Art Glossary

A Chinese term that describes performance art. This concept is relatively new and may be challenging to articulate unless people understand the intentions behind it. It is a flexible concept that (...) read more

Belgium's contemporary art scene is a dynamic hub, marked by innovative expressions and globally resonant ideas. Renowned institutions such as M HKA and Wiels serve as important platforms for (...) read more

Body art involves creating art directly on or with the human body. Common forms include body piercings and tattoos, but it also encompasses practices like branding, scarification, scalping, body (...) read more

Brazil's contemporary art scene is a vibrant amalgam of cultural expressions, reflecting a rich, diverse heritage. Esteemed institutions like São Paulo Museum of Art (MASP) and Museum of Contemporary (...) read more

Browser art is a form of renegade art where artists use computers to transform code, website structures, and server links into visual material. These artists, often called net artists or net writers, (...) read more

Brutalism is an architectural style from the 1950s and 60s characterized by the use of raw concrete to create block-like forms. This style was often applied in public housing and civic buildings, (...) read more

Bulgaria's contemporary art scene brims with diverse artistic expressions, reflecting its rich historical tapestry. Prestigious institutions like Sofia City Art Gallery and the Museum of Contemporary (...) read more

Canada's contemporary art scene is a vibrant blend of indigenous roots and global influences. Esteemed institutions like the Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto and the Vancouver Art Gallery host a (...) read more

Capitalist Realism is a German form of political pop art that emerged in Cold War-era Berlin in 1963. It sought to challenge the dominance of American pop art in the Western world. The movement (...) read more

Chile's contemporary art scene vibrates with creativity, reflecting the nation's unique geographical and cultural diversity. Esteemed institutions such as the Museum of Contemporary Art in Santiago (...) read more

China's dynamic contemporary art landscape, steeped in profound cultural heritage, showcases the nation's vibrant artistic evolution. Noteworthy spaces like the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art and (...) read more

Chinese Contemporary Art is marked by a wide range of styles and experimental approaches. In the 1980s, avant-garde exhibitions were often shut down by government officials. The 1990s saw the rise of (...) read more

CoBrA stands for Copenhagen, Brussels, and Amsterdam; the group was formed with a desire to break away from the existing art movements of the time. Their critique of Western society led them to (...) read more

Colombia's vibrant contemporary art scene, a fusion of indigenous influences and modern movements, is a testament to its rich cultural heritage. The Museum of Modern Art in Bogotá and the Museum of (...) read more

Colour Field Painting is an abstract style characterized by large areas of a single color or simple, solid colors. The term was first used in the 1950s to describe the work of three American Abstract (...) read more

Comic strip art refers to artwork that utilizes the subject matter and commercial printing techniques found in comic strips. In the 1960s, a group of artists began creating paintings that (...) read more

Computer art refers to any type of digital imagery or graphic artwork created using a computer. Art curators often classify art made with computers as either digital art or new media art. Artists (...) read more

Sometimes referred to as Conceptualism, this is an art form where the idea(s) or concept(s) behind the work take precedence over material concerns and traditional aesthetics. Many conceptual artworks (...) read more

Concrete Art is an art movement founded by the Dutch artist Theo van Doesburg in the 1930s. The movement emphasizes pure abstraction, focusing on geometric shapes and colors without any reference to (...) read more

Constructivism is an architectural and artistic philosophy of Russian origin that emerged as a rejection of the idea of autonomous art. The movement advocated for art to serve practical social (...) read more

Contemporary art refers to avant-garde or innovative art created in the recent past or present day. The exact starting point of contemporary art varies depending on the institution, often tied to the (...) read more

Contemporary art from India dates from 1985 to the present, marking the post-liberalization era. During this period, artists have felt free to create independently of traditional Hindu or social (...) read more

This Italian art movement includes artists from Italy, Belgium, and France who are known for creating public installations using recyclable plastic to craft massive animal sculptures. The artwork (...) read more

Cuba's contemporary art scene offers a rich tapestry of creativity, profoundly shaped by its complex socio-political history. The Havana Biennial and the National Museum of Fine Arts are key hubs of (...) read more