling, and his relationship with George Sand is notorious.

Robert &
Clara Schumann

1810
1819

1856
1896

1

Germany

Institutionalized, Couple

Mixed

Romanticism

Composer and Performer, Art Theory, Master or Professor, Absolute Music

Robert & Clara Josephine Schumann are major figures of romantic music. While Clara is known as one of the greatest virtuosos of her time, Robert is famous for his compositions and writings. They're both performers, composers and teachers. Robert will be institutionalized after a suicide attempt in 1854.

Franz Liszt

1811

1886

1

Hungary

Man

Romanticism

Composer and Performer, Master or Professor, New German School, Symphonic Poem

Franz Liszt is a central figure of romantic music and a leader of the new German school, which is credited with pioneering modernist music. He's regarded as one of the greatest pianists in history. He's a prolific composer, essayist, and an influential teacher. He embodies the most progressive side in the "war of the romantics".

Giuseppe Verdi

1813

1901

1

Italy

Censored

Man

Romanticism

Italian Opera, Conducting, Composer and Politician, Popular Success

Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi is a major figure of Italian opera. Briefly involved in politics, he supported the risorgimento which sought to unify Italy. His most renowned works, such as La traviata, Otello, Rigoletto and Nabucco, will remain among the most performed operas worldwide well after his death.

Antonín Dvořák

1841

1904

1

Austria-Hungary, Czechia

Man

Romanticism

Influence, Religious Art, Popular Success, Folklore

Antonín Leopold Dvořák is a major figure of romantic music often regarded as the most versatile composer of his time. Following Bedřich Smetana's example, he took inspiration from Bohemian and Moravian folk music to develop a national style. It will contribute to re-affirm the Czech nation, which is still stateless.

Edvard Grieg

1843

1907

1

Norway

Man

Romanticism

Composer and Performer, Folklore, Influence, Antiracism

Edvard Grieg is a major figure of romantic music. He's known for his use of Norwegian folk music in an effort to develop the nation's musical identity. He notably wrote the music for Ibsen's Peer Gynt's premiere. He befriends Franz Liszt. He has canceled concerts in France in protest against the anti-semitic Dreyfus affair.

Gabriel Fauré

1845

1924

1

France

Man

Romanticism, Modernism

Composer and Performer, Master or Professor, Influence, Société Nationale de Musique

Gabriel Urbain Fauré is a major figure of the romantic era and an influential pioneer of modern music. A pupil of Saint-Saëns, he's a founding member of the Société Nationale de Musique. It has notably been attended by Bizet, Debussy and Ravel, his pupil. He composed for the premiere of Maeterlinck's Pelléas et Mélisande.

Teresa Carreño

1853

1917

1

Venezuela

Woman

Romanticism

Valkyrie of the Piano, Conducting, Composer and Performer, Merengue

Teresa Carreño is one of the most renowned virtuoso pianists of her time and a major Venezuelan composer. She's notably collaborated with Edvard Grieg, Gustav Mahler and Amy Beach, who's dedicated a composition to her, as did Edward MacDowell. She's also been active as a conductor and as a soprano singer.

Siti binti Saad

1880

1950

2

Zanzibar, Tanzania

Woman

Folk

Taraab, Feminism, Influence, Socialism

Siti binti Saad is a pioneer of Taraab music and the first East African woman to record an album, at the time when it was considered indecent for women to play music in Zanzibar. She uses her outstanding success to stand up against class oppression and patriarchy. She has inspired many subsequent women artists, such as Bi Kidude.

Dora Pejačević

1885

1923

2

Croatia, Hungary

Woman

Romanticism, Modernism

Early Modern Music, Composer and Performer, Socialism

Dora Pejačević is a major Croatian composer and a pioneer of modern symphony. Largely self-taught, she has composed chamber music, songs, piano works, but she's mostly renowned for orchestral pieces. She notably befriends Karl Kraus and Sidonie Nádherná von Borutín.

Sergei Prokofiev

1891

1953

2

Russia

Man

Modernism

Influence, Ballets Russes, Composer and Performer, Conducting

Sergei Prokofiev is regarded as one of the greatest composers of the 20th century. Because his first works were his most experimental, he has the reputation of a virtuoso rebel. Stravinsky has called him a genius. He has later composed for the Ballets Russes, Eisenstein's Alexander Nevsky, and for Vsevolod Meyerhold.

Bessie Smith

1894

1937

2

U.S.A

Racialized, Queer

Woman

Blues

Empress of the Blues, Influence, Antiracism, Feminism

Bessie Smith is a major and pioneering figure of blues, jazz and protest music. She's one of the most popular artists of her time. Born into poverty, she lost her parents early and began singing to support her siblings. She made her debut alongside Ma Rainey, mother of the blues. She's bisexual and lives a tumultuous life.

Umm Kulthum

1898

1975

2

Egypt

Censored

Woman

Neoclassicism

Composer, Performer and Actress, Egypt's fourth Pyramid, Popular Success

Umm Kulthum is a national icon of Egypt and one of the most popular Middle Eastern singers in history. A master of improvisation, she shares an emotional bond with her audience and the length of her songs is known to vary greatly. She takes pride in her humble origins and has embraced several popular causes.

Louis Armstrong &
Ella Fitzgerald

1901
1917

1971
1996

2

U.S.A

Racialized

Mixed

Jazz

Composer and Performer, Scat, First Lady of Song, Popular Success

Louis Daniel Armstrong & Ella Jane Fitzgerald are major figures of jazz and swing, pioneers of the scat technique, and two of the greatest artists of the 20th century. Although they both have collaborated with many notable artists, the 3 albums they've recorded together stand among the most popular and influential of the era.

Billie Holiday

1915

1959

2

U.S.A

Racialized

Woman

Jazz

Popular Success, Influence, Lady Day, Antiracism

Eleanora Fagan, best known as Billie Holiday, is an icon of jazz. She's had a notoriously hard life, but she's credited with revolutionizing popular singing. She will be called the most influential singer of her time by Frank Sinatra, and has notably collaborated with Count Basie, Carmen McRae, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe

1915

1973

2

U.S.A

Racialized

Woman

Gospel, Rock'n'Roll, Rhythm and Blues, Jazz, Blues

Influence, Songwriter and Performer, Godmother of Rock'n'Roll, Technical Innovation

Sister Rosetta Tharpe is a major figure of gospel, rhythm and blues, jazz, and a precursor of rock'n'roll. Tragically overlooked, she will influence every pioneer of the genre, from Little Richard and Chuck Berry to Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis. She authored the first rock'n'roll record in history.

Violeta Parra

1917

1967

2

Chile

Woman

Folk

Nueva Canción, Mother of Latin American folk, Multitalented Artist, Socialism

Violeta Parra is the leading figure of the Nueva Canción movement, which reshaped popular music in most Latin American countries. Active as a successful singer, songwriter and composer, she's also an influential folklorist. She has collaborated with Pablo Neruda, Elis Regina, Joan Baez, and with her brother Nicanor.

Ravi Shankar

1920

2012

2

India

Man

Neoclassicism

Hindustani Music, Influence, Composer and Performer, Vegetarianism

Pandit Ravi Shankar the most internationally renowned composer and performer of Hindustani classical music. He played at Woodstock and has collaborated with Philip Glass, the Beatles, Yehudi Menuhin and John Coltrane. His daughters Anoushka and Norah Jones will become prominent musicians in their own right.

Yma Sumac

1922

2008

3

Peru, U.S.A

Racialized

Woman

Extraordinary Vocal Range, Unique Style, Lounge Music

Yma Sumac is a major figure of exotica, mambo and lounge music. She's known for her extraordinary vocal range, which is believed to cover 5 octaves. Her innovative, mysterious and versatile singing has caused an international sensation. She has notably collaborated with Les Baxter and Billy Mayn.

John &
Alice Coltrane

1926
1937

1967
2007

3

U.S.A

Racialized, Couple

Mixed

Jazz

Free Jazz, Composer and Performer, Avant-garde, Influence

John & Alice Coltrane are major and central figures of jazz music. Alice is known as the most influential jazz harpist, and John as an innovative proponent of hard bop and free jazz. They share a deep interest in spirituality. After his death, he'll be canonized by the African orthodox church, while she'll become a Hindu swamini.

Tom Jobim &
João Gilberto

1927
1931

1994
2019

3

Brazil

Man

Jazz

Fathers of Bossa Nova, Influence, Composer and Performer, Popular Success

Antônio Carlos Jobim & João Gilberto, along with the poet Vinicius de Moraes, are the creators of bossa nova. Their songs, originally interpreted by Elizeth Cardoso, Astrud Gilberto or Nara Leão, had a worldwide impact and have notably been covered by Frank Sinatra or Ella Fitzgerald. They're also major figures of samba and jazz.

Odetta

1915

1940

3

U.S.A

Racialized

Woman

Blues, Jazz, Folk

Influence, Voice of the Civil Rights Movement, Antiracism, Folk

Odetta Holmes is a major figure of blues, jazz, spirituals and American folk music, which knew a period of revival under her influence. She's also one of the most influential supporters of the civil rights movement. She has greatly influenced Harry Belafonte, Janis Joplin and Bob Dylan and among others.

Barbara

1930

1997

3

France

Woman

Composer, Performer and Actress, Nouvelle Chanson, Unique Style

Barbara is a major figure of French chanson. She's known for her delicate compositions and uniquely intense performances. She didn't find success until she started singing her own songs, but she remains close to the writers who were part her early repertoire, such as Jacques Brel and Georges Brassens.

