Contemporary Convention and Cliche' in the Visual Arts

11-2010- In the current era of Western Art there is nothing much more conventional than seeking to create a sensation... No content more cliche' in the West than deriding Christianity... Thomas Kinkaide & Andre' Serrano,  Jeff Koons & Lady Gaga, Damien Hirst & Sam Butcher et. al. have simply sold out to different market segments by branding their imitations of other, somewhat less hollow work. 

Who then are the most important, and each in their own way; most radical painters working today?
More importantly, who's work will other serious painters admire 100 years from now?
My picks are: Jasper Johns, Anselm Kiefer, Lucian Freud, Rackstraw Downes, Jenny Saville, and Jerome Witkin.  I'm sure there are other's I'm not thinking about right now, and more I'm unaware of...

Lucien Freud is the painter who's work I'm most certain will be looked to by artists for centuries to come.

What makes their work important, radical, avante garde?
The courage to be subtle, skill, empathy, objectivity, humility.