A Tale of Two Eras:

Modern &
Contemporary Art
 Modern and Contemporary Art:
An Overview
Definition of Modern and Contemporary Art
• Modern Art (1860s to 1970s) represents a significant departure
from traditional artistic norms and is characterized by
experimentation, leading to the abandonment of past
conventions.
• Contemporary Art (Post-1970s) refers to artwork produced in the
latter half of the 20th century and the 21st century. It embraces a
dynamic combination of materials, methods, concepts, and
subjects, challenging artistic boundaries and lacks a uniform
organizing principle or "-ism."
 Modern Art
The spirit of experimentation
• Modern artists embarked on a quest for new ways of seeing and
understanding art, challenging the very nature of materials and
the role of art in society.

Departure from traditional norms

• A significant characteristic of modern art was its shift away from
narrative art, prevalent in traditional art, towards abstraction,
allowing for greater expression and experimentation.
 Modern Art
Influence of Artists
• Visionary artists like Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Cézanne, Paul
Gauguin, Georges Seurat, and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec played
pivotal roles in shaping the development of modern art.

Vincent Van Gogh Paul Cézanne Paul Gauguin Georges Seurat Henri de Toulouse-
Lautrec
Impressionism
and the Birth of
Modern Art
Origins of Impressionism
• Impressionism emerged in the mid-19th century in Paris as a
reaction to the formal and rigid style of academic painting,
which was dictated by institutions such as the Académie des
Beaux-Arts.

Reaction to Traditional Art

• Impressionists, such as Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, and
Camille Pissarro, broke free from conventional studio painting
and explored natural light, color, and the fleeting moments of
life.
Claude Monet Edgar Degas Camille Pissarro
 The Post-impressionists'
Independent Experimentation

• Post-Impressionists, including
Vincent van Gogh and Georges
Seurat, composed their works
independently, allowing them to
experiment with various styles,
from intensified Impressionism, as
typified by van Gogh, to pointillism,
exemplified in Seurat's famous work
Sunday Afternoon on the
Island of La Grande Jatte
"Sunday Afternoon on the Island of
La Grande Jatte" (1884–86).
 Contemporary Art
Definition of Contemporary Art
• Contemporary Art, defined as art produced in the latter half of
the 20th century and the 21st century, is characterized by its
global influence, cultural diversity, and technological
advancements.

Characteristics of contemporary artists

• Contemporary artists create art in a globally connected world,
exploring diverse materials, methods, and concepts. They
challenge established boundaries in art.
Themes
• Contemporary art often delves into themes such as personal
and cultural identity, critique of societal and institutional
systems, and the redefinition of art. These works generate
challenging and thought-provoking subjects without offering
clear answers.
 Key Differences
Modern vs. Contemporary Art
Innovation and Freedom in Contemporary Art
• Unlike the more structured and experimental nature of Modern Art,
Contemporary Art emphasizes innovation and artistic freedom.
Society as a Major Focus in Contemporary Art
• Contemporary Art places society as a primary focus, addressing broader
contextual frameworks such as personal and cultural identity, family,
community, and nationality.
Diverse Range of Materials in Contemporary Art
• Modern Art was predominantly created on canvas, while Contemporary
Art spans a wide range of materials, including object design, tech-
enabled artwork, and graphical arts.
Art Movements
in Modern Art
 Abstract Expressionism
Definition and Characteristics
• Abstract Expressionism is an artistic style that seeks to depict
subjective emotions and personal responses rather than
objective reality. It is characterized by free and spontaneous
expression.
Action Painting and Color Fields
• Abstract Expressionism includes two major styles: action
painting, marked by vigorous, sweeping brushstrokes and the
effects of dripping and spilling paint onto the canvas, and color
fields, featuring large expanses of flat color with minimal
surface detail.
 ARTISTS

Jackson Pollock Mark Rothko

 Jackson Pollock
Convergence, 1950

Contemporary Version Original Version

 Mark Rothko
Multiform, 1948

Contemporary Version Original Version

 Optical Art (Op Art)
Characteristics and Optical Illusions
• Optical Art, also known as Op Art, is a mid-
20th-century geometric abstract art movement
that uses systematic and precise manipulation
of shapes and colors to create optical illusions.
 ARTISTS

Victor Vasarely Bridget Riley

 Victor Vasarely
Zebra

Contemporary Version Original Version

 Bridget Riley
Achaean

Contemporary Version
Original Version
 Kinetic Art
Kinetic Art is art that incorporates
movement that is perceivable by the
viewer, often depending on motion for its
effect. It plays a significant role in
contemporary sculpture.
 ARTISTS

Alexander Calder Jean Tinguely

 Alexander Calder
Abstraction

Contemporary Version Original Version

 Jean Tinguely
Meta-Harmonie II

Contemporary Version Original Version

 Minimalism
Minimalism is characterized by its
simplicity, use of basic forms, and
emphasis on the inherent qualities of
materials. It often strives for a sense of
purity and order.
 ARTISTS

