Art Glossary

Definitions of Art Forms, Mediums, and Movements

Romania

Romania's contemporary art scene is a thrilling blend of historical narratives and fresh perspectives. Pioneering artists such as Adrian Ghenie and Mircea Cantor are carving out innovative artistic (...) read more

Artwork Copyright © Adrian Ghenie
Réalités Nouvelles

Réalités Nouvelles means new realities and refers to an exhibiting society founded in 1939 in Paris by Sonia Delaunay. The Salon des Réalités Nouvelles was dedicated to promoting abstract art, which (...) read more

Artwork by Sonia Delaunay
Sand

Sand consists of loose grains of material primarily made up of minerals like quartz, mica, and feldspar, as well as small fragments of rocks. Sand paintings are created by pouring colored sand into (...) read more

Image © Mariyana M/Shutterstock
Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia's contemporary art scene is a testament to its cultural dynamism, balancing tradition and modernity. Renowned artists like Ahmed Mater and Manal AlDowayan offer groundbreaking (...) read more

Artwork Copyright © Abdulnasser Gharem
Screen-print

Screen printing is a technique where ink is transferred through a mesh onto a substrate, with areas blocked by a stencil to prevent ink from passing through. This method, also known as serigraphy or (...) read more

Image © Petr Lerch/Shutterstock
Sculpture / Object

A sculpture is a three-dimension object made using any one of the basic sculpting processes. These include carving, casting, constructing or modeling. Carving materials may be bone, ivory, stone or (...) read more

© Composition.gallery
Serbia

Serbia's vibrant contemporary art scene is a nexus of past and future, where history intertwines with fresh creativity. Artists like Marina Abramovi? and Ivana Baši? generate conversation, pushing (...) read more

Artwork Copyright © Marina Abramovic
Serigraph

Serigraph is a printmaking process that uses silk screen techniques to create an image. The image is digitally separated into individual colors, each of which is assigned to a separate silk screen. (...) read more

Image © vincent noel/Shutterstock
Shock Art

Shock Art is an art movement that uses disturbing images, scents, or sounds to provoke a strong, often shocked, reaction from viewers. It is often regarded as a form of social commentary, with (...) read more

Artwork by Araki
Silkscreen

Silkscreen is a printmaking method that uses a screen made of silk or other mesh fabric. The screen is treated with a substance that blocks ink in certain areas, allowing ink to pass through only in (...) read more

Image © 3d_man/Shutterstock
Site Specific Art

Site-Specific Art is a form of artwork created to exist in a particular location, with the artist considering the site as an integral part of the creative process. Robert Irwin was a key figure in (...) read more

Artwork by Christo
Situationism

Situationism is a psychological theory that gained prominence in 1968, following the publication of a monograph by Walter Mischel that sparked the Person-situation debate. This theory argues that (...) read more

Artwork by Asger Jorn
Sound Art

Sound Art is an artistic discipline where sound is used as the primary medium. Like other contemporary art genres, Sound Art is inherently interdisciplinary, engaging with a variety of subjects (...) read more

Artwork by Gary Simmons
South Africa

South Africa's contemporary art scene is a dynamic blend of heritage and innovation. Renowned artists like William Kentridge and Mary Sibande challenge perceptions, merging global trends with local (...) read more

Artwork Copyright © Marlene Dumas
South Korea

South Korea boasts a thriving contemporary art scene that interweaves traditional aesthetics with modern innovation. Esteemed institutions like the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in (...) read more

Artwork Copyright © Lee Ufan
Space Art

Space Art is an artistic genre that depicts the cosmic elements of the universe, including celestial bodies, interstellar space, and space exploration. It began in 1865 with the first science-based (...) read more

Artwork by Paul Van Hoeydonck
Spain

Spain's contemporary art scene is a vibrant amalgamation of tradition and innovation. Distinguished museums like the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid and the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao showcase (...) read more

Artwork Copyright © Pablo Picasso
Spatialism

Spatialism is an art movement that originated in Italy in 1947, founded by Lucio Fontana with the intention of synthesizing sound, color, movement, and space into a new form of art. The movement's (...) read more

Artwork by Lucio Fontana
Stone

Stone is a hard, natural material found in the ground and used for various artistic purposes, such as carving statues, creating jewelry, and assembling mosaics. Artists and rock collectors often seek (...) read more

Image © Sergio Foto/Shutterstock
Street Art

Street Art is artwork created and executed in public spaces, outside of traditional art venues. It gained popularity during the 1980s graffiti art boom and has since evolved into various forms and (...) read more

Artwork by Jean-Michel Basquiat
Stuckism

Stuckism is an art movement that promotes figurative painting over conceptual art. It was founded in 1999 by Charles Thomson and Billy Childish with an initial group of 13 artists in Britain. The (...) read more

Artwork © Billy Childish - Sailish Fisherman, 2020
Superflat

Superflat is an art movement founded by Takashi Murakami, heavily influenced by anime and manga. The term Superflat refers to the flattened forms found in Japanese animation, graphic art, fine arts, (...) read more

Artwork by Takashi Murakami
Surrealism

Surrealism began in the 1920s as an art and literary movement with the goal of revealing the unconscious mind and unleashing the imagination by exploring unusual and dream-like imagery. Influenced by (...) read more

Artwork by Rene Magritte
Sweden

Sweden's contemporary art scene is a progressive fusion of traditional aesthetics and cutting-edge creativity. Acclaimed artists like Nathalie Djurberg and Jonas Dahlberg push boundaries with their (...) read more

Artwork Copyright © Bengt Lindstrom

Est. 2005 — twenty years of collecting, online.