ArtReview's Power 100 List Defends Its Methodology and Influence in 2016

ArtReview's annual Power 100 list, ranking the most influential figures in contemporary art, was defended by the magazine in a fictional therapy session published in its November 2016 issue. The list, compiled by an anonymous panel representing various artworld roles including artists, curators, critics, and occasionally collectors, aims to map influence over what art gets shown and why, rather than artistic merit. ArtReview acknowledged contradictions in its approach, such as keeping judges anonymous to protect them from professional repercussions, while attempting to reveal hidden power networks. The magazine stated that few art critics possess the global influence of those ranked, citing practical and economic barriers. It denied that the list serves as a marketing tool for advertisers, noting many advertisers are not included and many on the list do not advertise. The 2016 list was scheduled to go live online at one minute past midnight on Thursday, 20 October 2016, with the print issue on sale from the same date. ArtReview emphasized that the list is provisional and restated annually to reflect the contemporary moment, though power shifts slowly, with the top ten showing significant change over a 10-15 year period. The magazine described itself as an observer, not an enforcer, in this specific issue, while admitting its other issues express clear preferences and fears about art's direction.