Modern art

Art made from the 1880s to the 1970s—a time marked by the growth of cities, the rise of industry, a surge in technologies, and the development of mass media. During this period, everyday life changed for people around the world. Artists of diverse backgrounds contributed to this change, experimenting with new subjects, styles, materials, and techniques in their works.What it meant to be “modern” depended on when and where an artist worked. Some artists developed new ways of representing external realities and inner experiences. Others broke down boundaries between art, architecture, design, and craft. Many confronted political turmoil or social and economic injustice. But across distinct eras and geographies, modern artists shared a spirit of innovation. They challenged traditional ways of making art, reimagining who art is for and what it could be.