Donald Judd Frank Stella

 Donald Judd
Untitled (stack)

Contemporary Version Original Version

 Frank Stella
Harran II

Contemporary Version Original Version

 Pop Art
Origin and Goals of the Pop Art Movement
• Pop Art is an art movement that emerged in the 1950s
and flourished in the 1960s in America and Britain. It is
characterized by the use of bold, simple, everyday
imagery and vibrant block colors.
• Pop Art aimed to blur the boundaries between "high" art
and "low" culture by incorporating mass culture objects
and media stars into artworks.
 ARTISTS

Tom Wesselmann Roy Lichtenstein James Rosenquist

Great American Nude #21, Popeye, 1961
1961 by Tom Wesselmann by Roy Lichtenstein
House of Fire, 1981 by James Rosenquist
 Postmodernism
Definition and Characteristics
• Postmodernism refers to a reaction against modernism,
emphasizing an approach and attitude toward art,
culture, and society.
• Postmodern art often incorporates a deliberate use of
earlier styles and conventions, as well as an eclectic
mixing of different artistic and popular styles and
mediums.
 ARTISTS

Andy Warhol Joseph Kosuth

10 Marilyn Monroe, 1967 by
Andy Warhol
ONE AND THREE CHAIRS, 1965 by Joseph Kosuth
 Neo Pop Art
Emergence in the 1980s
• Neo Pop Art, or Post-Pop, emerged in the 1980s as a
reaction to the Minimalism and Conceptualism of the
1970s.
• Neo Pop artists used the iconography of Pop Art but
incorporated contemporary "kitsch" imagery and
references to political and social issues not present in the
1960s.
 ARTISTS

Yasumasa Morimura Takashi Murakami Daniel Edwards

Portrait Twin; Futago,
1988 by Yasumasa 727, 1996
Morimura by Takashi Murakami
Paris Hilton Autopsy, 2007 by Daniel Edwards
 Photorealism
Relationship with Photography
• Photorealism, also known as Hyperrealism or
Superrealism, is an art movement coined in reference to
artists who heavily relied on photographs as source
materials for their work.
• It emerged within the same period as Conceptual Art, Pop
Art, and Minimalism and expressed a strong interest in
realism in art, over idealism and abstraction.
 ARTISTS

Richard Estes Gerhard Richter

Telephone Booth, 1968 by
Richard Estes
Erschossener; man shot down 1, 1988 by Gerhard Richter
 Conceptualism
Emphasis on Ideas Over Visual Components
• Conceptual art is a movement that prizes ideas over the
formal or visual components of artworks. It values the
concept or idea behind the art more than the final
product.
• Conceptual artists created works and writings that
completely rejected standard ideas of art, taking the form
of performances, happenings, and ephemera.
 ARTISTS

Damien Hirst Robert Montgomery

Mother and Child Divided,
1993 by Damien Hirst
The trees will riot, 2020 by Robert Montgomery
 Performance Art
Definition and Live Presentation
• Performance art is a genre where artworks are presented
"live," usually by the artist, but sometimes with
collaborators or performers.
• These artworks are created through actions performed by
the artist or other participants, which can be live or
recorded, spontaneous or scripted.
 ARTISTS

Marina Abramovic Yoko Ono

Rhythm 0, 1974 by Marina
Abramovic
Cutpiece, 1964 by Yoko Ono
 Installation Art
Installation art is one of the most
impactful and enchanting art genres,
filling entire rooms or entire exhibition
spaces. It offers a unique sensory and
immersive experience, contrasting with
traditional art forms.
 ARTISTS

Allan Kaprow Yayoi Kusama

Yard, 1967 by Allan Kaprow
Aftermath of obliteration of eternity, 2009
by Yayoi Kusama
 Earth Art
Earth art, also known as Land art or
Earthworks, is primarily an American
movement that creates site-specific
structures, art forms, and sculptures using
the natural landscape.
 ARTISTS

Robert Smithson Christo and Jeanne-Claude

Broken circle;Spiral hill, 1971
by Robert Smithson
California Dreamin, 1972-76 by
Christo and Jeanne-Claude
 Street Art
Street art is created on public surfaces such as
building exteriors, highway overpasses, and
sidewalks. It is more common in urban settings.
Street art encompasses a broader range of media
and is closely associated with graphic design and
graphic arts.
 ARTISTS

Jean Michel Basquiat Keith Haring

Untitled (skull),1981 by
Jean Michel Basquiat
Houston Bowery Wall, 1982 by
Keith Haring
 Conclusion
Modern and Contemporary Art
represents a dynamic and ever-evolving
journey in the world of artistic
expression, with each movement and
style contributing to the rich tapestry
of human creativity.
Thank You

End of Presentation