Fairuz

1934

3

Lebanon

Censored

Woman

Ambassador of the Arabs, Performer and Actress, Popular Success

Fairuz is a cultural icon of Lebanon and a pioneer in Arabic musical theatre. She's the highest-selling Middle Eastern artist in history, with over 150 million records sold. Over six decades, she has recorded almost 1500 songs, performed in over 20 plays and several films and TV shows.

Fela Kuti

1938

1997

3

Nigeria

Censored

Man

Funk, Jazz, Pan-Africanism

Composer and Performer, Early Afrobeat, Pan-Africanism, Anti-Colonialism

Fela Kuti is a major figure of highlife music, a pioneer of afrobeat and one of the most internationally influential African artists. An enemy of Nigeria's military regime and supporter of Pan-Africanism, he once founded what he called the Kalakuta Republic commune, a compound which was soon violently destroyed.

Ali Farka Touré

1939

2006

3

Mali

Man

Blues, Folk

Composer and Performer, Influence, African John Lee Hooker

Ali Farka Touré is a major figure of Malian blues and folk. One of the most internationally renowned African musicians, he's often cited among the greatest guitarists in history. He also served as the mayor of Niafunké, his town of origin, where he spent his own money to improve the roads and provide electricity.

Tina Turner

1939

3

U.S.A, Switzerland

Racialized

Woman

Rhythm and Blues, Soul, Rock'n'Roll, Pop

Queen of Rock'n'Roll, Film Soundtrack, Performer and Actress, Popular Success

Tina Turner is a major figure of rock'n'roll, soul and R&B often cited as one of the greatest musical artists of all time. She became known as part of a duo with Ike, her abusive husband, but has successfully led a solo career afterwards. She has notably collaborated with the Stones, David Bowie and Rod Stewart.

The Beatles

1960

1970

3

England

Man

Rock'n'Roll, Pop

Most Influential Band of All Time, Counterculture, Album Era, Popular Success

The Beatles is the highest selling musical act in history and the most influential band of all time. It's credited with shaping the 60's counterculture, the album era & psychedelia. Although its music is often experimental, it sparked an unprecedented popular enthusiasm referred to as the "Beatlemania". Lennon is an abusive asshole.

Cesária Évora

1941

2011

4

Cape Verde

Woman

Folk

The Barefoot Diva, Songwriter and Performer, Popular Success

Cesária Évora is a cultural icon of Cape Verde. A legend of morna music, she's credited with bringing the genre to international attention. She's known for performing barefoot. She has notably collaborated with Goran Bregovic, Emir Kusturica, Caetano Veloso, Marisa Monte and Linda Ronstadt.

Bob Dylan

1941

4

U.S.A

males

Folk, Blues, Rock'n'Roll, Gospel

Nobel, Multitalented Artist, Popular Success, Counterculture

Bob Dylan is a major figure of American counterculture, folk, blues, country and rock'n'roll. An international icon, he's one of the most influential songwriters of all time and the first to receive the Nobel prize in literature. He's also known as a supporter of the civil rights and anti-war movements. He's also a painter and a filmmaker.

Curtis Mayfield

1942

1999

4

U.S.A

Racialized

Man

Soul, Funk, Rhythm and Blues, Gospel

Film Soundtrack, Antiracism, Influence, Popular Success

Curtis Mayfield is a major figure of soul, funk and R&B music, as well as an influential civil rights activist. He first became known as a member of The Impressions. He has composed soundtracks for numerous blaxploitation films, including Super Fly. He will notably influence Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder.

Aretha Franklin

1942

2018

4

U.S.A

Racialized

Woman

Rock'n'Roll, Gospel, Pop, Rhythm and Blues, Soul

Antiracism, Popular Success, Influence, Queen of Soul

Aretha Franklin is an icon of soul music. She's regarded as one of the greatest musical artists in American history. A hugely popular singer, songwriter, pianist and actress, she's also a civil rights activist and a vocal supporter of feminist and indigenous causes.

Esma Redžepova

1943

2016

4

Macedonia, Bulgaria

Woman

Folk

Performer and Actress, Queen of the Gypsies, Folk

Esma Redžepova is an icon of Romani culture known for her outstandingly powerful voice. At a time when both Romani music and singing women were denigrated in Yugoslavia, she became immensely popular by blending traditional folk with elements as diverse as cha-cha, pop or psychedelia. She sings in numerous languages.

Pink Floyd

1965

2014

4

England

Man

Progressive Rock, Art Rock

Psychedelia, Influence, Counterculture, Popular Success

Pink Floyd is one of the highest-selling and most influential bands in history. A major act of psychedelic, experimental and progressive rock, it's credited with pioneering ambient music. It's also known for its BAFTA-winning musical film The Wall, and for composing the soundtrack of Michelangelo Antonioni's Zabriskie Point.

Earth, Wind &
Fire

1969

4

U.S.A

Racialized

Mixed

Funk, Soul, Synth-Pop, Rhythm and Blues

Influence, Occultism, Popular Success

Earth, Wind & Fire is a major act of funk, soul, disco, pop and R&B regarded as one of the greatest and most influential bands of all time. Led by Maurice White and fueled by mystical influences, it's credited with transforming popular music with a continuous flow of successful innovations from the 70's onward.

Stevie Wonder

1950

4

U.S.A

Racialized

Man

Pop, Funk, Soul, Rhythm and Blues, Gospel, Jazz

Popular Success, Mastery of many Styles, Vegetarianism, Academy Award

Stevie Wonder is a major figure of R&B, soul, pop, gospel, funk, jazz, and one of the most influential composers of the 20th century. Blind from birth, he went from child prodigy to musical genius. A one-man band, composer and producer, he has created some of the most acclaimed albums in history and won 25 Grammys.

Nina Hagen

1955

4

Germany

Exile

Woman

Punk, Rock'n'Roll

Extraordinary Vocal Range, Post-Punk, Vegetarianism, Neue Deutsche Welle

Nina Hagen is a major figure of punk, post-punk and new wave music. Trained in opera and also active as an actress, she's known for her theatrical, spectacular vocals. Continuously experimenting, she blends musical genres ranging from reggae to electro. She's also an animal rights activist.

Salamat Sadikova

1956

4

Kyrgyzstan

Woman

Folk

Voice of Kyrgyzstan, Songwriter and Performer, Folk

Salamat Sadikova is a cultural icon of Kyrgyzstan and one of the most popular singers of Central Asia. Although she initially faced prejudice as a woman singer, she eventually became the leader of Kambarkan, the national folk music ensemble. She also serves as the head of Kyrgyzstan's coordination council.

Doces Bárbaros

1976

5

Brazil

Queer, Racialized

Mixed

Tropicália, MPB, Influence, Popular Success

Gal Costa, Gilberto Gil, Maria Bethania & her brother Caetano Veloso are 4 legends of Brazilian music known for founding the influential Tropicália movement. Although they've only gathered once under this name, they've collaborated continuously from 1969 onward, transforming MPB and opposing the military regime.

Ofra Haza

1957

2000

5

Yemen, Israel

Racialized

Woman

Synth-Pop, Folk

Performer and Actress, Madonna of the East, Popular Success

Ofra Haza is an Israeli cultural icon of Yemeni heritage. She's known for singing folk songs of both cultures as well as modern pop and dance hits. Radios have often refused to play her songs by fear of scandal. She has notably collaborated with Khaled, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Iggy Pop and Hans Zimmer.

Yellow Magic Orchestra

1978

2018

5

Japan

Man

Synth-Pop, Electronic Music

Influence, Early Techno, Technical Innovation, Cyberpunk

YMO is one of the most influential acts in electronic music. It's credited with pioneering synth-pop, J-pop and techno. Its founders Haruomi Hosono, Ryuichi Sakamoto & Yukihiro Takahashi (an assistant to Isao Tomita) are all successful in their own right. Its distinctive style combines parodic exotica with technical experiments.

Madonna

1958

5

U.S.A

Queer

Woman

Pop, Electronic Music, Folk

Queen of Pop, Influence, Multitalented Artist, Popular Success

Madonna is an international icon regarded as one of the most influential artists in popular music. She's the most successful solo artist in the Hot 100 chart history. Known for pushing boundaries, she has introduced many avant-garde ideas in her acts, sometimes unlawfully appropriating them. She dated Tupac and Basquiat.

Salt-N-Pepa

1985

5

U.S.A

Racialized

Woman

Hip Hop, Pop

Influence, Feminism, The First Ladies of Rap and Hip Hop

Salt-N-Pepa is the first Female rap act to achieve gold and platinum status, as well as the first to receive a Grammy. Their influential feminist hits have transformed the reputation of hip hop. They've notably collaborated with Queen Latifah, Run-DMC, Missy Elliott, Public Enemy, Antoinette and Roxanne Shanté.

Pochonbo Electronic Ensemble

1985

5

North Korea

Woman

Synth-Pop, Electronic Music, Folk

Influence, Propaganda Art, Folk

The Pochonbo Electronic Ensemble is the most popular music act of North Korea and its first electropop band. It's known for its innovative rendition of revolutionary and folk songs, and much of its hits have now become classics. One of its members, Hyon Song Wol, is now a leader of the Moranbong Band and Samjiyon Orchestra.

Bikini Kill

1990

5

U.S.A

Queer

Woman

Punk

Riot Grrrl, Influence, Feminism

Bikini Kill is a major act of punk and alternative rock. They're known for pioneering the Riot Grrrl underground movement. As the foremost radical feminist band of the era, they face extremely violent reactions. They've notably collaborated with Joan Jett from the Runaways and Molly Neuman from Bratmobile.

