Art Glossary

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

Carborundum is the trademark name for silicon carbide crystals, an abrasive material commonly used in sandpaper, cutting tools, and grinding wheels. Originally, artists used carborundum for grinding (...) read more

A cast is a form created by pouring a liquid material, such as plastic, plaster, acrylic, concrete, or mixed media, into a mold. Once the liquid cools and fully solidifies, the cast is removed from (...) read more

A Catalogue Raisonné is an annotated and comprehensive listing of all the known works of an artist. It includes detailed information that helps to identify and authenticate the artist's output across (...) read more

Cement refers to a variety of mixtures, typically made from clay, limestone, water, sand, and gravel, which form concrete used in construction. The term to cement also means to join or unite (...) read more

Ceramic is a term used to describe objects made from clay or other inorganic materials. These objects can be either decorative or functional and have been created since at least 4,000 B.C. Ceramic (...) read more

Ceramics is an art form that involves creating objects from clay. The clay is shaped, molded, and formed by hand or with specialized tools, then baked (or fired) in a high-temperature oven called a (...) read more

Chalk is a natural mineral, primarily composed of calcium carbonate. In art, chalk refers to sticks used for drawing, made from a mixture of chalk, colored pigments, and gum Arabic. These sticks are (...) read more

Charcoal is made from charred wood and is used in both initial sketches and finished drawings. It can be easily smudged or erased, making it versatile for corrections. To make charcoal drawings (...) 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

Clay is a natural material formed when rocks break down over time due to weathering. Water carries the fine particles of earth, which accumulate as a soft, sticky substance called muck. This muck is (...) read more

Collage is a production art technique commonly used in visual arts where a new artwork is created by assembling various materials. These materials can include ribbons, newspaper and magazine (...) 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

Colored pencils consist of a core made from various colored pigments mixed with a binder, encased in wood. They can also be found as solid pigment sticks without the wooden casing. When drawing, the (...) read more

Composition refers to the arrangement of elements within an artwork. The artist carefully organizes these elements to create a harmonious or intentionally dynamic relationship. Traditional approaches (...) read more

Computer printing involves using computer technology to reproduce fine art images as prints. In its basic form, this means creating digital versions of artwork that are printed onto paper. More (...) read more

Conté is a vivid, waxy crayon invented by Nicolas-Jacques Conté in 1795. Artists use Conté crayons for detailed drawing, shading large areas, and blending colors. The tips can be sharpened with (...) read more

An object with distinctive or unusual qualities that naturally draws attention and prompts discussion among people. read more

Crayon is a French word that means pencil. In art, a crayon is a stick made of colored wax, chalk, charcoal, or clay used for drawing and coloring. Crayons are typically made from paraffin wax, which (...) 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

A curator is a professional responsible for managing and overseeing a collection of art pieces or artifacts. Employed by a gallery or museum, curators use their expertise to acquire, develop, (...) read more

Cyanotype is a photographic technique that creates images in shades of blue, commonly known as blueprints. It involves coating a surface with a mixture of two chemicals, typically ferric ammonium (...) read more

The Czech Republic boasts a vibrant contemporary art scene, rooted in its rich artistic heritage. The DOX Centre for Contemporary Art in Prague and the Moravian Gallery in Brno feature an array of (...) read more