Abject art explores themes that challenge and disrupt our notions of cleanliness and propriety, often involving the body and bodily functions.
Art that uses shapes, colours, forms and gestures, rather than discernible figures, to create impact.
Abstract Expressionism was the dominant art movement in the 1940s and ‘50s, characterised by gestural brushwork and emphasising spontaneity.
Action painting is a style where paint is applied spontaneously by dripping, splashing, or smearing onto the canvas instead of meticulous application.
Activist art is a label applied to art that tackles political or social concerns.
Afrofuturism is a cultural style blending science fiction, history and fantasy to explore the African-American experience.
Airbrushing is a technique that uses compressed air to apply paint as a smooth and uniform surface.
An Algorithm is a set of instructions used to solve problems, perform specific tasks or make decisions.
Analytical Cubism refers to the initial stage of Cubism, around 1908-1912, characterised by its fragmented portrayal of people and objects.
Anti-art rejects conventional definitions of art and raises questions about its nature.
Antiquities are objects from the ancient past, usually centred on western civilisations from about 4,500 BCE to the start of the Middle Ages.
An AP, or artist's proof, is a copy of an edition that is kept by the artist for their own personal use.
Aquatint is a printing process which creates artworks that resemble watercolour paintings by etching a copper plate with nitric acid and using resin and varnish to achieve tonal shading.
Art brut is a French term coined by artist Jean Dubuffet, denoting ‘raw art’ and encompasses creations like graffiti and naïve art.
Art Nouveau is a global design style from the 1890s, known for its graceful, flowing lines and organic shapes inspired by natural plant forms.
Arte Povera (poor art) was an art movement that began in 1960s Italy that encouraged the use of common materials in sculpture.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a field of computer science and technology that focuses on creating systems and machines capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence.
Appropriation in art involves deliberate borrowing, replicating and modifying of existing images, objects and ideas as an artistic approach.
An artist's proof, or AP, is a copy of an edition that is kept by the artist for their own personal use.
An assemblage is an artistic arrangement of pre-existing elements.
Auto-destructive art, coined by Gustav Metzger in the 1960s, describes radical artworks where destruction is an integral part of the creation process.
Automatism involves crafting artwork without deliberate thought, tapping into the reservoir of the unconscious mind.
An autonomous system is a system that uses a non-human decision maker.
Avant-garde in art refers to new and experimental ideas and methods.
Bauhaus was a groundbreaking institution for art, architecture, and design, founded in 1919 by Walter Gropius in Weimar, Germany.
The Ben Day process is a method in printing that creates shades of grey or different colours by using intricate ink patterns on paper.
A biennial is a significant international art exhibition that takes place every two years.
Biomorphic art, from 'bios' (life) and 'morphe' (form), relates to abstract shapes or images that resemble naturally occurring forms, such as body parts.
Biomorphism comes from the Greek ‘bios’ (life) and ‘morphe’ (form), describing abstract shapes or images that remind people of living things.
The Black Arts Movement was an art movement led by African Americans, active in the 1960s and 1970s.
The blockchain is a distributed and decentralised digital ledger that securely records transactions across a network of computers.
Body art is a form of art where the primary medium and focus is the human body, often that of the artist.
A caricature is a picture, description, or imitation of a person in which specific features are exaggerated, often for humorous or grotesque effect.
A certificate of authenticity (COA) is a document that accompanies a piece of artwork to verify its authenticity.
Charcoal is a black drawing material made of carbon, commonly used for sketching, under-drawing in paintings, and creating finished drawings.
Chicano Art is a movement by Mexican-American artists to create a distinct artistic identity within the United States.
Classicism is the designation for art that draws inspiration from the styles of ancient Greece and Rome.
A COA (certificate of authenticity) is a document that accompanies a piece of artwork to verify its authenticity.
A collagraph is a collage of materials with different textures adhered to a printing plate, typically made of thin wood or cardboard.
An art commission is when an individual or institution requests that an artist make an artwork especially for them.
In art, composition is the organisation and arrangement of different visual elements within an artwork.
Conceptual art emerged in the late 1960s, prioritising the idea or concept behind the piece over the actual art object.
Conceptualism is an art movement that emerged in the mid-20th century, emphasizing the idea or concept behind an artwork rather than its visual or aesthetic qualities.
Ironically, concrete art is a form of abstract art that has no connection to observed reality or any symbolic meaning.
Contemporary art describes art that pertains to the current era.
In art, contour lines outline the edges of an object, emphasising the shape's boundaries and significant internal lines.
Developed by the Ancient Greeks, Contrapposto , an Italian term meaning counterpoise, is used in the visual arts to describe a human figure standing with the majority of its weight on one foot. This posture causes the shoulders and arms to twist away from the hips and legs in the axial plane.
Craft is a creative process that typically results in something that serves a practical purpose, like clothing or utensils.
Creolisation started in the Caribbean, and refers to the blending of diverse peoples, languages, and cultures.
Cubism was a revolutionary art style and movement, invented by Picasso and Braque in 1907-08, that brought different viewpoints into the same picture.
