March 29, 2024
Updated April 14, 2025
17 minute read
Artist: A Career Exploration
An Artist is a professional who creates works of art, using their imagination, skill, and chosen medium to express ideas, emotions, or aesthetics. The scope of this career is vast, encompassing traditional forms like painting, sculpture, and drawing, performance arts such as music, dance, and theatre, and modern digital mediums including graphic design, animation, and virtual reality installations. Artists contribute significantly to culture, communication, and commerce, shaping how we perceive the world and interact with each other.
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Reading list
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Covers all aspects of painting, from basic techniques to advanced concepts, making it an excellent resource for both beginners and experienced artists.
Provides a comprehensive overview of contemporary art, from its origins in the early 20th century to the present day. It discusses the key movements and artists of the period, and explores the social, political, and cultural influences that have shaped contemporary art.
A classic text on the social and political implications of visual representation. It examines how images are produced, consumed, and interpreted, and how they reflect and shape our understanding of the world.
Provides a comprehensive introduction to the complex question of what constitutes contemporary art. Terry Smith examines the various forces and individuals who shape its definition, including artists, critics, curators, and the market. It's an excellent starting point for gaining a broad understanding of the field and is often used in academic settings.
Provides a comprehensive and accessible overview of the history of art, with a significant focus on painting. It is an excellent starting point for gaining a broad understanding of the evolution of painting styles, movements, and key artists across different periods and cultures. It is widely considered a foundational text for anyone interested in art history.
A widely used textbook in undergraduate art history programs, this book offers a detailed survey of Western art, with substantial coverage of painting. It provides historical context, analyzes key works, and introduces major artists and movements. It valuable resource for both broad understanding and deeper study.
A comprehensive history of visual arts, covering a wide range of periods, styles, and cultures. It provides a broad overview of the major movements, artists, and works of art that have shaped the development of visual arts.
An introduction to the study of visual culture, exploring the ways in which images and visual media shape our understanding of the world.
Similar to Janson's, this textbook provides a broad historical survey of art, but with a more global perspective. It includes significant sections on painting from various cultures and periods, making it useful for gaining a wide-ranging understanding. It serves as a solid reference and is often used in introductory art history courses.
Explores key themes and ideas prevalent in contemporary art since 1980. It helps to organize the diverse landscape of contemporary art into understandable categories, making it easier to grasp the motivations and subjects artists engage with. It is often used as a textbook and is highly relevant for understanding the core concerns of contemporary artists.
A comprehensive overview of the history of art from ancient times to the present day. It provides a broad understanding of the major movements, artists, and works of art that have shaped the development of visual arts.
A comprehensive history of Western art from ancient times to the present day. It provides a detailed overview of the major movements, artists, and works of art that have shaped the development of visual arts in the West.
Comprehensive history of modern art from the early 20th century to the present day. It is written in a lively and engaging style, and provides a wealth of information about the key artists and movements of the period.
Rosalind Krauss highly influential art historian and critic. This collection of essays includes her seminal text "Sculpture in the Expanded Field," which redefined how we understand sculptural practice in the late 20th century. is essential for a deeper theoretical understanding of the shifts in art from modernism to postmodernism.
Is an invaluable resource for understanding the principles of color and light as they apply to painting, particularly for realist painters. It bridges the gap between abstract theory and practical application through clear explanations and illustrations. It is highly recommended for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of these fundamental elements.
Focuses on socially engaged art, examining practices that prioritize dialogue and interaction within communities. Given the course mentions of activism and social movements, Kester's work provides a critical framework for understanding this important area of contemporary art. It's highly relevant for those interested in the social and political dimensions of contemporary art.
A seminal work on color theory, this book explores how colors interact and affect one another through a series of exercises and examples. It classic text that provides a deep understanding of color perception and is highly relevant for painters of all styles. It is often used as a teaching aid in art schools.
Offers a comprehensive survey of contemporary art from a global perspective, with a particular focus on art from Africa and the diaspora. Okwui Enwezor was a highly respected curator and scholar, making thvaluable resource for understanding the increasingly global nature of contemporary art. It provides a broader geographical scope than many other surveys.
Sarah Thornton provides an ethnographic look at the different subcultures that constitute the contemporary art world, from auctions to art schools and biennials. offers a fascinating and accessible insight into the social and economic structures surrounding contemporary art. It's a great read for understanding the ecosystem in which contemporary art operates.
In this book, Hal Foster examines the relationship between contemporary art, criticism, and the state of emergency. It offers a critical perspective on recent developments in art and its engagement with contemporary social and political issues. It's a valuable resource for understanding current critical discourse.
Arthur Danto's provocative work argues for a shift in the trajectory of art history with the advent of contemporary art. is crucial for understanding the philosophical underpinnings of contemporary art and how it diverges from previous art historical narratives. It is considered a classic text that provides a deep theoretical understanding.
Provides clear and concise instructions on the principles of perspective, which is essential for creating realistic paintings.
This comprehensive sourcebook provides a collection of primary texts by artists, critics, and theorists. It's an invaluable resource for accessing original writings and manifestos that have shaped contemporary art discourse. is excellent for in-depth research and understanding the artists' perspectives firsthand.
Hans Belting examines contemporary art within a global context, moving beyond a purely Western-centric view. is valuable for understanding the diverse perspectives and influences shaping contemporary art worldwide. It offers a broader, more inclusive understanding of the field.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
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