Wu-Tang Clan

1992

5

U.S.A

Racialized

Man

Hip Hop

Influence, Hardcore Hip Hop, Popular Success

Wu-Tang Clan is a major group of east coast and hardcore hip hop often regarded as the greatest and most influential hip hop act in history. Their classic Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) is credited with triggering the east coast renaissance and inspiring Mobb Deep, Notorious B.I.G, Jay-Z or Nas among others.

Beyoncé

1981

5

U.S.A

Racialized

Woman

Rhythm and Blues, Pop, Hip Hop

Popular Success, Multitalented Artist, Influence, Black Feminism

Beyoncé is an international icon regarded as the most defining artist of the 21st century. She became known as part of Destiny's Child, one of the most successful girl groups. She received 70 Grammy nominations and is the first artist to have their first 6 albums debut at number 1 on the billboard 200. She's also an actress.

Rihanna

1988

5

Barbados

Racialized

Woman

Rhythm and Blues, Pop, Hip Hop

Influence, Performer and Actress, Popular Success, Fashion Design

Rihanna is an international icon of both music and fashion. At age 31, she surpassed the Beatles as the artist with the highest count of certified sales in history. The "Rihanna Day" is a yearly time of national celebration in Barbados. She's also known as an actress, businesswoman and philanthropist.

Worldwide Arts Society [The Encyclopedia]:

