Steven Zevitas Shares Personal List of Transformative Contemporary Artworks

Steven Zevitas, publisher of New American Paintings, has compiled a personal selection of contemporary artworks that profoundly impacted him. The list includes Bruce Nauman's 1967-68 video work "Walking in an Exaggerated Manner Around the Perimeter of a Square," which Zevitas credits with making him believe in conceptual art. Also featured are Nauman's "Green Light Corridor" from 1970 and his 2001 video "Mapping the Studio I (Fat Chance John Cage)." The selection includes Shirin Neshat's work "Turbulent." Zevitas emphasizes these are not necessarily his favorite artists overall, but works that have been "seared into" his brain. He notes that some artists on the list are those whose broader practice he doesn't particularly admire, yet specific works resonated deeply. The publisher compiled the list after a friend asked which artworks had the greatest impact on him over the years. Zevitas clarifies this is not a "greatest hits" compilation and many artists he loves are not included. He describes encountering artwork that fundamentally changes him, even when he doesn't immediately understand it.