Art Glossary

Portugal's contemporary art scene is a dynamic blend of history and innovation. Prestigious museums such as the Serralves Museum in Porto and the Museu Coleção Berardo in Lisbon serve as platforms (...) read more

Postminimalism refers to a range of art styles that emerged in the 1960s, following the Minimalism movement. While Minimalism focused on simplicity and impersonality, Postminimalist artists retained (...) read more

Postmodernism is an art movement that emerged as a reaction against authority and traditional boundaries, seeking to blur the lines between art and everyday life. It aimed to bridge the gap between (...) read more

A print is an image or text reproduced using a template or master form. Prints are typically created by transferring ink from a prepared matrix to another material, often paper. Common matrices (...) read more

A print proof refers to any test impressions made from a printing plate or block to check the image quality before the final print is completed. These proofs are used as quality checks to ensure that (...) read more

Process Art is an artistic movement and creative approach where the focus is on the act of creation rather than the final product. The term process in this context refers to the various stages of (...) read more

Provenance refers to the chronology of ownership, location, or custody of an artwork. Tracing an object's provenance helps establish its authenticity and historical context by documenting its (...) read more

Queer Aesthetics refers to an art movement that emerged in the 1980s, focusing on themes of homosexuality, lesbianism, and broader issues of identity and gender. This movement gained momentum in the (...) read more

Readymade is the term coined by French artist Marcel Duchamp to describe artworks created from manufactured objects. Duchamp selected ordinary, functional items that he felt had visual indifference, (...) read more

Recto and verso are terms used to describe the right and left pages of an open book, or the front and back of a sheet of paper. In both cases, recto refers to the right-hand page or the front of the (...) read more

A replica is a copy of an artwork that is so precisely made that it is nearly indistinguishable from the original. Artists may create replicas of their own work, or replicas can be produced for (...) read more

Romania's contemporary art scene is a thrilling blend of historical narratives and fresh perspectives. Pioneering artists such as Adrian Ghenie and Mircea Cantor are carving out innovative artistic (...) read more

Réalités Nouvelles means new realities and refers to an exhibiting society founded in 1939 in Paris by Sonia Delaunay. The Salon des Réalités Nouvelles was dedicated to promoting abstract art, which (...) read more

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

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

Shock Art is an art movement that uses disturbing images, scents, or sounds to provoke a strong, often shocked, reaction from viewers. It is often regarded as a form of social commentary, with (...) read more

Site-Specific Art is a form of artwork created to exist in a particular location, with the artist considering the site as an integral part of the creative process. Robert Irwin was a key figure in (...) read more

Situationism is a psychological theory that gained prominence in 1968, following the publication of a monograph by Walter Mischel that sparked the Person-situation debate. This theory argues that (...) read more

Sound Art is an artistic discipline where sound is used as the primary medium. Like other contemporary art genres, Sound Art is inherently interdisciplinary, engaging with a variety of subjects (...) read more

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

Space Art is an artistic genre that depicts the cosmic elements of the universe, including celestial bodies, interstellar space, and space exploration. It began in 1865 with the first science-based (...) read more

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

Spatialism is an art movement that originated in Italy in 1947, founded by Lucio Fontana with the intention of synthesizing sound, color, movement, and space into a new form of art. The movement's (...) read more

Street Art is artwork created and executed in public spaces, outside of traditional art venues. It gained popularity during the 1980s graffiti art boom and has since evolved into various forms and (...) read more