modern art essay examples

179 Contemporary Art Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best contemporary art topic ideas & essay examples, 👍 good essay topics on contemporary art, 📌 most interesting contemporary art topics to write about, 🎓 simple & easy contemporary art essay titles, 📃 good research topics about contemporary art, ❓ essay questions about contemporary art.

• Contemporary Art Practices Essay Speaking about contemporary art, people usually mean the objects of art and artistic techniques that began to be used in the middle of the twentieth century.
• Impact of Digital Technologies on Contemporary Art On the contrary, digital art has been applauded in that it is fast and flexible in the sense that artists get to finish their jobs fast.
• Modernism in Art and Painting Paintings done in the past about the state of people and past society presently help to give direction to in the world of art.
• Differences of Realism, Naturalism, and Modernism Periods in Art The realism movement in art is a product of the ideological and philosophical spirit of its time. Modernism is the movement in search of new forms of art, and it emphasizes the interior world.
• Modernism and Arts and Crafts: Comparison Today, critics view modernism as a breakdown of the traditional styles inherent to the Western culture that used to connect the appearance of works of art to the appearance of the natural world. In particular, […]
• The Artistic Life of Xu Beihong and His Influence to Modern Art in China Xu Beihong was a major player in the revolutionalization of Chinese art. The dissenting voice was however that of Xu Beihong who was convinced that the answer to Chinese art was in the 19th century […]
• Theory of Modern Art: Rationalization Buchloh observes the cyclical appearance of action and reaction in art since the advent of Cubism, and infers from this that art reflects somehow the state of society.
• The Influence of Conceptual Image on Modern Art and Design If a practical application is concerned, an image is a way of communication, and a designer often plays the role of the mediator between the public and the seller of a product the image is […]
• The Difference Between Art Deco and Depression Modern Design By and whole, Art Deco and Depression differ in their characteristics and their meanings as they bring unlike messages to the viewers.
• Analysis of Modern Interior Design Style The factors mentioned above and the interior design style are associated because the industry of interior design is a broad discipline that combines knowledge and technologies of many fields. The first major factor that has […]
• Pregnant Female Body in Renaissance and Modern Art Thus, he considered Mona Lisa to be a symbol of the origin of life, and the female image as a symbolic source of natural powers of creation and destruction.
• Modern Ceramic Art: Beatrice Wood and Bernard Leach She was widely exposed to art and yearned to run away to France which charted the direction of her life as she thwarted her mother plans for “coming out” into the society and leading a […]
• Effects of World War I on the Development of Modern Art For the artists and most of the people in Europe, the time that preceded the World War I, the actual war period and the aftermath of the was presented a period of profound disillusionment 13.
• Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock: The Revolutionary Modern Artists The essay addresses the contribution of these famous artists to their particular art movements and in general, the world of art.
• American Art Deco and Mid-Century Modern Designs Therefore, this style continues to be present in the decoration and design of buildings, interiors, transportation, and accessories. The Mid-century Modern design remains popular due to its sole combination of organic materials, clear lines, and […]
• Modernist Typography in Graphic Design In the example above, it can be seen that these serifs take on a strong triangular shape, joined to the main stroke with a series of brackets that serves both to fill in the negative […]
• Visual Analysis of Nature in Modern Art In the age of modern arts, when both the creators and the audience is less concerned with the physical form and more with the underlying messages and feelings that art invokes, the multi-faceted topic of […]
• Modern Art: A Cultural-Aesthetic Movement The problem of defining of the term Modernism created much difficulty for artists, philosophers and writers of the 20th century. In the course of time, the aspect of realism came into consideration to change a […]
• Theory of Modern Art: Theory of Realism The proper use of art, according to this declaration, was to document “a true picture of the events” and shape the mind towards the revolutionary ideal[7].
• Modern Asian Art Exhibition in Museum Overall, modern Asian art reflects the diverse cultural and artistic traditions of the region and shows the ways in which this legacy was influenced by Western art trends.”Mandala” by Kamal Boullata is an example of […]
• Contemporary Religious Education and Liberal Arts The provision of contemporary religious education becomes a necessity and guide and ensures that more people are in a position to transform their lives.
• Contemporary Art as an Example of Social Commentary In summary, art is a vehicle for the expression of the political, religious, and social views of both the artist and the audience.
• Traditional and Contemporary Art: Paintings Rouen Cathedral The glamorous overall appearance of pop art is pleasant and engaging. I find abstract art overhyped and thought-provoking due to the lack of subject.
• Mark Bradford on Reimagine Modernist Art Instead of painting in a realistic style, abstract painters seek to capture the ethereal, unveil the unseen, and express the mysterious.
• Painting as Contemporary 21st Century Art Topic Considering different perspectives and applications in the exploration of the topic of geometric art, I intend to study the impact of geometric art in different industries.
• National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea Thankfully, modern technologies allow us to share museums’ exhibits and opportunities online and our National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art located in Korea is not an exception.
• Michael Jackson’s Glove for Museum of Contemporary Art Australia It describes the cultural importance of the piece of work and how it resonates with the institution’s wider objectives and mission statement.
• Museum of Modern Art: Reflection The Cypress tree is also a significant element in the painting as van Gogh projects it as a rising flame from the ground to the night sky.
• Ai Weiwei as a Contemporary Art Artist The meaning of human rights and the destiny of the Chinese people are of primary significance for the artist, so many of his works reflect the issues that Weiwei recognizes and wants to eliminate.
• The Concept of Modern Art Development Walter Benjamin stated in the book, The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. In the statement, Benjamin was responding to the effect of reproduction on the aura of an object.
• Contemporary Islamic Art Overview The influence of European art in the East grows in the 19th century and reaches its climax by the 20th century.
• The Coming of Modern Era and the Birth of “New Art” The most notable movements included Impressionism, then Cubism, Expressionism, Fauvism, Suprematism, Abstract art, proponents of which contributed immensely to the establishment of a new perspective on the role of art in society.
• Art and Printmaking. Contemporary Art These types of printmaking have differences relative to the nature of the surface, which creates or forms the print that is to be transferred onto a fabric or paper.
• The Formation of the Contemporary Art The painting created by Wilfredo Lam, one of the famous representatives of Modern Primitivism, represents the image of primitive way of life and depiction of early beliefs of Afro-Cubans.
• “Salt Shaker” by Stuart Davis and Modern Art The Salt Shaker is a prominent example of how most ordinary and banal items may be turned into major art pieces.
• Contemporary Moorish Interior Design As a result, the Moroccan Style interior design provides a number of possibilities to demonstrate and highlight these nuances and peculiarities that exist in different cultures.
• Modernist Art: A Feminist Perspective Clarke limited the definition of modernism even further by his restriction of it to the facets of the Paris of Manet and the Impressionists, a place of leisure, pleasure, and excesses, and it seems that […]
• Hensbergen’s “Guernica” Is a Paradigm of the Modern Art Guernica is a depiction of the airborne devastation of a Basque city by the fascists in the period of the Spanish Civil war.
• Classical and Contemporary Art as Influenced by Kate Beynon In Li Ji’s drawing, Beynon creates the image of a strong, stout and bold warrior completely in control of the mountain next to her.
• Effects of Globalization in the Contemporary Japanese Art They have in turn influenced the art of painting in Japan to develop it and push it to a global level.
• Contemporary Culture and Pop Art To understand the essence of pop Art better, the connection between the This is not a Pipe by Foucault and Plato and the Simulacrum by Deleuze and the works of pop art can be of […]
• A Work of Modern Art Analysis: “Global Death and Destruction” by Robert Arneson This, in its turn, brings about ideas of how precarious the position of man himself is in this world in contrast to the stable and imminent existence of the things created by him: war, and […]