A curator is an individual hired by a museum or gallery to oversee and care for a collection of artworks or artefacts.
Dada was an artistic movement formed during WWI in Zurich, in response to the war’s horrific scenes. The art was often satirical and nonsensical.
Decadence describes an extravagant form of symbolism that emerged in the late nineteenth century, focussing on spiritual, morbid and erotic themes.
Décollage (to unstick) is linked to the artistic method of nouveau réalisme (new realism) artists, who created art by tearing posters from walls.
A diaspora is a community of people from a country or ethnic group who have migrated to another part of the world.
Digital art is artwork created or presented using digital technology.
Digital printing is a technique that involves printing an image directly onto various types of media from a digital source.
A diptych refers to a single work of art split across two separate surfaces.
Documentary photography is aimed at capturing events and settings, whether they’re historically significant or part of everyday life, to create a visual record.
Drypoint is a printmaking method in which a design is inscribed onto a plate using a sharp, needle-like tool.
An edition refers to a specific set of prints or artworks that are produced at a certain time or for a particular event.
The edition number is the specific number assigned to a print or artwork within an edition, usually indicated as a fraction.
Edition size refers to the total number of copies produced in a specific edition of prints or artworks.
Embossing is the act of decorating an object, typically with letters, using specialised tools that create a raised mark on its surface.
Engraving is a printmaking method where incisions are crafted into a metal plate, serving to hold the ink and shape the resulting printed image.
Ephemeral art is a form of art that exists briefly and cannot be preserved as a permanent object in a museum or gallery.
ERC-1155 is one of two standards within the Ethereum blockchain ecosystem.
ERC-721 is one of two standards within the Ethereum blockchain ecosystem.
Etching is an intaglio printmaking technique where acid is used to incise lines or areas into a metal plate, creating channels that retain the ink.
Expanded cinema is an artistic expression that goes beyond traditional film, including video, multi-media performances, and immersive environments.
Expressionism is an art style that distorts reality in order to emphasise personal expression, characterised by intense colour and brushwork.
Fairy painting is closely linked to the Victorian era, focusing on artwork depicting fairies and other supernatural subjects.
Fauvism is the style of les fauves, a group of early 20th-century painters (including Matisse) who used vivid and non-naturalistic colours.
Feminist art is a genre of art linked to the feminist movement of the late 1960s and 1970s.
A film positive is a transparent film displaying a positive image, typically used in printing processes like screen printing.
Fin de Siècle, meaning ‘end of the century’, relates to artwork from the end of the century, typically the 19th century.
A 'flâneur' is a French term coined by nineteenth-century poet Charles Baudelaire to describe someone who casually strolls through modern life.
Fluid dynamics is the study of the movement and behaviour of liquids and gases, a sub-discipline within the broader scope of fluid mechanics.
Fluxus is a global avant-garde collective and network of artists and composers that emerged in the 1960s, and remains active to this day.
Foreshortening is the technique of depicting an object or body in a way that creates the illusion of depth and projection in a picture.
‘Form’ can describe the physical nature or overall shape of a work, or the element of shape among the components within a work of art.
Formalism is the analysis and comparison of art by focusing on the way it’s made and what it looks like.
A found object is a natural or man-made item that an artist discovers or acquires and keeps due to its inherent artistic value.
A fresco is a form of wall painting, deriving its name from the Italian word ‘fresco’ because it's created on wet plaster.
Frottage is an automatic surrealist technique where a textured surface is rubbed with a pencil or other drawing tool to create art.
Genre painting is a style of art that portrays scenes from everyday life, typically featuring ordinary people engaged in various activities.
Geometric abstraction is a type of abstract art that uses geometric shapes, often placed in non-realistic space, to create non-objective compositions.
Georgian art refers to the artistic and architectural style that prevailed during the reigns of the four King Georges in Britain from 1714 to 1830.
German Expressionism prioritised inner emotions over realism, featuring simplified shapes, vivid colours, and expressive brushwork.
Gestural' is a term employed to characterise the technique of applying paint with bold, sweeping brush strokes in a free and expressive manner.
Gouache is an opaque, water-soluble paint that differs from watercolour, meaning it stops the white paper surface showing through.
Graffiti art is a term used to describe images or text that are typically spray-painted onto buildings.
Graphic design is the art or technique of integrating text and images in advertisements, magazines, or books.
Graphite is a metallic grey writing and drawing material, primarily used in pencil form. However, artists also use graphite powder for drawing.
Grattage is a surrealist painting technique that involves using a sharp blade to 'scratch' or scrape fresh paint.
Grupo Frente was a Brazilian art movement in the 1950s that rejected the figuration and nationalism of modernist Brazilian painting.
Gutai was an avant-garde group established in Japan, 1954, known for creating art that foreshadowed conceptual art during the 1960s and 1970s.
Hand-finishing refers to the manual process of adding finishing touches or details to a print or piece of artwork after the primary creation process.
Hard edge painting is an abstract painting style from the 1960s, defined by the use of flat colours with precise and well-defined edges.
Hindu art includes various artistic traditions linked to Hinduism, with deep connections to Hindu scriptures, rituals, and worship.
