A few contemporary artists of note

Ai Weiwei, Sunflower Seeds, 2010, 10 tons of handmade porcelain sunflower seeds. 
Ai Weiwei: dissident, constant reinventor of himself as artist, brave activist, innovator. Learn more about him via the Documentary Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry, and learn more about this specific piece here. Chinese.

Mark Dion, Neukom Vivarium. exterior, 2006

Mark Dion, Neukom Vivarium, 2006, interior with Western Hemlock nurse log. Learn more about this hybrid work of architecture, design, education,  sculpture, and horticulture here. American. 

Cao Fei explores the impact of rapidly emerging technologies on human relationships. Learn more about her multimedia works here and watch some of her works here. Chinese. 

Kara Walker, A Subtlety, or the Marvelous Sugar Baby, installed at the Dominos Sugar Factory, 2014. Learn more about Kara Walker via an 8-minute NPR story here. American.

Marina Abramovic, Rhythm Zero, performance art, 1974. Learn more about this performance artist's long and intense career here. Serbian. 

Lonnie Holley's artwork's are just one of the entry points to his work as a sculptor, musician, educator, performance artists and activist. Check out this amazing short documentary about his life, art, and music. American. 

El Anatsui, Earth's Skin, 2007, copper and aluminum. Ghana. Like Ai Weiwei, El Anatsui creates space for many to make his work 

 

Alfredo Jaar. The Silence of Nduwayezu, detail, 1997. 1 million slides, light table, magnifiers, and illuminated wall text. Table: 36 inches × 217 3/4 inches × 143 inches. Text: 6 inches × 188 inches. © Alfredo Jaar, courtesy of Galerie Lelong, New York. Chilean 

"I always try to incorporate an intellectual and emotional element because I like to create different entry points for the audience. I’m concerned about communication; this is my goal. I didn’t want to take the risk that this work would stay just on a visual level, so I needed the information. But obviously I agree that a lot of people might enter this place and just be overwhelmed by the scale of this representation."