• Animations and Modern Film Designs In the film industry, the audience has to be captivated by the proposition in the pictures. In order to catch the attention of the viewers the film has to be striking and enjoyable.
• The History of Modernism Era: The Modern Philosophy of Art Modernism is used for the description of the style and ideas of a work of art that was produced during this period or era of modernism.
• Studies in Contemporary Art and Artists The paper is claimed to review some of the most known contemporary artists, and define the particularities, that may be regarded as mnemonic traces of their arts.
• Modern Views on Aesthetics and Art Robert Solomon in his article dedicated to Kitsch, which is often viewed as a degeneration of the present-day culture, states that it also has a right to be called art.
• Modern Vision of Art: “Embankment” and “TH.2058” On the other hand, I believe that in order to create a piece of art, the author should not necessarily make all components on their own: for instance, when a talented florist creates a composition […]
• Yue Minjun’s Self-Portraits As Modern Art This paper will try to present the aesthetic as well as commercial interpretation of artist Yue Min Jun as an artist, in the eyes of a westerner but with the consideration of personal history and […]
• Modern Art: Nature, Life Man and Abstract Exhibition The theme for the exhibition is ‘Nature, Life Man and Abstract’ on how various artists have attempted to depict nature, life, man in the abstract form. Featured in this exhibit is one of the works […]
• Humanities: Modern Culture and the Arts In light of the foregoing, the essence of the paper is to zero in on the explorations of the cultural transformations in a particular society substantiating notions that culture is dynamic and is always subject […]
• Modern Art Directions Analysis The new art of the 20th century is a variety of sections and directions. The creativity of separate representatives of the avant-garde does not fit at all in the frameworks of any art currents.
• The Pregnant Form as Modern Art Form However, with the advent of Christianity and the vilification of the female form, it became necessary to hide the woman’s body, especially the ‘grotesque’ form of the pregnant woman.
• Foundations of Modern Art: Getty Museum Jacques-Louis David’s excellent masterpiece of the young lovers Telemachus and Eucharis was created at the dawn of the artist’s life when the defeat of Napoleon and the return of the monarchy in France forced him […]
• Classic & Modern Art Classifying and Appreciating The classical style of art have been those of portraits, still, life, landscape, and the genre itself were used as subjects for the different forms of artworks.
• Eco-Friendly Design in Contemporary Fashion In this case, fibers are plants that need to be treated during processing; designing and they too require the usage of herbicides, fertilizers, and other chemicals that are hazardous to the environment at large.
• Jenny Holzer as a Contemporary Artist Although she lives and works in New York, her work is known throughout the country for its biting reflections on political issues of the day, coupled with her blatant attempt to involve the average consumer […]
• Contemporary Literature. Poems and Paintings The poem and painting chosen for the analysis in this paper belong to the works of the second group, that is the picture came to existence much earlier than the poem which, in its turn, […]
• Mid-Century Modern Design However, the key focus of the style is the combination of function and a unique design that is appealing to the eye.
• Interior Architecture in Context: Subjective Well-Being in Modernist Design According to Petermans and Pohlmeyer, subjective well-being is an emerging topic of research in the field of design, although, no consensus has been reached in the scientific area as to what represents the essence of […]
• Russian Avant-Garde in History of Modern Art The Russian avant-garde is a massive wave of non-traditional, experimental, and innovative art that covers the period from the end of the 19th century to the middle of the 20th century in Russia.
• Cubism in History of Modern Art Cubism has become one of the iconic art movements of the twentieth century that had a profound effect on the development of art.
• Cultural Encounter: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art As I learned from the description of the exhibition by the SFMOMA and the video called “Julie Mehretu: Politicized Landscapes,” Mehretu painted with ink on the background of the blurred 19th-century paintings of the American […]
• Modern Art in Actions, Events, Performances The relationship between the audience and a work of art was drastically transformed from observation to involvement as for the first time the viewer was placed in the art context.
• Art Exhibition in Contemporary Society One of the key roles and benefits of the art exhibition is that it helps to advance and promote the value of different aspects of art, thus enabling artists to achieve their goals in those […]
• Art-Society Nexus in the Museum of Modern Art Whether it is in the genesis of individual works, the act of reception, or the course of the history of style, the dialectical development of art does not proceed from the antagonism between social and […]
• Paintings: Emotional Intensity of Modern Art Name: Hong Seung-Hye Title: “More Interesting than War” Year: 2008 Gallery: Kukje Hallery Exhibition: Debris Materials: Polyurethane on acrylic Method of construction and dimensions: 14 x 18 x 27 cm, 14 x 20 x […]
• Modernist Revolution in Art History Simultaneously, the works of Karl Marx challenged the assumption of the relative nature of the shortcomings of capitalist society and suggested its fundamental flaws and inherent contradictions as reasons for the current social issues.
• Australia’s Aboriginal and Modernist Visual Arts Indigenous Australian art is characterized by a lot of imagery that depicted the origin of the artist and the themes in the paintings.
• Modern Art: Painting, Sculpture, Architecture, Photography Duchamp and his work have a connection through the refusal to accept the views of the majority of artists and art lovers.
• Modernity in Traditional Islamic Building Design The bifurcation of scholarly opinions on the place of modernity in traditional Islamic building design is a testament to the complexity of the issue.
• Zhuang Huan’s “Poppy Fields” in Modern Chinese Art Zhang Huan disclosed the meaning of his art, and particularly, of this series in several interviews declaring that these “paintings represent the hallucination of happiness and the hallucination of fear and loneliness in this life […]
• Ideas in Neo-Expressionism and Contemporary Art The insights of identity can be seen in the artworks of many contemporary artists. The majority of them try to reveal their philosophical views and attract the public’s attention to those issues they consider to […]
• Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art’s Exhibitions In terms of mission, the Museum of Contemporary Art of Montreal is dedicated to revealing to the world the crucial position that the present-day art holds in the community.
• Contemporary Installation Art Changes From the 20th Century Quite the opposite, art serves as the means of rendering the alteration and the challenges that people face in the identified realms, therefore, portraying the process of the evolution of the humankind.
• The Body in Contemporary Art Finally, the art of performance includes the human body in its motion; in this role, the body is viewed from a variety of angles and perspectives and in the combination with what is happening to […]
• Greek Mosaics in Later Greek Art and Modern Art For instance, all the decorated floors were usually confined to a unique principle whereby the dining room and the anteroom were considered.
• Contemporary Female Artists in Turkey The secrecy associated with Islam and gender roles in some parts of Asia has further compounded this mystery because few people know what to make of the place of women in traditional Islamic societies and […]
• Classicism, Realism and Contemporary Art Paintings In my opinion, this difference is concerned with the fact that, whereas, many artistic works of the past can be enjoyed by just about anyone, this is far from being the case with the examples […]
• Modernity Development in Art of 18-20th Centuries In turn, romanticism and realism are aimed at showing that modernity can be viewed as the search for new topics or questions that have not been examined by the representatives of the previous cultural movements.
• Contemporary Art at Saatchi Gallery of London The work states the idea that the “location of the soul was not necessarily in the body”, and the focus is not on the man trying to breathe above the water, but on the vivid […]
• Modern Art: Condensation Cube by Hans Haacke Thus, obviously being the bright example of the modern art, Condensation Cube helps to author to introduce several questions which are interesting to him and raise the question of the relations between art and science […]
• Modern Art Works: Painting, Sculpture and Vintage Illustration The aim of this essay is to describe the painting Joy of Life by Henri Matisse, the sculpture The Kiss by Constantin Brancussi, and to present the vintage print illustration of 1930s.
• Artistic Modernism and Art Nouveau The opposition of mass production to the handmade artistic work can also be regarded as the opposition of the inhuman and soulless to the infinite and spiritual that is comprised of beauty.