Open/Close All

Shortcuts

Painting

Poetry

Theatre

Sculpture

Decorative Arts

Narrative Literature

Architecture

Music

Artification

Dance

Photography

Comics and Iconotext

Animation

Film

Outsider Art

Experimental Music

Experimental Film

Contemporary Art

Television

Video Game

Shameful Influences

* Precisions on the Tags

Name	Birth	Death	Era	Nation	Tags*	Gender	Currents	Effects
Fanny Cerrito	1817	1909	1	Italy		Woman		Dancer and Choreographer, Ballet, Influence
Fanny Cerrito is one of the first women to become a renowned choreographer. She's also a prominent dancer, and has notably performed alongside Marie Taglioni, Caroltta Grisi and Lucile Grahn.
Marius Petipa	1818	1910	1	France, Russia		Man		Dancer and Choreographer, Master or Professor, Influence, Ballet
Marius Petipa is regarded as one of the most influential ballet masters and choreographers in history. Heading Saint Petersburg's Imperial Ballet during its golden age, he has created over 50 acts, most of which will become references for subsequent productions.
Mariquita	1838	1922	1	Algeria, Spain, France	Racialized	Woman		Dancer and Choreographer, Ballet, Master or Professor
Marie-Thérèse Gamalery, best known as Mariquita, is one of the most renowned dancers and choreographers of her time. She has notably acted as a ballet master at the Folies Bergère, Opéra Comique and Théâtre de la Gaîté. She trained Liane de Pougy, Régina Badet and Carolina Otero among others.
Loie Fuller	1862	1928	1	U.S.A	Queer	Woman	Modernism, Art Nouveau, Symbolism	Dancer and Actress, Influence, Technical Innovation, Master or Professor
Loie Fuller is one of the most influential dancers in history, a major figure of Art Nouveau and a pioneer of modern and free dance. Alongside her lover Gab Sorère, she invented several modern lighting techniques. She notably befriends Isadora Duncan, Marie Curie, Louis Lumière, Rodin, Mallarmé and Toulouse-Lautrec.
La Goulue	1866	1929	1	France	Queer	Woman		Queen of Montmartre, Cabaret, Can-Can
Louise Weber, best known as La Goulue, is one of the most popular dancers of her time, a star of the Moulin Rouge and a pioneer of cancan. Her admirers include Renoir and Toulouse-Lautrec. She's known for her unusual moves and her habit of drinking from customers' glasses while dancing.
Mata Hari	1876	1917	1	Netherlands	Executed	Woman		Dancer, Courtesan and Spy, Influence, Popular Success
Grietje Zelle, best known as Mata Hari, is one of the most famous figures of orientalist and erotic dance in Europe. She's also been a circus horse rider, a courtesan and a painter's model. She served as a French spy during the first wold war, but following accusations of being a double agent, she will be executed.
Isadora Duncan	1877	1927	1	U.S.A, France, Russia	Queer	Woman	Modernism	Dancer and Choreographer, Influence, Socialism, Master or Professor
Isadora Duncan is one of the most innovative dancers in history. She's known for pioneering modern dance by abandoning rigid techniques and movements. Through her career, she created several short-lived schools. Her admirers include Rodin, Eadweard Muybridge, Antoine Bourdelle, Loie Fuller and Aleister Crowley.
Michel Fokine	1880	1942	1	Russia, U.S.A	Modernism	Man	Modernism	Dancer and Choreographer, Master or Professor, Ballets Russes
Michel Fokine is a major figure of Russian dance. He's best known as a resident choreographer for the Balles Russes. He made his debut as a dancer under Marius Petipa's direction, and has later collaborated with Anna Pavlova and Vaslav Nijinski among others. He's also an innovative teacher.
Anna Pavlova	1881	1931	1	Russia		Woman	Modernism	Dancer and Choreographer, Ballets Russes, Popular Success, Influence
Anna Pavlova is a major figure of modern dance who's been prima ballerina for the Imperial Russian Ballet, the Ballets Russes, and for her own successful company. With Michel Fokine, she created one of the best-known solos, the Dying Swan. She notably influenced Uday Shankar, Alicia Markova and Ruth Page.
Mary Wigman	1886	1973	1	U.S.A		Woman	Modernism, Expressionism	Dancer and Choreographer, Art Therapy, Influence, Ausdruckstanz
Mary Wigman is a major figure of modern dance and Weimar culture, as well as a pioneer of expressionist dance and dance therapy. She made her debut with Émile Jaques-Dalcroze and Rudolf Laban before founding her own school, which will later be directed by Hanya Holm and Dore Hoyer.
Vaslav Nijinsky	1889	1950	2	Poland, Russia	Queer, Institutionalized	Man	Modernism	Dancer and Choreographer, Ballets Russes, Influence
Vaslav Nijinsky is a notable dancer of the Ballets Russes and Imperial Ballet. He's regarded as the greatest male dancer of the 20th century. As a choreographer, he created some of the first modern ballets: Le Sacre du printemps with Stravinsky, L'après-midi d'un faune with Debussy and Till Eulenspiegel with Richard Strauss.
La Argentina	1890	1936	2	Argentina, Spain	Racialized	Woman	Neoclassicism	Dancer and Choreographer, Influence, Flamenco
Antonia Mercé y Luque, best known as La Argentina, is a major figure of Spanish dance known for reviving many of its folklores and making flamenco internationally popular. She has notably danced at the Moulin Rouge. She will be a major inspiration for Kazuo Ohno, and through him for many Japanese dancers.
Badia Masabni	1892	1974	2	Syria, Lebanon, Egypt		Woman		Patronage, Dancer, Choreographer and Actress, Belly Dance
Badia Masabni is a central figure of modern belly dance known for launching the careers of its most famous practitioners, Samia Gamal and Taheyya Kariokka. She's active as a dancer and as an actress. As a businesswoman, she runs the Casino Badia, one of the best-known Egyptian nightclubs of the time.
Hanya Holm	1893	1992	2	U.S.A, Germany		Woman	Modernism	Influence, Dancer and Choreographer, Master or Professor
Hanya Holm is a major figure of modern dance in the US. She's known as a founder of the Bennington College alongside Martha Graham, Charles Weidman and Doris Humphrey. An influential dancer, choreographer and teacher, she also founded the American branch of Mary Wigman's school.
Martha Graham	1894	1991	2	U.S.A		Woman	Modernism	Dancer and Choreographer, Picasso of Dance, Influence, Master or Professor
Martha Graham is a major figure of modern dance. She's best known for creating the revolutionary Graham technique, a style and pedagogy still widely taught worldwide. A dancer, choreographer and teacher, she has famously collaborated with Soichi Sunami, Imogen Cunningham, Isamu Noguchi and Aaron Copland.
Ninette de Valois	1898	2001	2	Ireland, England		Woman	Modernism	Ballets Russes, Dancer and Choreographer, Master or Professor, Royal Ballet
Ninette de Valois is a major figure of modern ballet. She became known as a star of the the Ballets Russes and has later founded the British Royal Ballet and its school, which will stand as one of the greatest companies in the world.
Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers	1899 1911	1987 1995	2	U.S.A		Mixed	Modernism	Multitalented Artist, Musical, Popular Success, Golden Age of Hollywood
Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers are cultural icons widely regarded as the best-known and most influential dancers in Hollywood's history. Active during its golden age, they're also successful Broadway and West End performers. They're credited with introducing some of the most popular American songs of their time.
Rukmini Devi Arundale	1904	1986	2	India		Woman	Neoclassicism, Modernism	Dancer and Choreographer, Bharatanatyam, Master or Professor, Vegetarianism
Rukmini Devi Arundale is an influential dancer credited with reviving the Bharatanatyam performance Art and promoting traditional Indian crafts and disciplines. She's also known as the first woman to join the Rajya Sabha parliament. She's a prominent animal rights activist.
Seki Sano	1905	1966	2	U.S.A, France	Racialized, Exile	Man	Modernism	Father of Mexican Theatre, Multitalented Artist, Socialism
Seki Sano is an actor, stage director and choreographer who's been instrumental in the development of modern theatre both in Japan and in Mexico. His influence over Central and Southern America is substantial. He's also known as a Marxist activist.
Josephine Baker	1906	1975	2	Japan, Mexico	Racialized, Queer	Woman	Pop, Jazz	Multitalented Artist, Antiracism, Resistance, Influence
Josephine Baker is a cultural icon of the jazz age, a hugely successful dancer at the Folies Bergère, and the first black woman to star in a major picture. She's been active in both the French resistance and the civil rights movement, of which she's been offered unofficial leadership following Martin Luther King's assassination.
Kazuo Ohno	1906	2010	3	Japan		Man	Postmodernism	Butoh, Influence, Master or Professor
Kazuo Ohno is a founding figure of the butoh avant-garde alongside Tatsumi Hijikata. He's regarded as one of the most influential Japanese contemporary dancers. He's also active as an educator in both dance and physical education.
Carmen Miranda	1909	1955	3	Brazil, Portugal		Woman		Multitalented Artist, Popular Success, Early Tropicália, Samba
Carmen Miranda is a major figure of samba and one of the most popular dancers of her time. She's also a successful actress in Broadway, chanchadas and Hollywood pictures. A former hat designer, she became known for her signature fruit hat. She'll be an inspiration for the Tropicália movement in the 70's.
Katherine Dunham	1909	2006	3	U.S.A	Racialized	Woman	Modernism	Matriarch and Queen Mother of Black Dance, Art Theory, Dancer and Choreographer, Antiracism
Katherine Mary Dunham is a founding figure of African American modern dance. She's not only one of the most successful dancers of her time, but also a pioneer in ethnochoreology and dance anthropology, a Vodun mambo and an influential teacher whose past pupils include Eartha Kitt, James Dean and Shirley MacLaine.
Iliko Sukhishvili & Nino Ramishvili	1907 1910	1985, 2000	3	Georgia	Couple	Mixed	Modernism	Dancer and Choreographer, Master or Professor, Ballet
Iliko & Nino Shalvovna Sukhishvili are the most renowned Georgian dancers and choreographers in history. They're known for founding the Georgian National Ballet, where they've become influential educators.
