Art Glossary

A silver gelatin print is a type of photographic print made using the silver process. In this process, photographic materials such as black and white films and printing papers are coated with a (...) read more

Generative art refers to art that is wholly or partly created through an autonomous system. This system can be independent or non-human, capable of determining features that would otherwise be (...) read more

Geometric abstraction is a form of abstract art that uses geometric shapes arranged in a non-illusionistic space (though not always) and combined into non-representational (non-objective) (...) read more

Gestural art is a term that describes painting with freely sweeping brushstrokes. The primary goal of gestural art is to allow the artist to physically express emotional impulses. The varied, yet (...) read more

Giclée printing is a digital technique for reproducing artwork using a high-resolution digital file and an inkjet printer with archival-quality inks. This process produces prints with exceptional (...) read more

Glass is a transparent solid that varies in composition depending on the type. Artists use different types of glass to create art forms such as stained glass, blown glass, and various decorated (...) read more

Gouache is an opaque watercolor paint that allows artists to layer from light to dark. Unlike traditional transparent watercolors, gouache is used for creating solid, vibrant colors. It belongs to (...) read more

Graffiti art refers to drawings and writings that are painted, scratched, or scribbled on walls or other surfaces, typically in public spaces. This art form ranges from small tags to elaborate wall (...) read more

Graphite is a form of carbon commonly used as the core material in pencils. It can be compressed to various levels of hardness, allowing for different shading effects in drawing. In powdered form, (...) read more

Grupo Frente was a movement founded in 1954 in Brazil by teaching artist Ivan Serpa. The movement included many students from the Rio de Janeiro Museum of Modern Art and sought to reject the (...) read more

Grupo Ruptura was an organization formed in Brazil by artists who sought to break away from traditional naturalist painting in favor of geometric abstract art. In the early 1950s, the group published (...) read more

Gutai was a group of Japanese radical artists who formed the Gutai Art Association in 1954. The word Gutai translates to embodiment. The group was known for creating art on the spot for live (...) read more

A Happening is a term used to describe artistic and theatrical events held by artists in the 1950s and 60s. These events were typically staged in gallery installations or planned environments and (...) read more

Hard Edge art is a style of abstract painting that became popular in the 1960s. It features areas of color separated by crisp, sharp edges that are painted with geometric precision. The term (...) read more

Hypermodernism is a cultural and artistic movement that emerged in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, characterized by an intense embrace of technology and a focus on speed, complexity, and the (...) read more

Hyperrealism is a genre of sculpture and painting that closely resembles high-resolution photographs. It is an evolution of Photorealism and is often applied to an independent art style or movement (...) read more

Ink is a colored liquid or paste used for writing, drawing, painting, and printing. The term also refers to the process of applying ink to mark, cover, stain, draw, or trace over pencil lines. Ink (...) read more

An inkjet printer creates prints by spraying millions of tiny ink droplets onto paper. This type of printing is generally inexpensive because the ink is relatively affordable. Artists can use (...) read more

Installation art is a three-dimensional artistic genre that involves site-specific works designed to alter the viewer's perception of space. These works are typically created for interior spaces, (...) read more

Intaglio is a printmaking technique where a design is incised below the surface of a metal or stone plate. Ink is applied to the plate, filling the incised lines or depressions, while the surface is (...) read more

Interactive art is a form of art where the spectator is actively involved by the artist to achieve the artwork's purpose. This involvement can include allowing the visitor to walk around, in, or on (...) read more

Junk art is a form of art that demonstrates how any material or object can be used to create a wide range of paintings, sculptures, installations, and assemblages. Many Junk Art pieces are made using (...) read more

Kinetic art is an international movement that emerged in the 1920s and gained prominence in the 1960s, referring to art that involves both apparent and real motion. It encompasses any medium that (...) read more

Kitsch is a term used to describe cheap, commercial, sentimental, or vulgar art and objects commonly associated with popular culture. The word is borrowed from German, where it originally means (...) read more