• Modern Arts Development in the USA The research explores how the social status, the cultivation of esthetics, and attendance of artistic events affect the inherent attitudes of the cultural policies in the USA.
• Zhao Zhao and the Chinese Contemporary Art It is considered to portray the repression of the artist and Ai Weiwei by the authorities in China. The marks of the brush in Sky No.
• Exploration of Artwork From Modern Art History: Fauvism This painting by Henri Matisse was his first work that portrayed impressionism and also the advent of colored painting by the Fauvists.
• Contemporary Art in China However, the fruits of the struggles are worth the effort, if the current fame and reputation of China as a beacon of contemporary art is anything to go by.
• Modern Approaches to Creating of the Artwork The technological peculiarities of the installation are characterized by the fact that the author uses a projection screen and a room with four specific zones for producing of the effect of interacting with the characters […]
• Design Activism to Contemporary Designers As a result, scholars have coined the term “design activism” to enhance the role of designers to the society. The rise of many designers as a profession has been in a crossroads to decide on […]
• Authenticity in Contemporary Design One example of contemporary design that incorporates the aspect of actual handcraft is films production.”Films incorporate the aspect of nostalgic impulses, and as such it increases the film’s authenticity and production”.
• Visual and Contemporary Arts: My Bed by Emin Tracey and Nan and Brian in Bed by Nan Goldin The bed is a work of art used to identify the life situation of the artist in the wider context of the society.
• Recent Modern Art Exhibition: Projects 89 Art exhibitions are the places, which will be interesting to people of any age and any gender any time.”A natural effect of the Museum exhibition will be to lead the public to enquire why it […]
• Post-Colonial and Contemporary British Muslim Artists The art presented by these Muslims bears the attitude portrayed by the British society towards them and the Islamic religion as a whole and the artists’ own views on Islam.
• Role of Modern Art Museum From the above we can say that the modern art museum acts as memory banks for all events and objects in the society which is of great utility to the members of a given social […]
• Contemporary Graffiti as Political Art Banksy’s graffiti art work is still considered as one of the best way of protesting against the government in order to remove the CCTV cameras from the cities or to use those cameras in proper […]
• Modern Art: From Impressionism to Contemporary This color unifies the parasol and the grass on the hill, creating a flow of the eyes from one point to the bottom.
• Music as a Contemporary Art Creativity involves manipulating words to appeal to the audience and for the audience to be able to relate to the music easily.
• Jeff Koons’ Contemporary Artwork The common artwork of the artist include the inflatable balloons toys and the pink panther, beside the life-size ceramic model of the late pop star Michael Jackson holding his favourite pet, chimpanzee babbles as shown […]
• Modern Philosophers: Martin Luther, Erasmus, Leonardo Davinci and Thomas Biley A fiery critic of the Papacy doctrines, Martin Luther believed that any good choice made by man has to be founded on God’s principles and not from institutions like Roman Catholic Church, which was based […]
• Postmodern and Modern Art: Essays by Claes Oldenburg and by Ad Rheinhardt Harrison and Wood observe that “The history of art is that of a long series of attacks upon social and aesthetic values held to be moribund, although the avant-garde position is frequently nostalgic and absolute”.[1] […]
• The Contemporary Artists and Their Contributions Since childhood, she admired the work of Mexican and Southwest artists and this drove her to apply their employment of warm colors in her individual paintings.
• Modern and Postmodern Art: The Book Theories of Modern Art Naum Gabo in his essay on neoplasticism and constructivism published in the book Theories of modern art tries to analyze the changes that have taken in the art world in modern years.
• “Theory in Contemporary Art Since 1985” Summary The article has laid out that the persona’s decision to stick to his race would take a two fold interpretation in which some of the whites who are closely tied to him and his work […]
• Contemporary Design Issues in Film Industry It is used in the film with an objective of closely aligning the audience with a serial killer. They both do this by providing the resolution expected by the audience at the end of a […]
• Exhibitions of Contemporary Arts in Three Different Museums This discussion looks at the exhibitions of contemporary arts in three different museums namely Armand Hammer Museum of Art and Culture, Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
• Theory of Modern Art Institutions His proposals fit into a continuum of detachment from the real and the concrete that has been evident in the art and the writing on art in the 20th century.
• The Museum of Contemporary Art Each exhibition at MOCA is a unique opportunity for people to enjoy the beauty of the world they live in and to see how the professionals recognize the main aspects of the modern world.
• Contemporary Art: New Ways of Seeing
• The Relationships Between Feminism and the Contemporary Art
• Contemporary Art: Work Comparison of Beth Lipman and Josiah McElheny
• Link Between Global Markets and Contemporary Art
• How Contemporary Art Owes the Renaissance
• Malaysia Contemporary Art Issues: Art as Idea-A View From Jalaini Abu Hassan
• How Contemporary Art Redefined the Meaning of Art Media
• Parallels Between Photography and New Media Concerning Contemporary Art Forms
• How the Dada Artists Challenged the Contemporary Art
• Consumer Desires and Value Perceptions Regarding Contemporary Art Collection and Exhibit Visits
• How Mobile Phones and Internet Changed Contemporary Art
• The Relationships Between Postmodernism and Contemporary Art
• Pricing Color Intensity and Lightness in Contemporary Art Auctions
• Correlation Between Radio and Contemporary Art
• Overview of Russian Modern and Contemporary Art
• Perspectives of Healing Children Through Contemporary Art
• Selling Out: The Financialization of Contemporary Art
• Site-Specific Installation Artworks Promote Appreciation of Contemporary Art
• Transcending Time and Place: Baroque and Contemporary Art
• Why People Don’t Understand Contemporary Art
• Andy Warhol and His Work on the Contemporary Art
• Building Consumer-Arts Institution Relationships: Exploratory Study in Contemporary Art Museums
• Linking Chinese Contemporary Art and Social Change
• Commercial Contemporary Art Market Overview and Analysis
• Contemporary Art and Art Theory of Africa and Asia
• Gabriel Orozco’s Impact on Contemporary Art
• Contemporary Art and Its Influence on Contemporary Culture
• The Relations Between Contemporary Art and Political Views
• Contemporary Art and the Plight of Its Public
• Overview of Contemporary Art From the Middle East
• Contemporary Art and the Search for History
• Creative Drawing and Contemporary Art and Design
• Contemporary Art Issues: Digital Art in Malaysia
• Cultural and Contemporary Art: The Nocturne Festival
• Contemporary Art Issues: Malay’s Identity in Lat’s Cartoon
• Don Thompson: The $12 Million Stuffed Shark: Curious Economics of Contemporary Art
• Contemporary Art: Role of Marina Abramovic
• Empathic Vision: Affect, Trauma, and Contemporary Art
• Contemporary Art Music Within the Music World
• Exploring Contemporary Art: Franz West Chameleon 2004
• What Inspires You in Contemporary Art?
• Which Contemporary Art Museums Do You Visit?
• What Is Andy Warhol’s Contribution to Contemporary Art?
• What Is the Commercial Side of Contemporary Art?
• What Artistic Practices Are Used in Contemporary Art?
• What Is the Influence of Contemporary Art on Modern Culture?
• Does Contemporary Art Reflect Political Views?
• What Is the Role of Contemporary Art in Society?
• What Is the History of Contemporary Art?
• Can Digital Art in Malaysia Be Called Contemporary?
• What Are the Currents of Contemporary Art?
• Contemporary Art: What Are the New Ways of Seeing?
• Why People Don’t Understand Contemporary Art?
• What Does Modern Art Owe to the Renaissance?
• What Is the Main Purpose of Contemporary Art?
• How Has Contemporary Art Rethought the Meaning of Art Media?
• How Did the Dada Artists Challenge the Contemporary Art?
• How Have Mobile Phones and Internet Changed Contemporary Art?
• Why the Feminist Movement Is Important for Contemporary Art?
• Is Modern Architecture a Contemporary Art?
• How Affordable Is It for Consumers to Visit Contemporary Art Exhibitions?
• What Is the Main Difference Between Contemporary Art and Postmodernism?
• How Is Pricing at Contemporary Art Auctions Formed?
• How Does Globalization Affect Contemporary Art?
• How Is Contemporary Art Used to Heal Children?
• Who Is the Creator of Contemporary Art?
• How Popular Are Installations in Contemporary Art?
• Which Representatives of Contemporary Art Do You Know?
• Can Body Art Be Called Contemporary Art?
• How Did the Attitude Towards Contemporary Art Change According to the Era?
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2024, March 2). 179 Contemporary Art Essay Topic Ideas & Examples. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/contemporary-art-essay-topics/