Dore Hoyer	1911	1967	3	Germany		Woman	Expressionism, Modernism	Dancer and Choreographer, Influence, Ausdruckstanz
Dore Hoyer is a major figure of expressionist dance. Her abstract and technical style will be regarded as a forerunner of postmodern dance. Although her career is marked by continuous struggle, Mary Wigman has called her Europe's last great modern dancer. She notably befriends Käthe Kollwitz.
Sarkis Djanbazian	1913	1963	3	Armenia, Iran, Russia	Persecuted, Exile, Racialized	Man	Modernism	Master or Professor, Dancer and Choreographer, Influence
Sarkis Djanbazian is the first male Iranian ballet master, dancer, choreographer and academy founder. During his youth in Russia, he faced persecutions as an Iranian-Armenian citizen, but managed to become an artistic director in the prestigious Kirov Theatre.
Pearl Primus	1919	1994	3	U.S.A	Racialized	Woman	Modernism	Art Theory, Dancer and Choreographer, Antiracism
Pearl Primus is a major figure of African American dance and dance anthropology. She's known for her extensive research on African dance, and for her efforts in developing a black style that defies stereotypes. She has notably collaborated with Martha Graham, Charles Weidman, Langston Hughes and Asadata Dafora.
Merce Cunningham	1919	2009	3	U.S.A	Queer	Man	Postmodernism, Modernism	Avant-garde, Master or Professor, Dancer and Choreographer, Influence
Merce Cunningham is a founding figure of postmodern dance. He's one of the most influential avant-garde dancers, choreographers and educators of the 20th century. He has collaborated with Martha Graham, John Cage, Brian Eno, Rei Kuwaboto, Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, Roy Lichtenstein and Warhol.
Lola Flores	1923	1995	3	Spain		Woman	Modernism	Multitalented Artist, La Faraona, Flamenco
Lola Flores is an Andalusian icon and a major figure of both flamenco and copla. She's also a successful actress from Spanish cinema's golden era, and a notable performer of chotis, rumbas and rancheras.
Farid al-Atrash & Samia Gamal	1910 1924	1974, 1994	3	Egypt, Syria	Couple	Mixed	Neoclassicism, Folk	The National Dancer of Egypt, King of the Oud, Multitalented Artist, Belly Dance
Farid al-Atrash & Samia Gamal are the most iconic duo of Egyptian cinema. They're respectively the most popular Oud musician and belly dancer of their time. Samia began her carreer in Badia Masabni's club. Farid's sister, Asmahan, is also a renowned singer.
Maria Tallchief	1925	2013	4	U.S.A	Indigenous	Woman	Modernism	Influence, Master or Professor, Ballet, Antiracism
Elizabeth Marie Tallchief is a major figure of modern ballet. She's known as the first native American prima ballerina and as the first American to perform at the Bolchoï. She made her debut at the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. She later co-founded the New York City Ballet with George Balanchine.
Nelly Mazloum	1929	2003	4	Egypt, Greece	Exile	Woman	Modernism, Folk	Dancer, Choreographer and Actress, Master or Professor, Heritage Preservation
Nelly Mazloum is a major figure of Egyptian folkloric dance. She's credited with reviving it, blending it with drama, and inspiring a whole generation of performers. She's influential as a dancer, actress, choreographer, and as an educator. She founded her own company.
Alvin Ailey	1931	1989	4	U.S.A	Racialized, Queer	Man	Modernism, Postmodernism, Jazz	Influence, Dancer and Choreographer, Jazz Dance, Antiracism
Alvin Ailey is a major figure of modern and jazz dance. He's known for his innovative, interdisciplinary style. His masterpiece, Revelations, is one of the most performed modern ballets worldwide. He has notably collaborated with Maya Angelou, Mary Hinkson, Harry Belafonte and Peter Brook.
Yvonne Rainer	1934		4	U.S.A	Queer	Woman	Postmodernism, Minimalism	Multitalented Artist, Avant-garde, Feminism
Yvonne Rainer is a major figure of postmodern and minimalist dance. She's influential as a dancer, choreographer, performance artist and filmmaker. She studied with Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, James Waring, and collaborated with Simone Forti, Mikhail Baryshnikov and La Monte Young.
Simone Forti	1935		4	Italy, U.S.A	Exile	Woman	Postmodernism, Fluxus	Multitalented Artist, Master or Professor, Happening, Avant-garde
Simone Forti is a major figure of postmodern dance and visual Arts. Active as a dancer, choreographer, writer, educator and contemporary artist, she has notably collaborated with Yvonne Rainer, Nam June Paik, La Monte Young, Allan Kaprow, Charlemagne Palestine and Robert Morris, her first husband.
Rudolf Nureyev	1938	1993	4	Russia	Exile, Queer	Man	Modernism, Postmodernism	Dancer and Choreographer, Master or Professor, Influence, Ballet
Rudolf Nureyev is a major figure of contemporary ballet. He's often regarded as the greatest male dancer of his time. He's been a prominent artist at the Kirov Ballet, British Royal Ballet and Paris Opera Ballet. He has collaborated with Ninette de Valois, Fred Astaire, and had a passionate relationship with Erik Bruhn.
Pina Bausch	1940	2009	4	Germany		Woman	Postmodernism, Folk	Dancer and Choreographer, Tanztheater, Folklore
Pina Bausch is a major figure of postmodern dance, Tanztheater (dance-theatre) and folk dance. Active as a dancer and choreographer, she has notably collaborated with Wim Wenders, influenced David Bowie and played a part in Fellini's And the Ship Sails On.
Carlotta Ikeda	1941	2014	4	Japan, France	Racialized	Woman	Postmodernism	Butoh, Avant-garde, Dancer and Choreographer
Carlotta Ikeda is a major figure of contemporary butoh. After studying western modern dance, she joined the Dairakudakan butoh group, collaborated with Kô Murobushi, and later founded her own all-Female company, Ariadone. She's been living in France since the 80's.
Sonal Mansingh	1944		4	India		Woman	Neoclassicism	Odissi, Bharatanatyam, Heritage Preservation
Sonal Mansingh is a major figure of the Odissi, Bharatanatyam and Manipuri traditional dances. She's also a member of the Rajya Sabha parliament. She studied with the legendary dancer Kelucharan Mohapatra, and became an influential teacher herself.
Ushio Amagatsu	1949		4	Japan		Man	Postmodernism	Butoh, Influence, Dancer and Choreographer
Ushio Amagatsu is a major figure of contemporary butoh. He's known as a founder of Sankai Juku and Dairakudakan, two of the most influential dance groups of the time. Active as a dancer, choreographer, group leader and opera director, he mainly works in France.
Debbie Allen	1950		5	U.S.A	Racialized	Woman	Postmodernism	Multitalented Artist, Influence, Antiracism, TV Series
Debbie Allen is a major figure of contemporary musical known as the choreographer of Fame. She won several Emmys, Tonys, Golden Globes, and a star on the Walk of Fame. Before becoming an influential dancer, choreographer, director and singer-songwriter, she struggled to enter an academy because of racism.
Maguy Marin	1951		5	France		Woman	Postmodernism	Dancer and Choreographer, Non-danse, Tanztheater
Maguy Marin is a major figure of contemporary dance, Tanztheater (dance-theatre) and non-danse. She's known as the creator of May B, a contemporary classic. She's been a soloist for Maurice Béjart's Ballet du XXe siècle.
Ohad Naharin	1952		5	Israel		Man	Postmodernism	Dancer and Choreographer, Gaga, Influence
Ohad Naharin is a major figure of contemporary dance known for creating the influential Gaga technique and pedagogy. A dancer and choreographer, he served for almost 30 years as the artistic director of the Batsheva Dance Company. He also collaborated with its founder, Martha Graham.
Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker	1960		5	Belgium		Woman	Postmodernism	Dancer and Choreographer, Influence, Avant-garde
Anne Teresa, Baroness De Keersmaeker, is a major figure of postmodern dance. She has notably collaborated with Steve Reich, Peter Greenaway, and was plagiarized by Beyoncé. Her sister Jolente co-founded the TG stan theatre group.
Sophiline Cheam Shapiro	1967		5	Cambodia		Woman		Master or Professor, Multitalented Artist, Heritage Preservation, Art Theory
Sophiline Cheam Shapiro is a major figure of traditional Cambodian dance, credited with reviving and modernizing it. She's active as a dancer, choreographer, singer, ethnologist and educator.
Fatima Robinson	1971		5	U.S.A	Racialized	Woman	Postmodernism	Multitalented Artist, Influence, Videoclip
Fatima Robinson is a major figure in music video. She has notably choreographed, performed or directed videoclips for Michael Jackson, Aaliyah, Mary J Blige, Sia or Koda Kumi, as well as The Black Eyed Peas' Super Bowl show, Kendrick Lamar's performance for the 2016 Grammys, and films such as Dreamgirls.
Sean Dorsey	1972		5	Canada, U.S.A	Queer	Man	Postmodernism	Multitalented Artist, Queer Activism, Influence
Sean Dorsey is a major figure of postmodern dance and a prominent trans activist. Active as a dancer, choreographer, leader of his own dance group and artistic director of his queer production company, he creates innovative pieces which explore gender-related subjects.
Bintou Dembélé	1975		5	France	Racialized	Woman	Hip Hop, Postmodernism	Dancer and Choreographer, Antiracism, Feminism, Hip Hop Theater
Bintou Dembélé is a major figure of contemporary ballet, break dance and hip hop dance. Active as a dancer, choreographer and artistic director of her own company Rualité, she's known for her influential hip hop theater pieces which explore post-colonial issues.
Dada Masilo	1988		5	South Africa	Queer	Woman	Postmodernism	Antiracism, Queer Activism, Dancer and Choreographer, Ballet
Dada Masilo is a major figure of postmodern dance and contemporary ballet. She's known for addressing gender and race-related subjects in her renditions of canonical pieces such as Carmen, Swan Lake or Romeo and Juliet. She's active as a dancer and as a choreographer.
Leiomy Maldonado	1987		5	Puerto Rico, U.S.A	Queer	Woman	Postmodernism	Wonder Woman of Vogue, Multitalented Artist, Influence, Queer Activism
Leiomy Maldonado is a major figure of ballroom dance and vogue. Active as a dancer, model, actress and educator, she's also a trans icon and activist. She has notably collaboated with Willow Smith, Icona Pop and CocoRosie. Her signature hair flip move will be imitated by Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and Britney Spears.

