Art Glossary

Definitions of Art Forms, Mediums, and Movements

Art Form, Medium, Country
Image View
Screen-print

Screen printing is a technique where ink is transferred through a mesh onto a substrate, with areas blocked by a stencil to prevent ink from passing through. This method, also known as serigraphy or (...) read more

Image © Petr Lerch/Shutterstock
Sculpture / Object

A sculpture is a three-dimension object made using any one of the basic sculpting processes. These include carving, casting, constructing or modeling. Carving materials may be bone, ivory, stone or (...) read more

© Composition.gallery
Serbia

Serbia's vibrant contemporary art scene is a nexus of past and future, where history intertwines with fresh creativity. Artists like Marina Abramovi? and Ivana Baši? generate conversation, pushing (...) read more

Artwork Copyright © Marina Abramovic
Serigraph

Serigraph is a printmaking process that uses silk screen techniques to create an image. The image is digitally separated into individual colors, each of which is assigned to a separate silk screen. (...) read more

Image © vincent noel/Shutterstock
Silkscreen

Silkscreen is a printmaking method that uses a screen made of silk or other mesh fabric. The screen is treated with a substance that blocks ink in certain areas, allowing ink to pass through only in (...) read more

Image © 3d_man/Shutterstock
South Africa

South Africa's contemporary art scene is a dynamic blend of heritage and innovation. Renowned artists like William Kentridge and Mary Sibande challenge perceptions, merging global trends with local (...) read more

Artwork Copyright © Marlene Dumas
Spain

Spain's contemporary art scene is a vibrant amalgamation of tradition and innovation. Distinguished museums like the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid and the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao showcase (...) read more

Artwork Copyright © Pablo Picasso
Stone

Stone is a hard, natural material found in the ground and used for various artistic purposes, such as carving statues, creating jewelry, and assembling mosaics. Artists and rock collectors often seek (...) read more

Image © Sergio Foto/Shutterstock
Sweden

Sweden's contemporary art scene is a progressive fusion of traditional aesthetics and cutting-edge creativity. Acclaimed artists like Nathalie Djurberg and Jonas Dahlberg push boundaries with their (...) read more

Artwork Copyright © Bengt Lindstrom
Switzerland

Switzerland consistently underscores its position as a central axis in the global contemporary art realm. The country is home to prestigious museums such as the Kunsthaus Zürich and the Fondation (...) read more

Artwork Copyright © Alberto Giacometti
Tapestry

Tapestry is a heavy, handwoven textile featuring intricate designs or images woven directly into the fabric. Created by skilled weavers using materials like wool, linen, cotton, silk, and sometimes (...) read more

Image © milart/Shutterstock
Tapestry

Tapestry is a woven form of textile. It is generally heavy, and the completed work has a decorative pattern, design or realistic depiction of a portrait or real life activities. Tapestries were hung (...) read more

Image © milart/Shutterstock
Tempera

Tempera is a paint traditionally made by mixing colored pigments with egg yolk. It dries quickly and is highly durable, with some examples dating back to 100 AD still in existence. Modern tempera (...) read more

Image © Desanka/Shutterstock
Textile

Textile refers to a flexible material made by weaving, felting, crocheting, knitting, or knotting long strands of natural or synthetic yarn or thread. Textile artists often create their own materials (...) read more

Image © Oleksandr Berezko/Shutterstock
Ukraine

Ukraine's contemporary art scene reflects a captivating blend of rich heritage and forward-thinking dynamism. Artists such as Pavlo Makov and Anatoly Kryvolap are creating bold, innovative works that (...) read more

Artwork Copyright © Ilja Kabakov
United Kingdom

Immerse yourself in the pulsating energy of the United Kingdom's contemporary art landscape. Steeped in history yet invigorated by cutting-edge experimentation, it is home to notable institutions (...) read more

Artwork Copyright © Banksy
United States

The contemporary art scene in the United States is a dynamic fusion of diverse traditions and avant-garde explorations, resonating across the global art spectrum. Institutions like the Museum of (...) read more

Artwork Copyright © Keith Haring
Uruguay

Contemporary Art in Uruguay is a dynamic and evolving field, reflecting the country's rich cultural heritage and innovative spirit. Uruguayan artists, through various mediums such as painting, (...) read more

Artwork Copyright © Marco Maggi
Venezuela

Venezuela's contemporary art is a vibrant testament to the country's resilience and creativity amidst a backdrop of social and political turbulence. Artists like Carlos Cruz-Diez and Jesús Rafael (...) read more

Artwork Copyright © Carlos Cruz-Diez
Video art

Video art is an art form that uses video and audio data, primarily featuring moving images. It emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s with the advent of new technology and consumer video equipment (...) read more

Image © Vegorus/Shutterstock
Watercolor

Watercolor refers to both the medium and the resulting artwork created using pigments suspended in a water-soluble vehicle. Watercolors are known for their luminous, transparent appearance because (...) read more

Image © Phil Darby/Shutterstock
Wax

Wax is a solid material derived from plant, animal, and petroleum sources. It is used to protect paints from wear, create sculptures, make wax crayons and colored pencils, and for encaustic painting. (...) read more

Image © Sawarut Triratanachat/Shutterstock
Wire

Wire is a single strand or rod of flexible metal. It has been used since ancient times to make chains and jewelry decorations. Wire comes in various thicknesses and can be bent, braided, and cut (...) read more

Image © PRILL/Shutterstock
Wood

Wood is one of the most ancient and versatile materials used in creating art. It has served as a base for paintings, brush handles, pens, and pencils, as well as for easels, wood engraving, woodcut, (...) read more

Image © Redsapphire/Shutterstock

Est. 2005 — twenty years of collecting, online.