"179 Contemporary Art Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." IvyPanda , 2 Mar. 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/topic/contemporary-art-essay-topics/.

IvyPanda . (2024) '179 Contemporary Art Essay Topic Ideas & Examples'. 2 March.

IvyPanda . 2024. "179 Contemporary Art Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." March 2, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/contemporary-art-essay-topics/.

1. IvyPanda . "179 Contemporary Art Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." March 2, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/contemporary-art-essay-topics/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "179 Contemporary Art Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." March 2, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/contemporary-art-essay-topics/.

• Impressionism Research Ideas
• Hollywood Questions
• Music Topics
• Popular Music Paper Topics
• Virtualization Essay Titles
• Pop Art Titles
• Feminism Questions
• Postmodernism Essay Topics

Presentations made painless

• Get Premium

129 Contemporary Art Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Contemporary art is a dynamic and ever-evolving field that encompasses a wide range of mediums, styles, and themes. When it comes to writing an essay on contemporary art, the possibilities are endless. However, with so many options to choose from, it can be overwhelming to select a topic that is both interesting and thought-provoking. To help you get started, we have compiled a list of 129 contemporary art essay topic ideas and examples. Whether you are interested in exploring the political implications of art or delving into the aesthetics of a specific artist, this list is sure to inspire your next essay.

The Role of Contemporary Art in Society

Art as a Form of Activism: Examples and Impact

The Intersection of Politics and Art in the 21st Century

The Influence of Technology on Contemporary Art

The Evolution of Street Art: From Graffiti to Galleries

Cultural Appropriation in Contemporary Art

The Power of Visual Storytelling in Art

The Role of Gender in Contemporary Art

Art and Identity: Exploring the Self in Contemporary Works

The Blurring of Boundaries: Traditional vs. Contemporary Art

The Impact of Globalization on Contemporary Art

Art and Sustainability: Examining Environmental Concerns

The Role of Museums in Shaping Contemporary Art

The Rise of Performance Art: Examples and Analysis

The Influence of Pop Culture on Contemporary Art

Art and Social Media: The Digital Age of Creation

Contemporary Art and the Fashion Industry: Collaborations and Critiques

Art and Mental Health: Expressing Emotions through Creativity

The Concept of Beauty in Contemporary Art

The Evolution of Abstract Art: From Kandinsky to Pollock

Art and Censorship: Exploring Boundaries and Freedom of Expression

The Impact of Colonialism on Contemporary Art

Art and War: Confronting Violence through Visuals

Art and the Human Body: Representation and Identity

The Role of Curators in Shaping Contemporary Art

The Influence of Science and Technology on Artistic Practices

Art and Religion: Expressions of Faith in Contemporary Works

Art and Capitalism: The Commodity of Creativity

The Representation of Race in Contemporary Art

Art and Memory: Exploring Personal and Collective Histories

The Role of Photography in Contemporary Art

Art and Education: The Power of Visual Literacy

The Influence of Surrealism on Contemporary Art

The Impact of the AIDS Crisis on Artistic Practices

Art and Nature: Exploring the Relationship between Humans and the Environment

The Role of Public Art in Urban Spaces

The Influence of Indigenous Cultures on Contemporary Art

Art and Globalization: Crossing Borders and Breaking Barriers

The Representation of Women in Contemporary Art

Art and Architecture: The Intersection of Design and Creativity

The Role of Sound in Contemporary Art

Art and Activism: Creating Change through Visuals

The Influence of Postmodernism on Contemporary Art

The Representation of Sexuality in Contemporary Art

Art and Advertising: The Impact of Consumerism on Creativity

The Role of Collaboration in Contemporary Art

Art and Technology: Exploring the Digital Frontier

The Influence of African Art on Contemporary Practices

Art and the Environment: Addressing Climate Change through Creativity

The Representation of LGBTQ+ Identities in Contemporary Art

The Influence of Asian Art on Contemporary Practices

Art and Colonialism: Reclaiming Narratives through Visuals

The Role of Installation Art in Contemporary Exhibitions

Art and Activism: The Legacy of the Guerrilla Girls

The Influence of Latin American Art on Global Contemporary Practices

Art and the Body: Exploring the Boundaries of Physicality

The Role of Social Media in the Promotion and Consumption of Contemporary Art

Art and Mental Health: Healing through Creativity

The Influence of Indigenous Art on Contemporary Practices

Art and Technology: The Emergence of Virtual and Augmented Realities

The Representation of Disability in Contemporary Art

Art and War: Documenting Conflict through Visuals

The Influence of Middle Eastern Art on Global Contemporary Practices

Art and Migration: Narratives of Identity and Belonging

The Role of Performance Art in Political Activism

Art and Globalization: The Impact of Cultural Exchange

The Influence of Southeast Asian Art on Global Contemporary Practices

Art and the Digital Age: Exploring New Avenues of Creation

The Representation of Indigenous Peoples in Contemporary Art

Art and Social Justice: Addressing Inequality through Creativity

The Influence of African-American Art on Global Contemporary Practices

Art and Urban Renewal: Transforming Cities through Creativity

The Role of Street Art in Political Resistance

Art and Globalization: The Commodification of Culture

The Influence of Australian Aboriginal Art on Global Contemporary Practices

Art and Environmental Activism: Awareness through Creativity

The Representation of Colonial Legacies in Contemporary Art

Art and Cultural Exchange: Celebrating Diversity through Creativity

The Influence of Asian-American Art on Global Contemporary Practices

Art and Public Spaces: The Impact of Site-Specific Installations

The Role of Contemporary Art in Preserving Indigenous Cultures

Art and Intersectionality: Exploring Multiple Identities through Creativity

The Influence of Latinx Art on Global Contemporary Practices

Art and Virtual Reality: Expanding the Boundaries of Perception

The Representation of Gender Fluidity in Contemporary Art

Art and Community Engagement: Creating Connections through Creativity

The Influence of Native American Art on Global Contemporary Practices

Art and Cultural Heritage: Preserving Traditions through Creativity

The Role of Contemporary Art in Confronting Colonial Histories

Art and Artificial Intelligence: The Fusion of Creativity and Technology

The Representation of Body Positivity in Contemporary Art

Art and Social Change: Inspiring Action through Creativity

The Influence of Caribbean Art on Global Contemporary Practices

Art and Sustainability: Promoting Environmental Consciousness through Creativity

The Role of Contemporary Art in Indigenous Rights Movements

Art and the Anthropocene: Addressing the Human Impact on the Environment

The Representation of Mental Health in Contemporary Art

Art and Community Development: Transforming Neighborhoods through Creativity

The Influence of Pacific Islander Art on Global Contemporary Practices

Art and Cultural Diplomacy: Fostering Understanding through Creativity

The Role of Contemporary Art in Redefining National Identity

Art and Technological Advancements: Innovations in Creative Practices

The Representation of Body Modification in Contemporary Art

Art and Social Entrepreneurship: Creating Change through Creative Ventures

The Influence of European Art on Global Contemporary Practices

Art and Aging: Exploring the Beauty and Wisdom of Seniors

The Role of Contemporary Art in Addressing Climate Crisis

Art and Transhumanism: Exploring the Boundaries of Human Enhancement

The Representation of Mental Illness in Contemporary Art

Art and Community Engagement: Empowering Marginalized Voices through Creativity

The Influence of East Asian Art on Global Contemporary Practices

Art and Posthumanism: Reimagining the Future through Creativity

The Role of Contemporary Art in Raising Awareness about Indigenous Rights

Art and Bioart: The Intersection of Biology and Creativity

The Representation of Body Dysmorphia in Contemporary Art

Art and Social Impact: Creating Change through Collaborative Projects

The Influence of South Asian Art on Global Contemporary Practices

Art and Cybernetics: Exploring the Relationship between Humans and Machines

The Role of Contemporary Art in Promoting Gender Equality

Art and Neurodiversity: Expressing Different Perspectives through Creativity

The Representation of Addiction in Contemporary Art

Art and Community Healing: Transforming Trauma through Creativity

The Influence of Indigenous Australian Art on Global Contemporary Practices

Art and Postcolonialism: Decolonizing Narratives through Creativity

The Role of Contemporary Art in Advocating for LGBTQ+ Rights

Art and Robotics: Exploring the Intersection of Technology and Creativity

The Representation of Body Image in Contemporary Art

Art and Mental Well-being: Promoting Self-care through Creativity

The Influence of African Diaspora Art on Global Contemporary Practices

These 129 contemporary art essay topic ideas and examples provide a diverse range of subjects to explore in your next essay. Whether you are interested in examining the social and political implications of art or exploring the aesthetics and techniques of a specific artist, there is something for everyone on this list. Remember to choose a topic that resonates with your own interests and passions, as this will make the writing process more enjoyable and engaging. Happy writing!

Want to create a presentation now?

Instantly Create A Deck

Let PitchGrade do this for me

Hassle Free

We will create your text and designs for you. Sit back and relax while we do the work.

Explore More Content

• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Service

© 2023 Pitchgrade

Art Essay Examples

Art Essay Examples to Get You Inspired - Top 10 Samples

Published on: May 4, 2023

Last updated on: Jan 30, 2024

Share this article

Are you struggling to come up with ideas for your art essay? Or are you looking for examples to help guide you in the right direction? 

Look no further, as we have got you covered!

In this blog, we provide a range of art writing examples that cover different art forms, time periods, and themes. Whether you're interested in the classics or contemporary art, we have something for everyone. These examples offer insight into how to structure your essay, analyze art pieces, and write compelling arguments.

So, let's explore our collection of art essay examples and take the first step toward becoming a better art writer!

On This Page On This Page -->

Good Art Essay Examples

In the following section, we will examine a selection of art essay examples that are inspiring for various academic levels.

College Art Essay Examples

Let’s take a look at college art essay examples below:  

The Intersection of Art and Politics: An Analysis of Picasso's Guernica

The Role of Nature in American Art: A Comparative Study

University Art Essay Examples

University-level art essay assignments often differ in length and complexity. Here are two examples:

Gender and Identity in Contemporary Art: A Comparative Study

Art and Activism: The Role of Street Art in Political Movements

A Level Art Essay Examples

Below are some art paper examples A level. Check out: 

The Use Of Color In Wassily Kandinsky's Composition Viii

The Influence of African Art on Pablo Picasso's Les Demoiselles D'avignon

A Level Fine Art Essay Examples

If you're a student of fine arts, these A-level fine arts examples can serve as inspiration for your own work.

The Use Of Texture In Vincent Van Gogh's Starry Night

Exploring Identity Through Portraiture: A Comparative Study

Art Essay Examples IELTS 

The Impact of Art on Mental Health

The Effects of Technology on Art And Creativity

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That's our Job!

AP Art Essay Examples

A Comparison of Neoclassical and Romantic Art

An Examination Of The Effects Of Globalization On Contemporary Art

Types of Art Essay with Examples

Art essays can be categorized into different types. Let's take a brief look at these types with examples:

Art Criticism Essay : A critical essay analyzing and evaluating an artwork, its elements, and its meaning.

The Persistence of Memory" by Salvador Dali: A Critical Analysis

Art History Essay: A comprehensive essay that examines the historical context, development, and significance of an artwork or art movement.

