The Nordic countries for many decades defined a free, well-organized, sociopolitical system built on seemingly solid financial footing. The recent crash of Iceland’s banking system and the worrying rise of the radical right in Sweden have done little to dislodge international appreciation of the Scandinavian way of life and of Nordic culture generally. While times of uncertainty and political upheaval often provide fertile foundations for groundbreaking art, apparently well-balanced and comfortable societies can offer the perfect platform for the development of a free creative spirit or force the asking of important questions.Nordic Contemporary presents profiles of nearly 150 of the most important Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian, and Swedish figures and institutions active on the art scene today, including artists, curators, galleries, critics, and collectors. Extensively illustrated and based on the most up-to-date research, this book will provide a unique, invaluable survey of current trends and key players, including such internationally renowned figures as artists Eija-Lisa Ahtila, Elmgreen & Dragset, Olafur Eliasson, and Danh Vo; major private institutions and foundations including Bonniers Konsthall, Kistefos Museum, and Zabludowicz Collection; established museum directors Daniel Birnbaum, Lars Nittve, and Poul Erik Tojner; and more emerging talents, such as Ida Ekblad, Klara Lidén, and Fredrik Varslav.