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What Is Contemporary Art?

Sophie Cavoulacos, Erica Papernik-Shimizu, Arièle Dionne-Krosnick, Christian Rattemeyer, and Sean Anderson

What is contemporary art? In this course, you’ll consider this question through works of art made since 1980. Hear directly from artists, architects, and designers from around the globe about their creative processes, materials, and inspiration. You’ll look at 3D–printed glass and fiber sculptures, performances in a factory and a museum, portraits (including those made with artificial intelligence) and interventions into television and video games.

Not only will you develop a deeper understanding of how artists work today, you’ll also explore some of their approaches to the pressing issues and questions of our time. By taking this course, you’ll build skills for looking at contemporary art wherever you encounter it and make connections to your own life or creative practice.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction to What Is Contemporary Art?

Media from Television to the Internet

Territories & Transit

Materials & Making

Agency

Power

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Taught by a team of experts from top institutions and industry

Explores major ideas in contemporary art from a global perspective

Develops analytical skills for examining contemporary art

Covers multiple facets of contemporary art, including materials, techniques, and themes

Appropriate for learners with an interest in contemporary art, art history, or related fields

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Reviews summary

Art in the modern world

learners say this course is a great introduction to modern art, helping them understand different types of contemporary art and artists. The course is presented as a series of lessons, each focusing on a different aspect of contemporary art. They include topics like what contemporary art is, how it's made, and what it means. The lessons are taught by MoMA curators and artists, and they feature a variety of media, including videos, readings, and interactive exercises. The course is well-paced and easy to follow, and it's a great way to learn more about contemporary art.

Taught by knowledgeable and experienced MoMA curators and artists.

"Excellent course to take to understand the width, depth and the third dimension of Art."

"Really interesting course, giving the artists feeling while creating their project in a smooth way for eveyone to comprehend."

"I am very grateful for the opportunity to participete in this course, I learned a lot and understood more clearly the concept of contemporary art, Thanks a lot"

Uses a variety of engaging activities and resources to keep learners interested.

"Amazing job! Amazing course! Amazing Contemporary Art!"

"Great selections of artists . The course is full of videos, texts and interviews with the artists to delve into a beautiful journey of discovery of Contemporary Art."

"I really enjoyed it, especially having memory checks. This is something that I didn't have at art school and it would have been super useful."

Covers a wide range of contemporary artists, styles, and mediums.

"Excellent and really stimulated my thinking and artistic engagement."

"Fantastic course, learnt so much and really opened my eyes to the world of Art."

"This is a very complete course. Loved it!! Thank you so much!!"

Explores contemporary art's connection to current events and social issues.

"This course and other courses in this specialization by MoMA are so amazing."

"Loved this course and the exposure to the many incredible and ground-breaking pieces of art at MOMA."

"This course expanded my knowledge on contemporary art, artists, their art making process, and why they made their art."

Makes contemporary art more understandable and enjoyable.

"It's important to earn what is contemporary art."

"I broadened my perspective on what is contemporary art and the process behind it."

"Time well spend. Interesting selection of artists. Go for it - do it!"

Could provide more in-depth theoretical background on contemporary art.

"it is concrete, it explains from an artist perspective, from a curator perspective and leaves you to analyze art in a diverse way that is profound but at the sea time practical"

May not include enough diverse perspectives on contemporary art.

"I like what's in the course, but I don't like the fact that they don't censor the swear words, and there are dirty terms in here."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in What Is Contemporary Art? with these activities:

Review key art movements since 1980

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Start the course with a strong foundation by reviewing the sequence of key art movements since 1980.

Browse courses on Art History

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Create a timeline of art movements since 1980
Identify the main characteristics and artists associated with each movement
Consider how these movements have influenced contemporary art

Explore artist websites and online exhibitions

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Follow guided tutorials to explore the websites of contemporary artists and visit virtual exhibitions, providing a deeper understanding of their work.

Browse courses on Art Appreciation

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Identify a group of contemporary artists whose work interests you
Visit the websites of these artists and explore their portfolios, biographies, and statements
Attend virtual exhibitions of their work and engage with the interactive features
Take notes on the techniques, materials, and inspirations of the artists

Join a study group to discuss contemporary art trends

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Enhance your understanding and expand your perspectives by participating in a study group focused on contemporary art trends.

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Find or form a study group with classmates or other interested individuals
Select a specific topic or theme related to contemporary art to focus on
Meet regularly to discuss readings, share insights, and engage in critical analysis

Five other activities

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Show all eight activities

Review Hal Foster's 'Bad New Days'

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Gain valuable insights by reviewing Hal Foster's 'Bad New Days', which offers a critical examination of contemporary art and its relationship to social and political issues.

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Read the book and take notes on the main arguments and examples
Summarize Foster's key ideas and their implications for understanding contemporary art
Connect the book's concepts to the course materials and discussions

Mentor other students in the course

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Reinforce your understanding and contribute to the learning community by mentoring other students in the course.