The Renaissance: A Rebirth of Artistic Expression

Exhibition Review: A review of an art exhibition that evaluates the quality and significance of the artwork on display.

A Review of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Exhibition

Contemporary Art Essay: An essay that explores and analyzes contemporary art and its cultural and social context.

The Intersection of Technology and Art in Contemporary Society

Modern Art Essay: An essay that examines modern art and its significance in the development of modernism.

Cubism and its Influence on Modern Art [insert pdf]

Art Theory Essay: An essay that analyzes and critiques various theories and approaches to art.

Feminist Art Theory: A Critical Analysis of its Impact on Contemporary Art [insert pdf]

Additional Art Essay Example

Let’s take a brief look at some added art essay samples:

Artwork Essay Example

Artist Essay Example

Advanced Higher Art Essay Example

Common Art Essay Prompts

Here are some common art essay topics that you may encounter during your coursework:

• Describe a piece of artwork that has inspired you.
• A comparative analysis of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa and Michelangelo's David.
• Analyze the cultural significance of a particular art movement.
• Discuss the relationship between art and politics.
• Compare and contrast two works of art from different time periods or cultures.
• The representation of identity in art
• The Evolution of Artists' Paintings:
• From Traditional to Contemporary Art
• The representation of identity in Frida Kahlo's self-portraits.
• The significance of oil on canvas in the history of art.
• The significance of the Mona Lisa in the Italian Renaissance

Art Essay Topics IELTS

Here are some art essay topics for IELTS students. Take a look: 

• The value of art education.
• The role of museums in preserving art and culture.
• The impact of globalization on contemporary art.
• The influence of technology on art and artists.
• The significance of public art in urban environments.

Tips For Writing a Successful Art Essay

Here are some tips for writing a stand-out art essay:

• Develop a clear thesis statement that guides your essay: Your thesis statement should clearly and concisely state the main argument of your essay.
• Conduct thorough research and analysis of the artwork you are writing about : This includes examining the visual elements of the artwork, researching the artist, and considering the historical significance.
• Use formal and precise language to discuss the artwork: Avoid using colloquial language and instead focus on using formal language to describe the artwork.
• Include specific examples from the artwork to support your arguments: Use specific details from the artwork to back up your analysis.
• Avoid personal bias and subjective language: Your essay should be objective and avoid using personal opinions or subjective language.
• Consider the historical and cultural context of the artwork: Analyze the artwork in the context of the time period and cultural context in which they were created.
• Edit and proofread your essay carefully before submitting it: Ensure your essay is well-organized, coherent, and free of grammatical errors and typos.
• Use proper citation format when referencing sources: Follow the appropriate citation style guidelines and give credit to all sources used in your essay.
• Be concise and focused in your writing: Stick to your main thesis statement and avoid going off-topic or including irrelevant information.
• Read your essay aloud to ensure clarity and coherence: Reading your essay out loud can help you identify inconsistencies or any other mistakes.

The Bottom Line!

We hope that the art essay examples we've explored have provided you with inspiration for your own essay. Art offers endless possibilities for analysis, and your essay is a chance to showcase your unique opinions.

Use these examples as a guide to craft an essay that reflects your personality while demonstrating your knowledge of the subject.

Short on time? Let CollegeEssay.org help you! All you have to do is to ask our experts, " write college essay for me " and they'll help you secure top grades in college.

Don't wait, reach out to our art essay writing service.

Take the first step towards excellence in your art studies with our AI essay writer !

Cathy A. (Literature)

For more than five years now, Cathy has been one of our most hardworking authors on the platform. With a Masters degree in mass communication, she knows the ins and outs of professional writing. Clients often leave her glowing reviews for being an amazing writer who takes her work very seriously.

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That’s our Job!

Legal & Policies

• Privacy Policy
• Cookies Policy
• Terms of Use
• Refunds & Cancellations
• Our Writers
• Success Stories
• Our Guarantees
• Affiliate Program
• Referral Program
• AI Essay Writer

Disclaimer: All client orders are completed by our team of highly qualified human writers. The essays and papers provided by us are not to be used for submission but rather as learning models only.

Summary of Modern Art

Modern art represents an evolving set of ideas among a number of painters, sculptors, photographers , performers, and writers who - both individually and collectively - sought new approaches to art making. Although modern art began, in retrospect, around 1850 with the arrival of Realism , approaches and styles of art were defined and redefined throughout the 20 th century. Practitioners of each new style were determined to develop a visual language that was both original and representative of the times.

Overview of Modern Art

The rapid growth of industry and the progress of technology propelled artists to represent the world in new and innovative ways. The result was an art that took on new colors, alternative forms, emotional expressions, and experiments in abstraction.

The Important Artists and Works of Modern Art

Impression, Sunrise

Artist: Claude Monet

In this seminal work of modern art, Monet's loose handling of paint and his focus on light and atmosphere within the landscape scene are all key characteristics of Impressionism, which is widely considered the first fully modern movement. Monet's use of abstraction evokes what the artist sensed or experienced while painting the scene, which was a highly unusual approach for a painter to adopt at the time. The title of the work, Impression, Sunrise not only provided critics with the name that the movement would later receive, but also conveys the transitory, fleeting and subjective nature of the painting. It is Monet's visual impression of what he observed during that sunrise.

Oil on canvas - Musée Marmottan Monet

The Large Bathers

Artist: Paul Cézanne

The Large Bathers is one of the finest examples of Cézanne's exploration of the theme of the modern, heroic nude within a natural setting. The series of nudes are arranged into a variety of positions, like objects in a still life, under the pointed arch formed by the intersection of trees and the sky. Cézanne was attempting a departure from the Impressionist motifs of light and natural effect and instead composed this scene as a series of carefully constructed figures, as if creating sculpture with his paintbrush. He was more concerned with the way the forms occupied space than with recording his visual observations. This destruction of regular illusionism and the radical foray into increased abstraction is considered an important precursor to Cubism.

Oil on canvas - The Philadelphia Museum of Art

Les Demoiselles d'Avignon

Artist: Pablo Picasso

For Les Demoiselles d'Avignon , Picasso gathered inspiration from a variety of sources, including African tribal art, Expressionism, and the Post-Impressionist paintings of Paul Cézanne. Assimilating these seemingly disparate sources in one piece was a new approach to art making and conveys just how much artists' perspectives expanded with the rise of modernism. The painting originally raised significant controversy for its depiction of a brothel scene and for the jagged, protruding, and abstract forms used to depict the women. It is also widely considered the artwork that launched the Cubism movement. The multiplicity of styles incorporated within this work - from Iberian sculpture referenced in the women's' bodies to the sculptural deconstruction of space derived from Cézanne - not only represent a clear turning point in Picasso's career, but make the painting an incredibly distinct achievement of the modern era.

Oil on canvas - The Museum of Modern Art, New York City

Artist: Marcel Duchamp

Duchamp's invention of the readymade - a manufactured, found object divorced from its utilitarian purpose and presented in a new way as art - helped redefine what constituted a work of art within the modern era. Henceforth, a unique work of art no longer required the act of creation by the artist or visual evidence of the artist's hand in its production, the artist merely needed to designate the work as art for it to be considered as such. Duchamp's Fountain is a mass-produced porcelain urinal, turned on its back and inscribed with the name R. Mutt, a combination of a plumbing company name and a comic. By using an everyday, prefabricated object Duchamp forced the viewer to reconsider the definition of art and who makes that definition. This work in particular, and other readymades, were major influences on the later movements of Pop art, which focused on combining low and high art, and Conceptualism, wherein the idea behind the artwork is as important as the final object.

Porcelain - The Philadelphia Museum of Art

The Persistence of Memory

Artist: Salvador Dalí

This iconic Surrealist painting naturalistically depicts an otherworldly landscape where time is a series of melting watches surrounded by swarming ants that hint at decay, an organic process which held great fascination for Dalí. He sought to portray "images of concrete irrationality," bringing haunting dreamscapes, like this allegorically empty space where time has no power, out of the subconscious mind and onto the canvas. Dalí's celebrated and vivid imagination, his fascination with dream imagery and metaphor, and his exploration into the human subconscious all follow the key characteristics of the Surrealism movement in the early-20 th century.

Autumn Rhythm (Number 30)

Artist: Jackson Pollock

Through the development of his "drip" style of painting, and thedelicate dance executed in the process of creating the work, Jackson Pollock helped define the idea of Action Painting. With these paintings, Pollock - one of the most famous Abstract Expressionists - discovered a new abstract, visual language for his unconscious that moved beyond the Freudian symbolism of the Surrealists. He broke up the rigid, shallow space of Cubist pictures, replacing it with a dense web of lines and forms, like an unfathomable galaxy of stars. In some respects this work evokes both Impressionism and Surrealism, in the loose, gestural application of the paint and the unconscious nature of the expression laid down on the canvas.

