Contemporary art

Art made in the present and recent past, currently understood as roughly 1980 to today. While contemporary artists come from different backgrounds, explore a wide range of ideas, and use different materials and techniques, many explore the social and political issues of our time.Contemporary artists often explore the category of art itself. Some appropriate existing images and objects, blurring boundaries between art and popular culture. Others experiment with mediums like video, performance, and installation. Some artists critique art institutions, including museums and galleries, asking questions about how art is displayed, discussed, and circulated. Still others include references to older artworks or artistic styles.Whether reflecting on the past or responding to the present, contemporary artists make work that invites us to think, feel, and talk about the world in new ways.