Postmodern and Contemporary Art
EVERYTHING GOES!
What an exciting time for art! New innovations, mediums, styles, and definitions abound. Art is coming at us quickly from all corners of the globe. All cultures, socioeconomic levels, gender identities, and diverse age groups are contributing threads to the tapestry. Pluralism is the word, and everything goes!
WHEN & WHERE
c. Mid -20th century–Present
The Entire Planet
Today, artists have the freedom to create art out of literally anything. Many choose media according to which will best deliver their message, not because a particular material or style is their hallmark. In response to our technological age, electronic media has become more prevalent. Traditional mediums are still popular while more contemporary genres like installation and sound art have a large audience. Art is becoming an increasingly multi-sensory experience meant to speak to a vast and diverse audience. Every aspect of sentient experience is mined for content, and nothing is sacred.
The beauty of art is that it is a living entity. It can be a performance or documentation of the way that you breathe, how paint is applied to canvas, or a shadow on the wall. As it lives, it fights with itself, redefines itself, and repeats itself. We can only wonder about what new images and experiences the future will bring. So keep looking at, keep reading about, and keep on making art! —ARR
Selected artists: Matthew Barney, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Louise Bourgeois, John Currin, Shepard Fairey, Ann Hamilton, Jenny Holzer, William Kentridge, Anselm Kiefer, Kerry James Marshall, Ana Mendieta, Yue Minjun, Judy Pfaff, Cai Guo-Qiang, Julian Schnabel, Richard Serra, Cindy Sherman, Lorna Simpson, Kiki Smith, Bill Viola, Kara Walker