Enamel on canvas - The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City

Artist: Jasper Johns

Flag , Johns' first major work, broke away from the emotionally driven style of the Abstract Expressionists by portraying a recognizable, everyday object, which according to Johns is "seen but not looked at." Although the work is representational, the painting is also abstract in its many textures, layers, and materials, including strips of newspaper painted over with encaustic, and the tactile brush strokes that create a painterly, expressive surface. Johns turns a flag, a three-dimensional object, into a two-dimensional painting. This practice of appropriating familiar objects recalled the practices of the earlier Dadaists, particularly Marcel Duchamp, who revolutionized modern art with the readymade. Johns' approach with his Flag paintings renewed interest in Dada and was as an important precursor to Pop art particularly through his use of everyday, mass-produced objects.

Encaustic, oil, and collage on fabric mounted on plywood, three panels - The Museum of Modern Art, New York City

Marilyn Diptych

Artist: Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol completed this work (the first of many devoted to Marilyn Monroe) shortly after the actress's untimely death in August 1962. The image of Monroe, which Warhol recycled and used for all his Marilyn silkscreen paintings, was taken from a publicity shot originally used for the film Niagara . Not dissimilar from Warhol's motifs of Campbell's soup cans or Brillo boxes, the artist stacks and repeats the same image of Monroe here as if she were a consumer product in a grocery store. By juxtaposing the bright colors with monochrome in the diptych, Warhol alludes to her mortality. Though Warhol was a great admirer of the actress, he acknowledged in this and similar works that celebrity was itself a consumer product. Marilyn Diptych is designed as both a tribute to the late icon and a harsh commentary on how we had come to treat these pop cultural icons in the modern era.

Silkscreen ink on synthetic polymer paint on canvas - The Museum of Modern Art, New York City

One Ton Prop (House of Cards)

Artist: Richard Serra

One Ton Prop presages Serra's mature works, where gravity, weight, counterforce, sinuous movement, and other physical and visual properties are embodied by steel. This sculpture, consisting of four rolled sheets of lead propped on each other, is less a visual exercise for the viewer and more of an intellectual one, obliging one to contemplate the physical properties that allow the piece to remain upright rather than collapse. The unprecedented complexity of such a work is fairly typical of post-minimal sculpture, which relied upon a variety of visual sources and theories for inspiration. While One Ton Prop embodies certain principles of Minimalism, Conceptualism, and even Dada, it is generally referred to as Process art because the process of its construction is inherent and apparent in the final work. The multiplicity of sources and possible styles is typical of the pluralist contemporary world, and the contemporary art that goes with it.

Lead antimony, four plates - The Museum of Modern Art, New York City

Definition of Modern Art

Modern art is the creative world's response to the rationalist practices and perspectives of the new lives and ideas provided by the technological advances of the industrial age that caused contemporary society to manifest itself in new ways compared to the past. Artists worked to represent their experience of the newness of modern life in appropriately innovative ways. Although modern art as a term applies to a vast number of artistic genres spanning more than a century, aesthetically speaking, modern art is characterized by the artist's intent to portray a subject as it exists in the world, according to his or her unique perspective and is typified by a rejection of accepted or traditional styles and values.

The Beginnings of Modern Art

Classical and early modern art.

The centuries that preceded the modern era witnessed numerous advancements in the visual arts, from the humanist inquiries of the Renaissance and Baroque periods to the elaborate fantasies of the Rococo style and the ideal physical beauty of 18 th -century European Neoclassicism . However, one prevalent characteristic throughout these early modern eras was an idealization of subject matter, whether human, natural, or situational. Artists typically painted not what they perceived with subjective eyes but rather what they envisioned as the epitome of their subject.

Age of Modernism and Art

The modern era arrived with the dawn of the industrial revolution in Western Europe in the mid-19 th century, one of the most crucial turning points in world history. With the invention and wide availability of such technologies as the internal combustion engine, large machine-powered factories, and electrical power generation in urban areas, the pace and quality of everyday life changed drastically. Many people migrated from the rural farms to the city centers to find work, shifting the center of life from the family and village in the country to the expanding urban metropolises. With these developments, painters were drawn to these new visual landscapes, now bustling with all variety of modern spectacles and fashions.

A major technological development closely-related to the visual arts was photography. Photographic technology rapidly advanced, and within a few decades a photograph could reproduce any scene with perfect accuracy. As the technology developed, photography became increasingly accessible to the general public. The photograph conceptually posed a serious threat to classical artistic modes of representing a subject, as neither sculpture nor painting could capture the same degree of detail as photography. As a result of photography's precision, artists were obliged to find new modes of expression, which led to new paradigms in art.

The Artist's Perspective and Modern Art

In the early decades of the 19 th century, a number of European painters began to experiment with the simple act of observation. Artists from across the continent, including portraitists and genre painters such as Gustave Courbet and Henri Fantin-Latour , created works that aimed to portray people and situations objectively, imperfections and all, rather than creating an idealized rendition of the subject. This radical approach to art would come to comprise the broad school of art known as Realism .

Also early in the 19 th century, the Romantics began to present the landscape not necessarily as it objectively existed, but rather as they saw and felt it. The landscapes painted by Caspar David Friedrich and J.M.W. Turner are dramatic representations that capture the feeling of the sublime that struck the artist upon viewing that particular scene in nature. This representation of a feeling in conjunction with a place was a crucial step for creating the modern artist's innovative and unique perspective.

Early Abstraction and Modern Art

Similarly, while some artists focused on objective representation, others shifted their artistic focus to emphasize the visual sensation of their observed subjects rather than an accurate and naturalistic depiction of them. This practice represents the beginnings of abstraction in the visual arts. Two key examples of this are James McNeill Whistler's Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket (1874) and Claude Monet 's Boulevard des Capucines (1873). In the former, the artist couples large splatters and small flecks of paint to create a portrait of a night sky illuminated by fireworks that was more atmospheric than representational. In the latter, Monet provides an aerial view of bustling modern Parisian life. In portraying this scene, Monet rendered the pedestrians and cityscape as an "impression," or in other words, a visual representation of a fleeting, subjective, and slightly abstracted, perspective.

Modern Art Themes and Concepts

Modern artists.

The history of modern art is the history of the top artists and their achievements. Modern artists have strived to express their views of the world around them using visual mediums. While some have connected their work to preceding movements or ideas, the general goal of each artist in the modern era was to advance their practice to a position of pure originality. Certain artists established themselves as independent thinkers, venturing beyond what constituted acceptable forms of "high art" at the time which were endorsed by traditional state-run academies and the upper-class patrons of the visual arts. These innovators depicted subject matter that many considered lewd, controversial, or even downright ugly.

The first modern artist to essentially stand on his own in this regard was Gustave Courbet , who in the mid-19 th century sought to develop his own distinct style. This was achieved in large part with his painting from 1849-1850, Burial at Ornans , which scandalized the French art world by portraying the funeral of a common man from a peasant village. The Academy bristled at the depiction of dirty farm workers around an open grave, as only classical myths or historical scenes were fitting subject matter for such a large painting. Initially, Courbet was ostracized for his work, but he eventually proved to be highly influential to subsequent generations of modern artists. This general pattern of rejection and later influence has been repeated by hundreds of artists in the modern era.

Modern Art Movements

The discipline of art history tends to classify individuals into units of like-minded and historically connected artists designated as the different movements and "schools." This simple approach of establishing categories is particularly apt as it applies to centralized movements with a singular objective, such as Impressionism , Futurism , and Surrealism . For example, when Claude Monet exhibited his painting Impression, Sunrise (1872) as part of a group exhibition in 1874, the painting and the exhibition as a whole were poorly received. However, Monet and his fellow artists were ultimately motivated and united by the criticism. The Impressionists thus set a precedent for future independently minded artists who sought to group together based on a singular objective and aesthetic approach.

This practice of grouping artists into movements is not always completely accurate or appropriate, as many movements or schools consist of widely diverse artists and modes of artistic representation. For example, Vincent van Gogh , Paul Gauguin , Georges Seurat and Paul Cézanne are considered the principal artists of Post-Impressionism , a movement named so because of the artists' deviations from Impressionist motifs as well as their chronological place in history. Unlike their predecessors, however, the Post-Impressionists did not represent a cohesive movement of artists who united under a single ideological banner. Furthermore, the case can be made that some artists do not fit into any particular movement or category. Key examples include the likes of Auguste Rodin , Amadeo Modigliani , and Marc Chagall . Despite these complications, the imperfect designation of movements allows the vast history of modern art to be broken down into smaller segments separated by contextual factors that aid in examining the individual artists and works.

The Avant-Garde and The Progression of Modern Art

The avant-garde is a term that derives from the French "vanguard," the lead division going into battle, literally advance guard, and its designation within modern art is very much like its military namesake. Generally speaking, most of the successful and creative modern artists were avante-gardes. Their objective in the modern era was to advance the practices and ideas of art, and to continually challenge what constituted acceptable artistic form in order to most accurately convey the artist's experience of modern life. Modern artists continually examined the past and revalued it in relation to the modern.

