What happens to art history when the everyday experience of life under capitalism becomes a central focus for artists? Contemporary Art and Capitalist Life examines how artworks negotiate the most pressing features of the twenty-first century, from the everyday impacts of intensifying class inequality and the legacies of colonialism right through to pivotal issues such as climate, housing and healthcare. Thinking alongside works realised across a range of media by artists including Ultra-red, Melanie Gilligan, Alberta Whittle, Olivia Plender and Martha Rosler, the study tests the potential of curatorial methods, introducing new categories and valuable theoretical approaches. It demonstrates how social reproduction perspectives can be used to transform our understanding of contemporary art and explains why artists place such emphasis on everyday experience in their attempts to grasp capitalist life in its fullest sense.