Gell, Alfred

Alfred Gell (1946-1997) was a British social anthropologist who made great contributions towards the study of art works and agency. This entry begins with an overview of Gell's scholarship and then discusses his anthropological theory of art. Gell's definition of an art work, the art nexus, and his concept of agency are then reviewed. Some of his methodological aspects are also considered, followed by a discussion on the reception of Gell's book Art and Agency.