Modern, Contemporary, and Postmodern Art

Generally speaking, contemporary art is defined as any form of art in any medium that is produced in the present day. However, within the art world the term designates art that was made during and after the post-Pop art era of the 1960s. The dawn of Conceptualism in the late 1960s marks the turning point when modern art gave way to contemporary art. Contemporary art is a broad chronological delineation that encompasses a vast array of movements like Earth art , Performance art , Neo-Expressionism , and Digital art . It is not a clearly designated period or style, but instead marks the end of the periodization of modernism.

Postmodernism is the reaction to or a resistance against the projects of modernism, and began with the rupture in representation that occurred during the late 1960s. Modernism became the new tradition found in all the institutions against which it initially rebelled. Postmodern artists sought to exceed the limits set by modernism, deconstructing modernism's grand narrative in order to explore cultural codes, politics, and social ideology within their immediate context. It is this theoretical engagement with the ideologies of the surrounding world that differentiates postmodern art from modern art, as well as designates it as a unique facet within contemporary art. Features often associated with postmodern art are the use of new media and technology, like video, as well as the technique of bricolage and collage , the collision of art and kitsch, and the appropriation of earlier styles within a new context. Some movements commonly cited as Postmodern are: Conceptual art , Feminist art , Installation art and Performance art .

Useful Resources on Modern Art

• Modern Art Movements All major modern art movements, as well as a number of related styles and tendencies
• Modern Art Artists Comprehensive guide to the most important modern and contemporary artists
• The Progression of Modern Art This timeline displays the major trends and movements in modern art
• Top Modern Art Works This timeline is a guide to the 50 most important and groundbreaking works of art from the modern era
• The Shock of the New By Robert Hughes
• Art Since 1900 Our Pick By Hal Foster, Rosalind Krauss, Yve-Alain Bois, Benjamin Buchloh
• Theories of Modern Art: A Source Book by Artists and Critics By Herschel B. Chipp, Peter Selz, Joshua C. Taylor
• Art in Theory, 1900-2000: An Anthology of Changing Ideas Our Pick By Charles Harrison and Dr. Paul J. Wood, eds.
• Defining Modern Art: Selected Writings of Alfred H. Barr, Jr. By Alfred Hamilton Barr, Irving Sandler, Amy Newman
• The Tradition of the New By Harold Rosenberg
• The Theory of the Avant-Garde By Renato Poggioli, Gerald Fitzgerald
• The Meanings of Modern Art By John Russell
• Museum of Modern Art's Library and Archives MoMA's physical and online archives provide among the world's most comprehensive surveys of modern and contemporary art
• The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Collection The SFMoMA collection features 30,000 works, with interactive educational resources for special topics in modern art
• Modern Art Notes Modern art and Contemporary art blog by Tyler Green
• Uncertainty: Modernity and Art Our Pick Episode from "This is Civilisation" British series
• Great Museums: In Our Time: The Museum of Modern Art Our Pick
• The Contemporary and the Historical Our Pick By Donald Kuspit / Artnet.com
• Modernist Painting By Clement Greenberg
• African Influences in Modern Art By Denise Murrell / Department of Art History and Archaeology, Columbia University
• Art, Philosophy, and the Philosophy of Art By Arthur C. Danto

Related Artists

Related Movements & Topics

Content compiled and written by Justin Wolf

Edited and published by The Art Story Contributors

112 Modern Art Essay Topics

🏆 best essay topics on modern art, 👍 good modern art research topics & essay examples, 🎓 most interesting modern art research titles, 💡 simple modern art essay ideas, ❓ questions about modern art.

• Modern Operating System: Concept and Design
• Influence of the Greek Art on Contemporary Artist Works
• Pop Art and Modern Technology in Artworks
• Bauhaus and Modernism as Art and Design Movements
• The Dada Art Movement and Its Influence on Contemporary Art
• Interpretation of Supernatural Representation in Modern Art and Media
• Race and Ethnicity in Contemporary Art
• Modernism in Hemingway’s “Big Two-Hearted River” Hemingway’s “Big Two-Hearted River” possesses a number of traits that are characteristic of the modernist literature, namely, perspectivism, the art of omission, and fragmentation.
• Major Contemporary and Modern Art Movements Art is a dynamic field that encompasses various movements and artists. The modern art movement encompasses creative work created between the 1860s and the 1970s.
• African Culture and Non-Western Modern Art Culture is seen extensively in how the African people work, dance, worship, communicate, and make arts, clothing, and music.
• Ancient Roman Roads and Their Influence on Modern Road Designs The author of the article Ancient Roman roads and their influence on modern road designs is Rowyn Lea. There is no reliable information about this writer.
• Contemporary Islamic Art: Hojat Amani’s “Fallen Angels” One of the artists who made a visible impact in contemporary Islamic art is Hojat Amani, whose work “Fallen Angels” is inspired by the concept of angels in Muslim culture.
• Photography as a Contemporary Art Form In this era, photography, in addition to establishing itself as an art form, and developing its own aesthetic value, has turned into a full-fledged material for other art forms.
• Contemporary Artists in Culture This paper discusses the specific features or factors that interest people in contemporary artists’ works and what questions they pose.
• Analyzing Modern Art: Works Comparison Artists may choose their path, inspiration, style, models, and general aim. Viewers can select what creative works they value and appreciate.
• Theory of Modern Art Matisse tries to expose the fact that art cannot be clearly expressed in its pictorial form, without essentially encompassing the artist’s thoughts.
• Modern Art: Paintings and Representatives This paper examines several paintings, created by Pablo Picasso, Umberto Boccioni, Kazimir Malevich, Henri Matisse, Wassily Kandinsky, and Salvador Dalí.
• Introduction to Modern Art: Stylistics Stylistic evidence is one of the approaches to recognize the age of an art example. It applies to a distinctive way of artifact production that may be common to a certain period.
• Tracey Emin as a Post-modernist Feminist Artist The main characteristic of a postmodern artist, like Tracey Emin, is anything that anyone does which has a profound effect on somebody or something else.
• Contemporary Artists: Andrea Zittel, Cindy Sherman, Krzysztof Wodiczko The paper discusses contemporary artists who will end up being published in history books. It includes Andrea Zittel, Cindy Sherman, and Krzysztof Wodiczko.
• Artwork Collections in the Museum of Contemporary Art The paper discusses the Museum of Contemporary Art in North Miami. Some artistic works date back many years, while others date as recently as 2020.
• Conceptualization of Modern Art The paper states that today’s art appreciation is directly connected with exclusive creations aimed at changing the traditional perception of art.
• Observer of Contemporary Art in Abu Dhabi This presentation aims to explore the perspective of an observer in the context of contemporary art in Abu Dhabi.
• Modern Art History Based on Picasso and Cezanne This paper is an annotated bibliography of the five books related to the topic of art history and the thematic analysis of some works of art.
• Contemporary Religious Art: Visual Art Art has always been an integral part of religion, and visual art is especially effective in conveying religious values.
• Modern Art Surrealists and Abstract Surrealists and abstract expressionists explored notions of the artists’ subconsciousness, while pop and most postmodern art are appropriate from the outside popular culture.
• The Record Contemporary Art and Vinyl The exhibition “The Record Contemporary Art and Vinyl” in the Miami Art Museum can be evaluated as a nice event of the local cultural life.
• Photography’s Effects on Modern Art Photography has been hailed by the masses as one of the best means of bringing the rest of the world to the public, affording them views of far-away places and peoples.
• The Tempest and the Contemporary Arts The Tempest is one of the most famous plays of the final period of Shakespearean creative work. The problems that the author revealed in this play to be rather topical for the present day.
• The Making of Modern Life: Art and Design in the Nineteenth Century This work will examine from the perspective of visual and comparative analysis what methods of art prevailed in different centuries and the paradox between techniques and moods.
• Weimar Culture Through Escapism in Modern Art This essay briefly analyzes the root reasons for the prevalence of Weimar Culture through the prism of escapism in modern art.
• The Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles: The Financial Crisis of 2008 The economic downturn of 2008 forced MOCA to transform its institutional roles, typology, exhibition approaches, and planning and implement a suitable managerial structure to achieve its future goals.
• Ancient Greek Tradition and Influence on Modern Art Ancient Greeks can be regarded as one of the groups which have made the most significant contributions to the development of different types of art.
• Salem Witch Trials and Modern Counterparts It is essential to observe that both witches in Salem in 1692 as well as communists during the Red Scare period of the 50s were scapegoats of the society.
• Contemporary Design: Evolution Queen Wall Bed Peculiarities of contemporary design can be easily seen in the Evolution Queen Wall Bed. At the first gaze, it is possible to say that the bed looks very elegant and even exquisite.
• Modern Art by Pam Meecham and Julie Sheldon The book “Modern Art: A Critical Introduction” by Pam Meecham and Julie Sheldon discusses various aspects of the contemporary art and the factors that influence its evolution.
• Tish Jones as a Contemporary Artist Tish Jones is an influential artist, poet, emcee, and a master of the spoken word. This paper highlights how he interacts with the society and his contribution to the world.
• Modernism and Global Modernity: What Can Modern Art Offer to Global History?
• Weathervane and American Modern Art
• Was Modern Art Greater Influenced by the Invention of the Camera or Kindergarten
• Late Nineteenth Century Modern Art Transformation
• Egyptian Architecture and Art and Their Modern Art Influence
• The European Modern Art in the Period of WWI
• Art Expertise Modulation of Emotional Response to Modern Art
• “Why Beauty Matters” Documentary: Standardized Degradation of Modern Art
• Modern Art Desserts: From Mondrian Cake to Matisse Parfait
• Good Picasso vs. Pollock: Comparing Two Great Artists of the Modern Art Era
• Repeated Image and Transformation in Modern Art
• Banksy and Picasso’s Representations of Postmodern and Modern Art
• Modern Art and Its Relation to Graphic Design
• How Women Were Depicted in Modern Art in the 1860s-1960s
• Modern Art and “The Painted Word” by Thomas Wolfe
• “The Three Musketeers” and the Effect This Had on Modern Art
• Cubism and the 20th Century Modern Art
• Lillian Schwartz and Tracey Moffat: Modern Technology and Modern Art
• Factors That Have Influenced the Modern Art Movement
• The Use of Technologies and Social Media in Modern Art
• Modern Art and Design in the Novel “Babbitt” by Sinclair Lewis
• Creating Modern Art: The Changing Careers of Painters in France From Impressionism to Cubism
• The Food From Ancient to Modern Art: The Image of the Satyr With the Grapes
• The Concept of Modern Art From the Perspective of a Renaissance
• History and Current Situation of Modern Art in the Philippines
• Why Do Some People Hate Modern Art?
• The Role Movie Making Has Played in the Development of Modern Art and How This Advances Into the Future
• Activism as a Platform for Modern Art
• How Obscenity Has Crept Into Modern Art and the Challenge It Poses to the Future of Art
• Impressionism and Its Influence on Modern Art
• The Great American Thing: Modern Art and National Identity
• Are People Scared of Modern Art?
• The Major Factors That Influenced the Development of Modern Art in the World Today
• Merging the Traditional and Modern Art
• Modern Art Museums and Their Role in Transforming Societies
• Technology Impact Upon Modern Art
• One Hit Wonders: Why Some of the Most Important Works of Modern Art Are Not by Important Artists
• The Peculiarities of Modern Art in Comparison With Previous Art Periods
• The Multiplicity of Forms in Modern Art
• Is Contemporary Art Merely a Way for Greedy Capitalists to Make Money?
• Modern Art and the Impact of the Russian Revolution
• What Makes Modern Art Modern?
• The First Modern Art Movement of the Twentieth Century
• Political Cartoons as a Modern Art Form
• What Is Modern Art? A Guide to Modern Art History
• The ‘Isms’ of Modern Art: Belgium, Netherlands, and Beyond
• Modern Art in the Eyes of Today’s Youth
• Is Modern Art Dead? An Overview of Modernism and Its Aesthetics
• Modern and Contemporary Art of South Asia
• Why the Feminist Movement Is Important for Modern Art
• Why Was Modern Art Heavily Criticized?
• Is Modern or Contemporary Art Better?
• What Does Modern Art Reject?
• Why Is Modern Art Difficult?
• How Did Modern Art End?
• Why Do Modern Arts Have an Impact on Culture and Society?
• Why Do People Like Modern Art?
• Does Modern Art Tell a Story?
• Why Is Modern Art Better Than Traditional Art?
• What Is Modern Art in Art Appreciation?
• Are We Still in the Modern Art Era?
• Who Invented Modern Art?
• What Is the Opposite of Modern Art?
• How Does Modern Art Affect Your Daily Living?
• What Is the Oldest Modern Art?
• Who Is Most Famous for Modern Art?
• How Is Modern Art Different From Earlier Styles?
• What Are the Characteristics of Modern Art?
• Is Modern Art Difficult to Understand?
• What Is the Difference Between Modern and Contemporary Art?
• Is Modern Art Personal Expression?
• What Is the Main Point of Modern Art?
• Why Is Modern Art Useful in the 21st Century?
• How Does Modern Arts Affect the New Generation of Artists Today?
• Why Is Modern Art So Overpriced?