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Identify a student who may benefit from your guidance
Offer support and answer questions related to the course materials
Provide constructive feedback on their assignments and projects

Create a video essay on a contemporary art topic

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Deepen your comprehension and critical thinking skills by creating a video essay that analyzes a topic related to contemporary art.

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Choose a topic that resonates with you and research it thoroughly
Write a script that outlines your main arguments and supporting evidence
Record your video, ensuring clear audio and visuals
Edit your video, adding appropriate transitions, music, and graphics

Analyze contemporary artworks using critical thinking frameworks

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Further develop your analytical skills by applying critical thinking frameworks to the analysis of contemporary artworks.

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Review different critical thinking frameworks, such as formalism, Marxism, and feminism
Select a contemporary artwork and apply one or more frameworks to analyze its form, content, and significance
Write a short essay or presentation sharing your analysis and insights

Create an online portfolio of your own contemporary art project

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Demonstrate your creativity and skills by developing your own contemporary art project and creating an online portfolio to showcase it.

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Brainstorm and develop an idea for your contemporary art project
Experiment with different materials and techniques to create your artwork
Document your process and reflect on your creative choices
Build an online portfolio to present your project, including images, descriptions, and artist statement

Career center

Learners who complete What Is Contemporary Art? will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Gallerist

Gallerists own and operate art galleries, where they exhibit and sell works of art. This course may be useful for those interested in this career, as it provides an overview of contemporary art and its history, as well as insights into the creative processes of artists.

See salaries and explore the career path for Gallerist

Art conservator

Art Conservators restore and preserve works of art. This course may be useful for those interested in this career, as it provides an overview of contemporary art and its history, as well as insights into the creative processes of artists.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art conservator

Art dealer

Art Dealers buy and sell works of art for profit. This course may be useful for those interested in this career, as it provides an overview of contemporary art and its history, as well as insights into the creative processes of artists.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art dealer

Artist

Artists create works of art for sale or exhibition. This course may be useful for those interested in this career, as it provides an overview of contemporary art and its history, as well as insights into the creative processes of artists.

See salaries and explore the career path for Artist

Art Educator

Art Educators teach about art in schools, museums, and community centers. This course may be useful for those interested in this career, as it provides an overview of contemporary art and its history, as well as insights into the creative processes of artists.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art Educator

Art Consultant

Art Consultants advise clients on the purchase and sale of art. This course may be useful for those interested in this career, as it provides an overview of contemporary art and its history, as well as insights into the creative processes of artists.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art Consultant

Art Curator

Art Curators oversee the care and display of art collections in museums and galleries. This course may be useful for those interested in this career, as it provides an overview of contemporary art and its history, as well as insights into the creative processes of artists.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art Curator

Art historian

Art Historians study the history of art, its techniques, and its cultural significance. This course may be useful for those interested in this career, as it provides an overview of contemporary art and its history, as well as insights into the creative processes of artists.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art historian

Museum Director

Museum Directors oversee the operations of museums, including planning exhibitions, managing staff, and fundraising. This course may be useful for those interested in this career, as it provides an overview of contemporary art and its history, as well as insights into the creative processes of artists.

See salaries and explore the career path for Museum Director

Art Critic

Art Critics write about and evaluate contemporary art for newspapers, magazines, and websites. This course may be useful for those interested in this career, as it provides an overview of contemporary art and its history, as well as insights into the creative processes of artists.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art Critic

Graphic designer

Graphic Designers create visual concepts for a variety of purposes, including advertising, marketing, and web design. This course may be useful for those interested in this career, as it provides an overview of contemporary art and its history, as well as insights into the creative processes of artists.

See salaries and explore the career path for Graphic designer

Architect

Architects design buildings and other structures. This course may be useful for those interested in this career, as it provides an overview of contemporary art and its history, as well as insights into the creative processes of artists.

See salaries and explore the career path for Architect

Web Designer

Web Designers create and maintain websites. This course may be useful for those interested in this career, as it provides an overview of contemporary art and its history, as well as insights into the creative processes of artists.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Designer

Photographer

Photographers take pictures for a variety of purposes, including art, journalism, and advertising. This course may be useful for those interested in this career, as it provides an overview of contemporary art and its history, as well as insights into the creative processes of artists.

See salaries and explore the career path for Photographer

Writer

Writers create written content for a variety of purposes, including journalism, fiction, and poetry. This course may be useful for those interested in this career, as it provides an overview of contemporary art and its history, as well as insights into the creative processes of artists.

See salaries and explore the career path for Writer

Reading list

We've selected 16 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in What Is Contemporary Art?.

Criticizing Photographs

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Collection of essays by Terry Smith that explores the question of what contemporary art is. It would be a useful reference for students who want to learn more about the different definitions of contemporary art and the debates surrounding it.

Criticizing Photographs: An Introduction to...

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Criticizing Photographs: An Introduction to...

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Criticizing Photographs: An Introduction to...

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Criticizing Photographs: An Introduction to...

Paperback

Criticizing Photographs

Paperback