Name	Birth	Death	Era	Nation	Tags*	Gender	Currents	Effects
Rodolphe Töpffer	1799	1846	1	Switzerland		Man	Romanticism	Multitalented Artist, Father of Comic Strips, Satire, Master or Professor
Rodolphe Töpffer is known as the author of illustrated books which will be regarded as the first Western comics. Active as a schoolteacher, painter, essayist, cartoonist and caricaturist, he has written theory on graphic literature and child Art. It was his friend Goethe who persuaded him to publish his stories.
Wilhelm Busch	1832	1908	1	Germany	Censored	Man		Satire, Multitalented Artist, Comic Strip, Influence
Wilhelm Busch is a prominent poet and author of satirical illustrated stories. He's widely regarded as a forefather of western comics. An illustrator and a painter, he's best known for his influential story Max and Moritz. At one time, he considered becoming a beekeeper in Brazil.
G. Ri	1853	1940	1	France		Man	Science Fiction	Early Science Fiction, Comic Strip, Satire
Victor Joseph Louis Mousselet, best known as G. Ri, is a pioneer of science fiction and modern comics. He has published extremely innovative anticipation satire comics in periodicals such as Le Bon Vivant or Les Belles Images. Very little is known about him.
Albertine Randall	1863	1954	1	U.S.A		Woman	Art Nouveau	Multitalented Artist, Comic Strip, Children's Literature
Albertine Randall Wheelan is a prominent costume designer for opera, illustrator of children's books or magazines, and newspaper comics artist. She's best known as the creator of The Dumbunnies, a popular comic strip.
Beatrix Potter	1866	1943	1	England		Woman		Children's Literature, Writer, Illustrator and Scientist, Influence
Beatrix Potter is one of the most influential writers of children's literature in history. She's known as the author of The Tale of Peter Rabbit and 22 other tales illustrated with watercolor. She's also a conservationist, a prosperous farmer and a scientific illustrator whose works on mycology are renowned.
Rose O'Neill	1874	1944	1	U.S.A		Woman		Multitalented Artist, Suffragism, Influence, Popular Success
Rose O'Neill is a prominent comic strips author and the highest-paid woman illustrator of her time. She's known as the creator of Kewpie, the most widely known cartoon character until Mickey Mouse. She's also a well-known advocate for women's rights, a poet, a novelist, and she learned sculpture with Auguste Rodin.
Kitazawa Rakuten	1876	1955	1	Japan		Man		Early Manga, Comic Strip, Influence, Master or Professor
Kitazawa Rakuten is the first professional Japanese cartoonist. He's widely regarded as the father of modern manga. A nihonga painter and comic strips author, he created his own magazine, Tokyo Puck. He also trained several artists, including Hekoten Shimokawa, a founder of anime.
George Herriman	1880	1944	1	U.S.A	Racialized	Man		Comic Strip, Influence, Early Underground Comix, Vegetarianism
George Herriman is a prominent and hugely innovative cartoonist known as the author of Krazy Kat, a longlived strip which notably influence Will Eisner, Charles M. Schulz, Robert Crumb, Art Spiegelman, Bill Watterson or Chris Ware. He's on a lifetime contract with W. R. Hearst. No one knows he's Creole. He's got 5 dogs and 13 cats.
Nell Brinkley	1886	1944	1	U.S.A		Woman	Art Nouveau	Queen of Comics, Feminism, Influence, Comic Strip
Nell Brinkley is a prominent illustrator and comic artist often referred to as the "Queen of Comics". She created the Brinkley girl, who became an iconic character of the era. A women's rights activist, she's known for her strong female characters. Like Herriman or McCay, she's supported by the magnate W. R. Hearst.
Helena Bochořáková-Dittrichová	1894	1980	1	Czechia		Woman	Expressionism	Multitalented Artist, Graphic Novel, Expressionism
Helena Bochořáková-Dittrichová is a masterful painter, illustrator and printmaker. She's mostly known as the first woman to produce the woodcut, wordless stories known as graphic novels (about 40 years before Eisner's first modern use of the term). These works are influenced by those of Franz Masereel.
Carl Barks	1901	2000	2	U.S.A		Man		Influence, The Good Duck Artist, Cartoonist, Illustrator and Painter, Popular Success
Carl Barks is a prominent cartoonist known as the author of the first Donald Duck stories and as the creator of Scrooge McDuck. Will Eisner has called him "the Hans Christian Andersen of comic books". He's also a painter. He will notably influence Osamu Tezuka, Robert Crumb, Spielberg, and of course Don Rosa.
Marge	1904	1993	2	U.S.A		Woman		Comic Strip, Influence, Popular Success
Marjorie Henderson Buell is a prominent illustrator and cartoonist known as the creator of Little Lulu, a popular and influential comic which will continue well after her death. In 1994, the Friends of Lulu organization will be created in reference to her character to support women in the comics field.
Jackie Ormes	1911	1985	2	U.S.A	Racialized	Woman		Comic Strip, Antiracism, Feminism
Jackie Ormes is known as the first African American woman cartoonist. She's also active as a journalist, and designed one of the first non-racist black dolls. The feminist, antiracist, leftist and ecologist views expressed in her Patty-Jo 'n' Ginger and Torchy Brown comics led to an FBI investigation.
Tove Jansson	1914	2001	2	Sweden, Russia	Queer	Woman		Multitalented Artist, Comic Strip, Influence, Children's Literature
Tove Jansson is a prominent children's literature author known for creating the Moomin illustrated books. She's also a painter, novelist, cartoonist, illustrator, and writes satirical comic strips. Her partner is the influential graphic artist Tuulikki Pietilä. She'll notably influence Terry Pratchett.
A. M. G. Smith & Fiep Westendorp	1911 1916	1995 2004	2	Netherlands		Woman		Children's Literature, Influence, Multitalented Artist
Anna Maria Geertruida Smith & Fiep Westendorp are prominent children's literature authors best known for creating the influential Jip en Janneke illustrated books. Fiep acts as the illustrator while Annie, also known as a poet, songwriter, novelist, playwright and librarian, writes the stories.
Will Eisner	1917	2005	2	U.S.A		Man		Graphic Novel, Influence, Master or Professor, Art Theory
Will Eisner is a prominent cartoonist and a pioneer of comics studies known for defining the modern use of the term "graphic novel". The corporation he founded with Jerry Iger has notably introduced Jack Kirby, Lou Fine, Bob Kane. Jules Feiffer began as his assistant. His name was given to one of the most prestigious comics awards.
Jack Kirby & Stan Lee	1917 1922	1994 2018	2	U.S.A		Man	Science Fiction	King of Comics, Publishing, Comic Book, Popular Success
Jacob Kurtzberg & Stan Lee are regarded as the most influential authors of superhero comics. They've notably created the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, Hulk, Thor, Black Panther and Iron Man. With Joe Simon, Kirby also created Captain America, while Lee created Spider-Man with Steve Ditko and Daredevil with Bill Everett.
Machiko Hasegawa	1920	1992	2	Japan		Woman		Comic Strip, Manga, Influence, Popular Success
Machiko Hasegawa is one of the first women manga artists. She's known for creating Sazae-san, a hugely popular comic strip which will be adapted into the longest-running animated series in history. It is notably published in Asahi Shimbun. She made the Yonkoma format a standard for manga strips.
Shigeru Mizuki	1922	2015	2	Japan		Man		Kamishibai, Manga, Horror Comics, Influence
Shigeru Mizuki is a prominent manga artist known for creating the influential GeGeGe no Kitarō series. Also active as an historian, illustrator and kamishibai (drawn street theatre) artist, he specializes in horror stories about yōkai monsters. He has written extensively about Japan's war crimes.
Charles M. Schulz	1922	2000	2	U.S.A		Man		Comic Strip, Influence, Popular Success
Charles Monroe "Sparky" Schulz is widely regarded as one of the most influential cartoonists in history. He's known as the author of Peanuts (Snoopy), which will last for nearly 50 years, reaching 2600 papers in 75 different countries. Apollo 10's modules were named after his characters.
Hugo Pratt	1927	1995	3	Italy		Man		Comic Book, Group of Venice, Influence
Hugo Pratt is a major figure of the "Group of Venice" alongisde Fernando Carcupino, Dino Battaglia and Damiano Damiani. He's known as the creator of Corto Maltese and has a reputation of making extensive historical research and preparation. He mentored Milo Manara and received the Angoulême special prize.
Osamu Tezuka	1928	1989	3	Japan		Man	Science Fiction	Cartoonist and Animator, Gekiga, Influence, Godfather of Manga
Osamu Tezuka is widely regarded as the most influential and innovative mangaka in history. Author of Astro Boy, Princess Knight and Phoenix, he's also a pioneer of Japanese animation. He created the magazine COM to publish gekiga mangas. He collects insects and once declined the role of artistic director on Kubrick's 2001.
Claire Bretécher	1940	2020	3	France		Woman		Multitalented Artist, Feminism, Influence
Claire Bretécher is a prominent feminist cartoonist, a pioneer of comics self-publishing, the first woman to receive the Angoulême great prize and a founder of L'Écho des savanes alongside Marcel Gottlieb. She has worked for Pilote, Tintin and Spirou. Her sociological insight is admired by Bourdieu, Eco and Barthes.
Martin Vaughn-James	1943	2009	3	England, Canada		Man	Postmodernism	Multitalented Artist, Graphic Novel, Groupe Mémoires
Martin Vaughn-James is a prominent author of experimental graphic novels and a major figure of the Groupe Mémoires painting movement. His most influential work, The Cage, is an enigmatic series of illustrations inspired by the Nouveau Roman literary movement.
Jeffrey Catherine Jones	1944	2011	3	U.S.A	Queer	Woman	Expressionism, Science Fiction	Influence, The Studio, Painter and Illustrator, Fantasy
Jeffrey Catherine Jones is a major figure of fantasy illustration and painting known for her comics cover Art. She has worked with most major US publishers and has been called "the greatest living painter" by Frank Frazetta. She was part of The Studio with Bernie Wrightson, Barry Windsor-Smith, and Michael Kaluta.
