Walking through Chelsea galleries last summer, I overheard a teenager whisper: "What are the contemporary art even supposed to mean?" She stared blankly at a fluorescent light installation priced higher than my college tuition. That moment stuck with me because honestly? I've wondered the same thing while standing in front of a giant blue canvas with a single stripe.
Cutting Through the Art Jargon
Simply put, when we ask "what are the contemporary art", we're talking about art made roughly from the 1970s onward. But here's what nobody tells you: dates matter less than mindset. Contemporary art is defined by its engagement with today's world – technology, identity politics, globalization, and social issues your grandma wouldn't recognize. Unlike Renaissance art that worshipped beauty or Modernism that broke forms, contemporary art asks uncomfortable questions. Sometimes it answers none.
The Messy Reality of Contemporary vs. Modern Art
Most explanations get this wrong. Modern art wasn't just "older" – it operated under different rules. Modernists like Picasso still believed in "masterpieces." Contemporary artists? Many reject that idea entirely. I learned this when a studio visit with a Brooklyn artist revealed stacks of identical prints. "Which one's the original?" I asked. She laughed: "Does it matter?" Blew my art-school brain.
| Dimension | Modern Art (≈1860-1970) | Contemporary Art (≈1970-Present) |
|---|---|---|
| Core Focus | Formal innovation (Cubism, Abstract Expressionism) |
Conceptual ideas (Identity, Power structures) |
| Materials | Traditional: Oil paint, bronze | Anything: Digital code, trash, bodily fluids (Yes, really) |
| Artist's Role | Create timeless masterpieces | Start conversations (Even if controversial) |
| Audience | Elite art patrons | Everyone (Instagram counts) |
| Market Value Logic | Skill + Aesthetic innovation | Scarcity + Hype (I've seen banana duct tape sell) |
Personal Rant: The commercial side drives me nuts. Auction houses turned "what are the contemporary art" into a luxury brand. Saw a collector buy a $500,000 virtual "NFT artwork" he couldn't even hang. Meanwhile, the artist who made my favorite neighborhood mural? She waits tables.
Contemporary Art's Many Faces: Beyond Paintings
Forget just canvases. Last Venice Biennale, I spent 20 minutes watching a Slovenian artist's video of melting glaciers. Boring? Maybe. Haunting? Absolutely. That's the point.
Dominant Mediums You'll Actually Encounter
| Medium | Real-World Examples | Entry Point for Beginners | Price Range (Emerging Artists) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Installation | Olafur Eliasson's weather rooms Yayoi Kusama's infinity mirrors |
Notice how space feels Don't overthink meaning instantly |
$1,000 - $50,000 (Museum pieces: Millions) |
| Video Art | Bill Viola's slow-motion dramas Nam June Paik's TV sculptures |
Watch min 5 minutes before judging Sound matters as much as image |
$500 - $20,000 (Editioned copies) |
| Performance | Marina Abramović's endurance tests Tania Bruguera's audience participation |
Your discomfort might be intentional Check duration before committing |
Free - $100 (Ticketed events) |
| Digital/NFT | Beeple's $69M collage Refik Anadol's data paintings |
Look beyond crypto hype Focus on digital craftsmanship |
$10 - 10,000 ETH (Extremely volatile) |
| Social Practice | Theaster Gates' community buildings Ai Weiwei's refugee advocacy |
Participate if invited Judge real-world impact |
Grant-funded (Free to experience) |
Here's a truth bomb: The best way to understand "what are the contemporary art" movements is to stop memorizing styles. Current artists mix everything. Saw a painter last month embedding sensors into canvases that tweeted when touched. Post-internet? Post-medium? Just say it's 2024.
Navigating the Ecosystem: Galleries, Fairs, and Alternatives
Galleries intimidate people. I get it. My first NYC gallery opening, I mispronounced the artist's name and spilled wine on a $30,000 sculpture. (They were weirdly cool about it.)
Where Real Humans Experience Contemporary Art
- Commercial Galleries (Chelsea, etc.): Free entry. Staff usually friendly if you admit you're learning. Ask "What's exciting about this artist?" not "What's it mean?"
- Art Fairs (Frieze, Art Basel): $50-100/day ticket. Overwhelming but efficient. Pro tip: Go last hour when dealers are tired and chatty.
- Artist-Run Spaces (Bushwick, etc.): Often free/donation. Raw energy. Talk directly to artists. Bring cash - $20 buys small works sometimes.