Cite this post

• Chicago (N-B)
• Chicago (A-D)

StudyCorgi. (2022, July 14). 112 Modern Art Essay Topics. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/modern-art-essay-topics/

"112 Modern Art Essay Topics." StudyCorgi , 14 July 2022, studycorgi.com/ideas/modern-art-essay-topics/.

StudyCorgi . (2022) '112 Modern Art Essay Topics'. 14 July.

1. StudyCorgi . "112 Modern Art Essay Topics." July 14, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/modern-art-essay-topics/.

Bibliography

StudyCorgi . "112 Modern Art Essay Topics." July 14, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/modern-art-essay-topics/.

StudyCorgi . 2022. "112 Modern Art Essay Topics." July 14, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/modern-art-essay-topics/.

These essay examples and topics on Modern Art were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

This essay topic collection was updated on January 8, 2024 .

Home / Essay Samples / Art / Art Movements / Contemporary Art

Contemporary Art Essay Examples

The effectiveness of using animals in spite of humans in art spiegelman’s graphic novel maus.

The pulitzer prize winning graphic novel MAUS, illustrated and written by Art Spiegelman, depicts humans in the form of animals as he follows the story of Vladek Spiegelman, a Jewish survivor of Hitler's’ Europe, and his son (Art), a cartoonist who tries to come to...

Aesthetic: Creating a Sensible and Prudent Mindset

Aesthetic refers to the style as to how directors creators manage to deliver the story-line. The harmony of different elements combined together to generate responses from the viewers towards the characters and scenes are crucial and must be compelling so that the viewers can obtain...

What is Art for You: a Way to Share Creativity Or Popularize Ideas

What is art for you? Surprisingly, the definition of art which I have read in one essay is somewhat vague and not comprehensive, and I agree with this statement. Also I can define art as “application of skill to production of beauty (esp. visible beauty)...

Contemporary Art: Insight into Modern Creativity

Contemporary essay: Contemporary art can provide a valuable yet unsettling critique of society. Contemporary art is the art that is created today. Contemporary artists are working in a culturally diverse and technologically evolving world. Their art consists of challenging the boundaries of traditional art by...

Why Art is Important: Showing How It Works in Our Lives

Art is often seen as a luxury or a form of entertainment, but in reality, it plays a much more significant role in our lives than we may realize. Art has the power to inspire, to challenge, to comfort, and to transform us in profound...

Understanding the Art of Pessimism

I want you to visualize a glass with half of water inside, is it half-empty or half-full? Some people might say half-full and some people might say half-empty. But, what do these things mean? Why do some people see it as half-full but some see...

The History of Ballet as a Form of Performing Arts

Ballet includes a wide variety of different movements. When ballerinas dance, the movements are soft and flowing, giving the illusion that the performer is so dainty as to be dancing on air. These movements can also be very strong and powerful. Ballet dancers require great...

Analysis of Nostalgia as a Form of Escapism in Contemporary Art and Design

Escapism is a common theme in art history in which artists depict events or activities that offer an escape from the woes of life. Artists have always found it useful to represent joyful activities in their works of art. The depictions created, avail momentary amusement...

The Influence of Pop Art on Contemporary Art Practise: Analysis of Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein

Pop Art was an influential movement in the 20th century. There was an idea within the modern movement, that one had to respond to one’s own time. Pop Art was a reaction to the post-war period of mass production and advertisement imagery. The movement of...

Analysis of Judith Butler’s Idea of Gender Performativity

When Judith Butler contemplates about gender, she uses the concept of the productive nature of iteration, continuing the tradition of Derrida. As she argues in Gender Trouble, the iteration of conventional behavioral practices precede bad, excessive or infelicitous performances, this is exactly why the performative...

Trying to find an excellent essay sample but no results?

Don’t waste your time and get a professional writer to help!

You may also like

• Art History
• Frida Kahlo
• Photography
• Vincent Van Gogh
• Edgar Degas
• Art and Religion
• Pop Art Essays
• Symbolism Essays
• Impressionism Essays
• Modernism Essays
• Postmodernism Essays
• Realism Essays
• Orientalism Essays
• Romantic Era Essays
• Abstract Art Essays
• Fauvism Essays

samplius.com uses cookies to offer you the best service possible.By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .--> -->