Go Nagai	1945		3	Japan		Man	Postmodernism, Science Fiction	Influence, Popular Success, Early Mecha, Master or Professor
Go Nagai is a major figure of science fiction, fantasy, horror and erotic manga. He's credited with creating the mecha, magical girl, post-apo and ecchi genres. He decided to become a mangaka after nearly dying of diarrhea, and became one of the first artists to join Shōnen Jump. He's also a teacher in character design.
Jacques Tardi	1946		3	France		Man		Anarchism, Comic Book, Ligne Claire
Jacques Tardi is a prominent author of gaslamp fantasy, antiwar and historical comics. He's best known as the creator of Adèle Blanc-Sec. He has worked for Pilote with Moebius, L'Écho des savanes, Ah ! Nana, Métal Hurlant, won 2 Eisner and the Angoulême great prize. He's married to singer and activist Dominique Grange.
Art Spiegelman	1948		3	U.S.A, Poland	Institutionalized	Man	Postmodernism	Graphic Novel, Master or Professor, Underground Comix, Influence
Art Spiegelman is a central figure of the underground comix scene. He's known as the author of Maus and editor of the influential magazines Arcade, with Bill Griffith, and Raw, with his wife Françoise Mouly. The latter notably introduced Charles Burns, Lynda Barry and Chris Ware. Scott McCloud was his pupil.
Murasaki Yamada	1948	2009	3	Japan		Woman		Cartoonist and Poet, Gekiga, Feminism, Master or Professor
Murasaki Yamada is an influential pioneer of avant-garde and feminist manga known for her minimalist style. She's notably participated in the COM magazine, written in the shishōsetsu or I-novel genre, and adapted several medieval Otogi-zōshi stories. She's also a teacher in manga Art.
Claude Ponti	1948		3	France		Man		Children's Literature, Cartoonist, Illustrator and Novelist, Unique Style
Claude Ponti is a prominent author and illustrator of children's literature. He's known for his poetic and detailed drawings, language and worlds. He's also a novelist, a cartoonist, and he created "Le Muz", an online museum for child's Art.
Bernie Wrightson	1948	2017	4	U.S.A		Man		Comic Artist and Illustrator, Horror Comics, The Studio, Comic Book
Bernard Albert Wrightson is a prominent illustrator and author of horror comics. Creator of the Swamp Thing, he produced the all-star collaboration Heroes for Hope with Jim Starling. Known for his intricate style, he notably provided concept Art for Ghostbusters, cover Art for Meat Loaf, and has been married to Michele Brand.
Moto Hagio	1949		4	Japan		Woman		Year 24 Group, Founding Mother of Modern Shōjo, Influence, Manga
Moto Hagio is a pioneer of modern shōjo and shōnen-ai. She's a key member of the all-girl Year 24 Group, which is credited with transforming the medium in the 70's. Known for her focus on gender and queerness, she notably created They Were Eleven, The Poe Clan, A, A Prime and provided character design for Illusion of Gaia.
Nigar Nazar	1953		4	Pakistan		Woman		Feminism, Master or Professor, Cartoonist, Illustrator and Painter
Nigar Nazar is a prominent Pakistani cartoonist, feminist, and a founder of the Asian Youth Association for Animators and Cartoonists. Known as the creator of Gogi, she uses this character to address social issues, educate children and bring changes in the lives of people. She's also a painter and a teacher.
Katsuhiro Otomo	1954		4	Japan		Man	Science Fiction	Manga Artist and Filmmaker, Influence, Cyberpunk
Katsuhiro Otomo is a prominent mangaka and animator best known for creating the influential Akira and its feature adaptation. One of the best-known mangakas outside Japan, he's the first one to win the Angoulême great prize and the fourth to join the Eisner hall of fame. He has collaborated with Satoshi Kon on Perfect Blue.
Les Humanoïdes Associés	1974		4	France		Man	Science Fiction	Publishing, Métal Hurlant, Influence, Multitalented Artist
Jean-Pierre Dionnet, Philippe Druillet & Moebius have founded the revolutionary magazines Métal Hurlant and Ah ! Nana, which have notably introduced Enki Bilal, Claveloux, Montellier, Corben, Manara or Gimenez. Their own comics are radically new, and Moebius is regarded as one of the most influential cartoonists in history.
Rumiko Takahashi	1957		4	Japan		Woman		Influence, Manga, Popular Success
Rumiko Takahashi is one of the most successful and influential mangakas in history. She's known as the author of Urusei Yatsura, Maison Ikkoku, Ranma ½ and Inuyasha. Many of her works have been adapted into anime, notably by Mamoru Oshii. She's part of the Eisner hall of fame and received Angoulême's great prize.
Daniel Clowes	1961		4	U.S.A		Man	Postmodernism	Graphic Novel, Comic Book, Underground Comix, Influence
Daniel Clowes is a major figure of underground comix. He's best known as the author of Eightball and Ghost World. He's also drawn New Yorker covers, collaborated with Zadie Smith, almost made a film with Michel Gondry and and written screenplays for the live adaptations of his comics. He won 13 Harvey and 6 Eisner awards.
Colleen Doran	1963		4	U.S.A		Woman	Art Nouveau	Graphic Novel, Comic Book, Influence
Colleen Doran is a prominent comics artist and author known. Known for her space opera A Distant Soil, she has worked with J. Michael Straczynski, Warren Ellis, Peter David, Stan Lee, Alan Moore and Neil Gaiman. She wrote biographical essays about Rose O'Neill, Ethel Hays, and won multiple Harvey and Eisner awards.
Julie Doucet	1965		4	Canada		Woman	Postmodernism	Graphic Novel, Collage, Underground Comix, Multitalented Artist
Julie Doucet is a prominent underground cartoonist and a pioneer of the graphic memoir genre. She's best known for creating Dirty Plotte, which began as a zine and was later published in Weirdo. Also a poet, sculptor and illustrator, she's known for her use of collage and for her bleak, crude style.
Rutu Modan	1966		4	Israel		Woman		Ligne Claire, Graphic Novel, Children's Literature
Rutu Modan is a prominent cartoonist and illustrator best known as the author of Exit Wounds. Her graphic novels are often centered on stories of war and family, and drawn in a ligne claire style. She also produces children's illustrated books.
Yoshihiro Togashi & Naoko Takeuchi	1966 1967		5	Japan	Couple	Mixed		Manga, Popular Success, Cartoonist and Pharmacist
Yoshihiro Togashi & Naoko Takeuchi are among the most successful mangakas in history. While Yoshihiro is known as the author of Hunter X Hunter, Yu Yu Hakusho and Level E, Naoko is known as the author of Sailor Moon. She was initially a pharmacist. She writes the song lyrics for the anime adaptations of her works.
Taiyō Matsumoto	1967		5	Japan		Man	Postmodernism	Manga, Influence, Unique Style
Taiyō Matsumoto is a prominent mangaka best known as the author of Ping Pong, Sunny and Tekkonkinkreet, which was adapted into a feature anime by Kōji Morimoto. Influenced by European comics, he's very popular outside Japan, where he won 2 Eisner and the Angoulême great prize. Santa Inoue is his cousin.
Clamp	1987		5	Japan		Woman		Manga, Influence, Popular Success
Nanase Ohkawa, Mokona, Tsubaki Nekoi & Satsuki Igarashi are prominent mangakas known as the authors of Cardcaptor Sakura, xxxHolic, X or Tokyo Babylon. Most of their works are set in the same multiverse but their styles vary. Originally 11 dōjinshi authors, their number decreased as they turned professional.
Chris Ware	1967		5	U.S.A		Man	Postmodernism	Graphic Novel, Influence, Publishing, Experimental Art
Chris Ware is one of the most influential figures of alternative comics. He specializes in breaking publishing conventions with such works as Acme Novelty Library, Jimmy Corrigan or Building Stories. As an editor, he notably reprinted Gasoline Alley. He runs a journal about ragtime and won 22 Eisners and 21 Harveys.
Hiromu Arakawa	1973		5	Japan		Woman		Popular Success, Manga, Cartoonist, Illustrator and Painter
Hiromu Arakawa is one of the most popular mangakas in history. She's mainly known for creating Fullmetal Alchemist, Silver Spoon, and for successfully adapting The Heroic Legend of Arslan. She's a trained painter, and began her activity in manga by writing dōjinshis and yonkoma strips.
Sonny Liew	1974		5	Malaysia, Singapore		Man	Postmodernism	Graphic Novel, Comic Strip, Mastery of many Styles
Sonny Liew reached a sudden and international recognition with the publication of his visual novel The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye, a presentation of the life and works of a fictional cartoonist through Singapore's modern history. This work earned him 3 Eisner Awards. He's also an illustrator and comic strips author.
Loo Hui Phang	1974		5	France, Laos	Racialized	Woman	Postmodernism	Multitalented Artist, Graphic Novel, Installation Art, Children's Literature
Loo Hui Phang is a cartoonist, novelist, independent filmmaker, playwright, stage director, installation artist and children's literature writer. She's mostly known for her graphic novels Panorama, Prestige de l'uniforme and L'Odeur des garçons affamés.
Liv Strömquist	1978		5	Sweden		Woman	Postmodernism	Comic Artist and Radio Moderator, Feminism, Graphic Novel
Liv Strömquist is a prominent feminist cartoonist best known as the author of Fruit of Knowledge. A political science graduate, she writes satirical and educational comics which deal with various sociopolitical issues. She also animates radio programs in the same spirit.
Minna Sundberg	1990		5	Finland		Woman		Webcomic, Influence, Comic Artist and Illustrator
Minna Sundberg is a prominent author of webcomics known for A Redtail's Dream and the ongoing Stand Still, Stay Silent. She planned the first as a short project to practice during her 2 years of study in graphic design. But while she did managed to finish it on time, it is in fact 550 pages long and extremely refined.
Tillie Walden	1996		5	U.S.A	Queer	Woman	Postmodernism, Science Fiction	Graphic Novel, Influence, Webcomic
Tillie Walden is a prominent cartoonist best known for the graphic memoir Spinning, the graphic novel I Love This Part and the science fiction webcomic On a Sunbeam. She's also an illustrator and made a cool tarot deck. She won 2 Eisner awards before her 24th birthday.

