Written by Heather Bridge, Contemporary landscape painter
Simply put, contemporary painting is artwork that has been created by a living artist. Although there are some in the art community who have a more defined definition, I feel like that’s an uncomplicated way of seeing it. Modern art, however, is tricky. Modern art is an umbrella term for various art styles that emerged in Europe and North America from around 1870 to 1970. These styles include art periods like Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, Fauvism, Cubism, Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art just to name a few.
So interestingly enough, technically most modern art is not contemporary art.
The bigger question is, does it matter?
It would to curators, gallerists and major collectors, but to most of us, I don’t think so. People often mix up the terms because it’s not intuitive.
I do think learning more about art history can help you enjoy contemporary art even more. Artists are often inspired by the past. For example, my work is heavily inspired by Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven, Paul Cezanne, and a mix of other artists. I think it’s fun to be able to spot those influences. But I don’t think you need to know every term to enjoy it.
Is my work contemporary or modern art?
I always like to say that I’m a contemporary landscape and nature painter with a slight lean toward impressionism, but I’m not sure my work fits squarely in any box. And that’s a-okay with me. It gives me room to grow and evolve without boundaries.