Art Glossary

Calligraphy is a visual art closely related to writing, involving the creation of decorative lettering or handwriting using a brush or pen. Contemporary calligraphy is the art of giving form to (...) read more

Canada's contemporary art scene is a vibrant blend of indigenous roots and global influences. Esteemed institutions like the Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto and the Vancouver Art Gallery host a (...) read more

Capitalist Realism is a German form of political pop art that emerged in Cold War-era Berlin in 1963. It sought to challenge the dominance of American pop art in the Western world. The movement (...) read more

Carborundum is the trademark name for silicon carbide crystals, an abrasive material commonly used in sandpaper, cutting tools, and grinding wheels. Originally, artists used carborundum for grinding (...) read more

A cast is a form created by pouring a liquid material, such as plastic, plaster, acrylic, concrete, or mixed media, into a mold. Once the liquid cools and fully solidifies, the cast is removed from (...) read more

A Catalogue Raisonné is an annotated and comprehensive listing of all the known works of an artist. It includes detailed information that helps to identify and authenticate the artist's output across (...) read more

Cement refers to a variety of mixtures, typically made from clay, limestone, water, sand, and gravel, which form concrete used in construction. The term to cement also means to join or unite (...) read more

Ceramic is a term used to describe objects made from clay or other inorganic materials. These objects can be either decorative or functional and have been created since at least 4,000 B.C. Ceramic (...) read more

Ceramics is an art form that involves creating objects from clay. The clay is shaped, molded, and formed by hand or with specialized tools, then baked (or fired) in a high-temperature oven called a (...) read more

Chalk is a natural mineral, primarily composed of calcium carbonate. In art, chalk refers to sticks used for drawing, made from a mixture of chalk, colored pigments, and gum Arabic. These sticks are (...) read more

Charcoal is made from charred wood and is used in both initial sketches and finished drawings. It can be easily smudged or erased, making it versatile for corrections. To make charcoal drawings (...) read more

Chile's contemporary art scene vibrates with creativity, reflecting the nation's unique geographical and cultural diversity. Esteemed institutions such as the Museum of Contemporary Art in Santiago (...) read more

China's dynamic contemporary art landscape, steeped in profound cultural heritage, showcases the nation's vibrant artistic evolution. Noteworthy spaces like the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art and (...) read more

Chinese Contemporary Art is marked by a wide range of styles and experimental approaches. In the 1980s, avant-garde exhibitions were often shut down by government officials. The 1990s saw the rise of (...) read more

Clay is a natural material formed when rocks break down over time due to weathering. Water carries the fine particles of earth, which accumulate as a soft, sticky substance called muck. This muck is (...) read more

CoBrA stands for Copenhagen, Brussels, and Amsterdam; the group was formed with a desire to break away from the existing art movements of the time. Their critique of Western society led them to (...) read more

Collage is a production art technique commonly used in visual arts where a new artwork is created by assembling various materials. These materials can include ribbons, newspaper and magazine (...) read more

Colombia's vibrant contemporary art scene, a fusion of indigenous influences and modern movements, is a testament to its rich cultural heritage. The Museum of Modern Art in Bogotá and the Museum of (...) read more

Colour Field Painting is an abstract style characterized by large areas of a single color or simple, solid colors. The term was first used in the 1950s to describe the work of three American Abstract (...) read more

Colored pencils consist of a core made from various colored pigments mixed with a binder, encased in wood. They can also be found as solid pigment sticks without the wooden casing. When drawing, the (...) read more

Comic strip art refers to artwork that utilizes the subject matter and commercial printing techniques found in comic strips. In the 1960s, a group of artists began creating paintings that (...) read more

Composition refers to the arrangement of elements within an artwork. The artist carefully organizes these elements to create a harmonious or intentionally dynamic relationship. Traditional approaches (...) read more

Computer art refers to any type of digital imagery or graphic artwork created using a computer. Art curators often classify art made with computers as either digital art or new media art. Artists (...) read more

Computer printing involves using computer technology to reproduce fine art images as prints. In its basic form, this means creating digital versions of artwork that are printed onto paper. More (...) read more