Name	Birth	Death	Domain	Era
Charles Dickens	1812	1870	Narrative Literature	1
Charles Dickens is known for expressing strongly racist, antisemitic and colonialist views in his writings. He has notably called for the extermination of India's population. He's revered as an icon of Victorian literature.
Richard Wagner	1813	1883	Music	1
Wilhelm Richard Wagner has written several antisemitic pamphlets and takes interest in the racialist theories of Gobineau. He will become a model and symbol for the Nazi regime. He's revered as a founding figure of modern music.
Charles Baudelaire	1821	1867	Poetry	1
Charles Baudelaire is an outspoken misogynist who has notably described the "necessity to beat women" in his writings. He's also known for his conservative views, which will serve as a model for the fascist theoretician Charles Maurras. He's revered as a founding figure of modern poetry.
André Gide	1832		Poetry	2
André Gide makes no secret of his practice of child and adolescent abuse, which he started in the company of Oscar Wilde. His friend Montherlant is also a pedophile, and his novel Corydon is a defense of "pederasty". He's revered as an icon of modern literature, and received a Nobel prize.
Edgar Degas	1834	1917	Painting	2
Edgar Degas is known for his antisemitism. Like Pierre Renoir, Jules Verne, Paul Valéry or Frédéric Mistral, he has been a vocal antidreyfusard during the Dreyfus affair. He's revered as an icon of impressionism.
Paul Gauguin	1848	1903	Painting	2
Paul Gauguin is known for using and objectifying the Tahitian people. He abused numerous adolescents and had a child with a 13-year-old girl who was working for him as a model. He's revered as an icon of post-impressionism.
George Bernard Shaw	1856	1950	Theatre	2
George Bernard Shaw is a strong believer in dictatorship. He deeply admires Mussolini, Stalin and Hitler. He opposes vaccination, which he calls "witchcraft". He's revered as an icon of modern theatre and received a Nobel prize.
Gabriele d'Annunzio	1863	1952	Poetry	2
Gabriele d'Annunzio is regarded as a precursor of Italian fascism. He's an ally, rival and inspiration to Mussolini. He's revered as an icon of modern poetry. Other revered fascist collaborators include Vittorio de Sica, Roberto Rossellini, Federico Fellini or the Nobel laureate Luigi Pirandello.
Adolf Wölfli	1864	1930	Outsider Art	1
As a child, Adolf Wölfli began abusing other children, and he continued as an adult. He's been arrested twice and ultimately institutionalized. He's revered as an icon of outsider Art.
Winsor McCay	1867	1946	Comics	1
Winsor McCay married Maude Leonore Dufour when she was only 14 years old. They "eloped" right after their first meeting and he lied about his age to appear younger. He refuses to discuss anything serious with her. He's revered as a founding figure of both animation and comics.
Maxim Gorky	1868	1936	Theatre	2
Maxim Gorky is known for his outspoken homophobic views and has called for the extermination of homosexuals. He has also notoriously defended the gulag as a "successful rehabilitation" of political opponents. He's revered as a founding figure of socialist realism.
Aleister Crowley	1875	1947	Artification	2
Aleister Crowley is greatly inspired by social Darwinism, disgusted by democracy, and admirative of Nazism. He's openly as racist, antisemitic, and has described women as "moral inferiors". He's revered as an icon of occultism.
Filippo Marinetti	1876		Artification	2
Filippo Marinetti is an early affiliate of the fascist party. He's the founder of futurism, an influential avant-garde movement conceived as an expression of fascist ideals, and support for the party's actions. Like fellow futurists Luigi Russsolo, Giacomo Balla, Umberto Boccioni and Gino Severini, he's revered as an icon of modern Art.
Rudolf von Laban	1879	1958	Dance	2
Rudolf von Laban thrived under the Nazi regime. His work was directly financed by the propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels. As a ballet master, he's known for removing non-Aryan children from his course. He's revered as a founding figure of modern dance.
Pablo Picasso	1881	1973	Painting	2
Pablo Picasso is known for abusing, raping and beating women, whom he calls "machines for suffering". Two of his lovers have committed suicide. Many, including great artists, were broken. Most of his innovations come from plagiarized African Art. He never recognized this influence. He's the most revered of all modern artists.
Igor Stravinsky	1882	1971	Experimental Music	1
Igor Stravinsky is an outspoken supporter of fascism, and once said "I don't believe that anyone venerates Mussolini more than I". When the Nazis labeled his music as degenerate, he tried to prove that it was compatible with their ideology. He's revered as a founding figure of modern music.
Coco Chanel	1883	1971	Decorative Arts	2
Coco Chanel, like Edith Piaf or Marie Laurencin, has been a Nazi collaborator. Unlike them, she was an active spy for the Third Reich. She used the war as an opportunity to get revenge from Jewish rivals, and to fire 4000 employees who had struck for shorter work hours. She's the most revered of all fashion designers.
Ezra Pound	1885	1947	Poetry	3
Ezra Pound is a supporter of Mussolini and an admirer of Hitler, whom he once called a "saint". He has made antisemitic radio broadcasts for the fascist government. Like fellow supporters of fascism William Butler Yeats, T. S. Eliot or Gertrude Stein, he's revered as an icon of modern poetry.
Le Corbusier	1887	1965	Architecture	2
Le Corbusier has often expressed antisemitic views, and support for Hitler and Mussolini. His urbanism is often regarded as an expression of fascism. Also known for his misogyny, he vandalized Eileen's Gray's Villa E-1027 with nude paintings. She compared that act to a rape. He's revered as a founder of modern architecture.
Charles Chaplin	1889	1977	Film	1
Charles Chaplin is known for abusing adolescent girls and marrying them secretly when they become pregnant, to avoid criminal charges. He is also a violent husband and a psychologically abusive father. He's revered as an icon of silent cinema.
H. P. Lovecraft	1890	1937	Narrative Litterature	3
H. P. Lovecraft is known for his racism, homophobia, misogyny and opposition to science. These beliefs appear both in his private and literary writings. He's revered as an icon of horror literature.
Egon Schiele	1890	1918	Painting	3
Egon Schiele has been arrested for the kidnapping and rape of a 13-year-old girl. He was holding another minor in an abusive relationship at the time, and his appartment was a gathering place for many children. He's revered as a founding figure of expressionism.
Louis-Ferdinand Céline	1894	1961	Narrative Literature	3
Louis-Ferdinand Céline is known for supporting fascism, denouncing numerous persons to the Gestapo and writing several antisemitic pamphlets. Even the Nazis often regard his views as too extreme. Like Knut Hamsun, who gave his Nobel prize to Goebbels, he's revered as an icon of modern literature.
André Breton	1896	1966	Artification	3
André Breton is known for his outspoken homophobia. Within the surrealist group, he has a habit of objectifying women. He notably used and abandoned Léona Delcourt, making an inhumane and treacherous description of her in Nadja. His leadership is authoritarian, cruel and arbitrary. He's revered as the leader of surrealism.
Alfred Hitchcock	1899	1980	Film	1
Alfred Hitchcock is known for sexually assaulting or harassing the actresses with whom he works. A tyrannical director, he considers performers as "cattle" and doesn't hesitate to ruin careers. He's also widely criticized for the on-screen representation of women in his films. He's revered as a Hollywood icon.
Walt Disney	1901	1966	Animation	2
Walt Disney has attended numerous meetings of the Nazi German American Bund. A member of the bigot MPAPAI, he's known for conveying racist stereotypes in films. He is tyrannical with his family and employees, and reports alleged communists to the police. An icon of animation, he's the most rewarded man at the Oscars.
Léni Riefenstahl	1902	2003	Film	2
Leni Riefenstahl's whole career has been financed by the Nazis, and she's known for directing propaganda films. She's a close friend of Hitler. She's revered as one of the most talented directors in history.
Salvador Dalí	1904	1989	Painting	4
Salvador Dalí publicly expressed his support for Franco as soon the Falange took power. He had personal meetings with him and declared his opposition to freedom and support for the "Holy inquisition". He's revered as an icon of surrealism and modern Art.
George Balanchine	1904	1983	Dance	2
George Balanchine is known for considering dancers at the New York City Ballet his property, psychologically and sexually exploiting them. He married Tamara Geva when she was 16 and expelled Suzanne Farrell, almost destroying her career, because she married another man. He's revered as a founding figure of modern ballet.
Hergé	1907	1983	Comics	2
Hergé is a fervent royalist. As an editorial director, he has published fascist and antisemitic content and befriended its authors. Several of his albums are explicit colonialist and anti-socialist propaganda. These contain numerous racist and antisemitic stereotypes. He's revered as an icon of European comics.
Allen Ginsberg	1914		Poetry	4
Allen Ginsberg is openly pedophile. As a member of the infamous NAMBLA, he advocates for the legalization of pedophilia. He's revered as a founding figure of the beat generation, just like William S. Burroughs, a fellow child abuser who claims to have accidentally shot his wife.
Roald Dahl	1916	1990	Narrative Literature	4
Roald Dahl has often expressed antisemitic views in public and in lesser-known fictional writings. His short story collection Switch Bitch has been widely criticized for its cruel misogyny, and Charlie's Oompa-Loompas are racist stereotypes. He's revered as an icon of children's literature.
Ingmar Bergman	1918	2007	Film	2
Throughout his twenties, Ingmar Bergman has attended numerous Nazi rallies. He has admitted it but never apologized. He's known as a controlling and sexually exploitative director. Decades passed before he revealed that Maria von Rosen was his daughter. He's revered as an icon of European cinema.
Isaac Asimov	1920	1992	Narrative Literature	4
Isaac Asimov is known for repeatedly and publicly assaulting women, groping or kissing them without regard for their consent. He's revered as a founding figure of science fiction.
Joseph Beuys	1921	1986	Contemporary Art	1
Joseph Beuys is obsessed with the racist theories of Rudolf Steiner. He volunteered to fight for the Third Reich during WWII. Long after the fall of the regime, many of his friends, collaborators, and his patron are Nazis. He's known as a self-mythologizing liar and revered as a founding figure of contemporary Art.
Pier Paolo Pasolini	1922	1975	Experimental Film	2
Pier Paolo Pasolini is known for having relationships with underage boys. He was 42 when he met the 15-year-old "great love of his life" Ninetto Davoli. During the May 68 revolts, he defended the police. He's revered as an icon of avant-garde cinema, theatre and literature.
Andy Warhol	1928	1987	Contemporary Art	3
Known as a self-mythologizing liar, Andy Warhol plagiarized several artists, such as Chryssa or Patricia Caulfield. His habit of using and dismissing people has notably caused the breakdowns of Edie Sedgwick or Valérie Solanas. He's been accused of torturing an adolescent. He's revered as the pope of pop Art.
Stanley Kubrick	1928	1999	Film	3
Known as a manipulative and controlling director, Stanley Kubrick is responsible with permanently altering Shelley Duvall's mental health. On the set of The Shining, he asked every person present to avoid talking to the actress, and submitted her to countless mistreatments. He's revered as a Hollywood icon.
Alejandro Jodorowsky	1929		Comics	3
Alejandro Jodorowsky has publicly bragged about raping Mara Lorenzio on the set of El Topo, saying that like her character in the film, she needed to "accept the male sex". His fictional and esoteric works are all filled with such unbearable misogyny and bullshit. He's revered as an icon of esotericism and counterculture.
James Brown	1933		Music	3
James Brown has sequestrated, harassed, assaulted and raped several women who worked with him. He has been arrested repeatedly for domestic violences. Like fellow rapist Bob Marley, he's revered as an icon of popular music.
Roman Polanski	1933		Film	4
Accused of assault or rape on several 13-year-old girls, Roman Polanski has pleaded guilty to the charge of statutory rape. He then fled the country and never paid for his crimes. Like Woody Allen, another child abuser, he has been supported by numerous stars and poses as a victim. He's revered as a major auteur filmmaker.
Elvis Presley	1935	1977	Music	5
Like David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Mick Jagger, Jeff Beck, Steven Tyler, Kim Fowley, Jimmy Page, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis or Chuck Berry, Elvis has repeatedly committed statutory rape. Accomplices have brought him hundreds of children aged 12 to 15, and he rejects any major girl. He's revered as an icon of popular music.
Isao Takahata	1935	2018	Animation	3
Isao Takahata is known for mistreating every person he works with. He's widely regarded as responsible for the suicide of Yoshifumi Kondō, an animation director who once said Takahata had tried to kill him. Countless young talents have quit animation because of him. He's revered as an icon of Japanese animation.
Phil Spector	1939	2021	Music	4
Phil Spector murdered Lana Clarkson. He sequestrated Ronnie Spector, abused her, sabotaged her career and threatened to have her killed if she didn't surrender custody of their children, whom he also abused and kept captive. Like fellow abusers Miles Davis, Marvin Gaye or John Lennon, he's revered as an icon of popular music.
Frank Zappa	1940	1993	Experimental Music	3
Like his friend and rival Captain Beefheart, Frank Zappa is known as a controlling and abusive bandleader. Most of his collaborators end up suing him. His lyrics are widely criticized for their racism, antisemitism, misogyny and homophobia. He's revered as an icon of experimental rock.
Robert Crumb	1943		Comics	3
Known for his misogyny, Robert Crumb likes to depict violent abuse of women and children. He's also known for his frequent use of racist stereotypes, notably in "When the Nigg*rs Take Over America". He's revered as a founding figure of underground comix.
Genesis P-Orridge	1950	2020	Experimental Music	4
Genesis P-Orridge are known as an abusive, violent, authoritarian bandleader and partner. They repeatedly brutalized Cosey Fanni Tutti, threw her out, pressured her into unprotected sex or unwanted orgies, tried to kill her once and controlled her diaries. They're revered as a founding figure of industrial music.
John Lasseter	1957		Animation	4
John Lasseter is known for groping, kissing or making sexual commentaries to women co-workers, making their work impossible. Like many others, Brenda Chapman, who was becoming Pixar's first woman director with Brave, was fired mid-production because of him. He is a revered figure of computer animation.
Michael Jackson	1958		Music	4
Michael Jackson has been repeatedly accused of child abuse. Although the trials failed to prove his guilt, new testimonies have emerged after his death. Two young men who had testified in his defense revealed that they had been victims too. He's revered as the king of pop music.
David Foster Wallace	1962	2008	Narrative Literature	5
David Foster Wallace has stalked poet Mary Karr and her son, harassed, abused and brutalized her for months. He once pushed her from a moving car. Additionally, he sleeps with his students, and has plagiarized works of Thomas Pynchon and Don Delillo. He's revered as an icon of postmodern literature.
Notch	1979		Video Game	4
Markus Persson has openly expressed misogynistic, homophobic, transphobic and racist views online. He actively encouraged Zoë Quinn's harassment during the GamerGate controversy. He's revered as the original developer of Minecraft, the highest-selling video game in history.