Modern art and contemporary art are often two terms used interchangeably, but they do have some distinct differences. Modern art refers to the period of artistic production from the late 19th century to the mid-1960s.
It was a revolutionary period in which artists sought to free themselves from traditional artistic conventions and express their own unique style. Contemporary art, on the other hand, is an umbrella term that encompasses a variety of styles and approaches to art making, beginning in the 1960s and continuing through today.
Modern art is characterized by a break with traditional forms, an emphasis on experimentation and abstraction, and an exploration of new media. Artists such as Pablo Picasso, Marcel Duchamp, Mark Rothko, and Jackson Pollock are considered pioneers of modern art.
They sought to push the boundaries of what was possible with painting and sculpture. Their works often lacked recognizable subject matter but featured strong colors, bold brushstrokes, or unexpected materials.
Contemporary art can be seen as an extension of modernism but with more freedom for individual expression. Contemporary artists often explore complex social issues through abstract works or installations that utilize technology in unexpected ways.
Examples include Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Rooms or Ai Weiwei’s Sunflower Seeds installation at The Tate Modern in London.
The main difference between modern art and contemporary art lies in their respective focuses on innovation versus individual expression. While modern artists were concerned with developing entirely new forms of expression, contemporary artists are more focused on expressing their ideas through existing mediums.
In conclusion, while there is certainly overlap between modern and contemporary art, they are not totally the same thing. Both movements have made important contributions to our understanding of what constitutes “art” today.