- Public Art (Murals, Sculptures): Always free. Cities now commission major artists. Kehinde Wiley's Rumors of War statue in Richmond proves monuments can evolve.
Skip the $30 museum catalogue. Follow these on Instagram for free insights:
- @hyperallergic (critical takes)
- @artistshsspace (studio process)
- @mariatrust (conservator revealing tricks)
When considering "what are the contemporary art" market realities, remember this: Auction records ≠ true value. Galleries quietly control pricing through "primary market" sales. A $10m Koons balloon dog started under $100k.
Why Contemporary Art Confuses People (And Why That's OK)
Standing before a pile of candy in a corner (Felix Gonzalez-Torres' work), a friend groaned: "I could do this!" My response: "But you didn't." Context changes everything. That candy represented his dying lover's weight. Suddenly, not just sweets.
Burning Questions About What Contemporary Art Is
Q: Is contemporary art just about shocking people?
A: Sometimes, but shock wears off. Good art lingers. Example: Chris Ofili's elephant dung paintings initially scandalized. Now we see gorgeous patterns and African art references beneath the surface.
Q: Why do prices seem insane?
A: Partly speculation, but also scarcity mechanics. Editioned works (like prints/photos) limit supply. Primary galleries carefully release works. Secondary market (auctions) inflates prices further. My rule? Never buy art as "investment." Buy what you'd display if worthless.
Q: How can I tell if something's "good"?
A: Ask yourself: Does it make me see differently? Stick in my head? Feel authentic? Technical skill matters less than in Renaissance art. A perfectly painted boring idea remains boring.
Q: What are the contemporary art world's ugly secrets?
A: Where to start? Galleries taking 50% from artists. Auction houses manipulating bids. Museums favoring donor tastes over curatorial vision. But also: More diversity now than ever. Digital access democratizing. Independent spaces thriving globally.
A curator once told me: "If you instantly 'get' contemporary art, you're missing the point." Wrestling with it is the experience. That teenager in Chelsea? I later saw her taking furious notes. Mission accomplished.
Your Toolkit for Engaging with Contemporary Art
Forget memorizing art history. Try these practical steps next gallery visit:
- Observe First: What materials? Scale? How's it made? A Jackson Pollock looks flat online. In person, its sculptural thickness shocks.
- Feel, Don't Interpret: Note bodily reactions. Anxiety? Boredom? Calm? Tracey Emin's messy bed installation triggers strong physical memories.
- Read the Label Last: Avoid bias. I thought a cryptic machine was criticizing AI. Turned out to be about dishwasher fragility. (Still cool.)
- Ask Dumb Questions: Gallerists prefer "Why did she choose neon?" over pretentious analysis. Shows genuine curiosity.
Discussing "what are the contemporary art" requires acknowledging its fluidity. What feels groundbreaking today (like AI art) may feel dated fast. Remember 2010s glitch art? Exactly.
Where To Start Your Exploration: Places Worth Visiting
| City | Major Institutions | Underrated Gems | Budget Tips |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | MoMA PS1 ($10 entry) Whitney Museum ($30) |
Smack Mellon (free Brooklyn space) Artist studio tours (Bushwick Open Studios) |
MoMA free Fridays 4-8pm Gallery districts all free |
| London | Tate Modern (free general) Whitechapel Gallery |
South London Gallery East London street art walks |
Many private galleries free Tate special exhibits discounted Tue |
| Berlin | Hamburger Bahnhof (€14) KW Institute |
Urban Nation Museum (free street art) König Galerie in brutalist church |
Museum Pass €29 for 3 days Thursday late openings |
| Mexico City | Museo Jumex ($3 entry) Museo Tamayo (free Sun) |
Zonamaco art fair (Feb) Roma neighborhood galleries |
Many free public murals Affordable small galleries |
Final Thoughts: Why It Matters Beyond Aesthetics
Contemporary art isn't about decorating walls. It's cultural R&D - testing societal boundaries. When Kara Walker's sugar sphinx confronted slavery's legacy, or when Tschabalala Self celebrates Black female bodies, they reshape narratives. Is all contemporary art successful? God no. I've seen derivative junk in blue-chip galleries. But the attempt to reflect our messy present? That's priceless.
So next time someone asks "what are the contemporary art", tell them: It's unfinished conversations. It's your reaction to a roomful of floating trash bags (looking at you, ARTISTS ROOM). It's discomfort transformed into dialogue. And occasionally, yes, it's a banana duct-taped to a wall.