History painting is a genre of painting characterised by its subject matter rather than a particular artistic style or era.
Hyperrealism is a style in painting and sculpture that mimics the detailed appearance of a high-resolution photograph.
Iconography refers to the visual images and symbols used in a work of art.
Immersive art offers a heightened level of interactivity and experiential engagement, providing viewers with a more immersive experience.
Impasto is the process or technique of applying paint or pigment in a thick manner, causing it to stand out prominently from the surface.
Impressionism is an artistic movement that emerged in France in the 1860s, capturing ‘on-the-spot’ moments and the transient effects of sunlight.
The Independent Group was a progressive group of youthful artists, writers, and critics from the Institute of Contemporary Arts in 1950s London.
Institutional critique involves the practice of critiquing an institution as a form of artistic expression.
Installation art revolves around crafting an aesthetic or sensory experience within a specific setting, frequently encouraging active participation.
Intaglio includes printing and printmaking methods where the image is engraved or etched into a surface, and the incised areas retain the ink.
Interactive art refers to artwork that relies on the engagement and involvement of an observer.
Intersectionality recognises that discrimination is influenced by things like gender, race, class, sexual orientation, and physical ability.
An art intervention is a work of art that’s created with the intention of interacting with an existing structure or situation.
Kinetic art is a form of art that relies on movement to create its impact.
Kitsch refers to art, objects, or design deemed to be in poor taste due to excessive garishness, sentimentality, or knowing irony.
Land art is creating art directly within the natural landscape, typically shaping the land itself to form earthworks with natural elements.
A landscape artwork, whether a painting or drawing, centres on natural scenery like mountains, forests, trees, rivers, and valleys.
Les Nabis was a collective of post-impressionist French painters from 1888 to 1900, bold contours and simplified drawing techniques.
Linocut, also called lino print or linoleum art, is a printmaking technique similar to woodcut, using linoleum sheets as the relief surface.
Lithography is a planographic printing technique where a design is drawn onto a flat stone or a metal plate, and adhered via chemical reactions.
“Madonna and Child” was painted by Duccio di Buoninsegna, one of the most influential artists of the late 13th and early 14th century.
‘Magic realism’ was coined by German art critic Franz Roh in 1925, categorising contemporary realistic paintings of fantasy or dream-like subjects.
Mannerist is a 16th-century artistic style marked by artificiality, elegance, and a sensuously distorted portrayal of the human figure.
‘Medium’ can encompass both the artistic category (such as painting, sculpture, or printmaking) and the materials used in creating an artwork.
A memento mori is an artwork intended to prompt the viewer to reflect on their own mortality and the brief, delicate nature of human existence.
Mesh count refers to the number of threads per inch in a screen used for screen printing.
Metaphysical Art was an early twentieth-century Italian art movement known for its dream-like depictions of mysterious arcaded squares.
Mezzotint is an engraving method that emerged in the 17th century, producing prints of smooth transitions of tone and deep, velvety black areas.
Minimalism was a primarily American art movement of the 1960s, characterised by simple geometric shapes and massive forms.
Mixed media refers to artworks created by blending various media or materials together.
A mobile is a form of kinetic sculpture designed to hang weighted objects or additional rods.
Modern art is characterised by a departure from traditional styles and values, notably produced from the late 19th century to the late 20th century.
Mono-ha, also known as the 'School of Things,' was an innovative art movement that originated in Tokyo during the mid-1960s.
A monotype is a unique image produced by printing from a smooth plate, like glass or metal, that has been inked with a design.
A montage is a compilation of related images, coming together to form a complete piece, or a component of a larger piece.
Mosaic art refers to decorating a surface with closely arranged, small fragments of materials like stone, minerals, glass, tiles, or shells.
Originating from ‘motive’, motifs in art are repeating fragments, themes, or patterns found in a work of art.
Naïve art is described as visual art produced by individuals who lack the formal education and training typically undergone by professional artists.
Narrative art conveys a story, presenting either a single moment within an ongoing narrative or a series of events unfolding over time.
Naturalism, combined with realism, influenced impressionism and modern art, with an emphasis on plein air practice (painting scenes outdoors).
Négritude was an anti-colonial movement started by African and Caribbean students in 1930s Paris.
Neo-expressionism, which experienced a significant resurgence in the 1980s, marked a global revival of painting in an expressionist style.
Neo-Plasticism is a label embraced by Piet Mondrian, characterising his style of abstract painting that focuses on horizontal and vertical lines.
Neo-Romanticism is a painting style that emerged in the 20th century, primarily defined by forms or images that evoke nostalgia and fantasy.
An NFT (Non-Fungible Token) is a type of digital asset that represents ownership or proof of authenticity of a unique item or piece of content in digital form.
Non-objective art is a term that includes art devoid of representation or portrayal of recognisable individuals, locations, or objects.
Nouveau réalisme was a French art movement in the 1960s that can be regarded as a European counterpart to pop art.
Offset lithography is a printing process where the image is first transferred onto an intermediate surface before being printed onto the final sheet.
Oil painting involves using pigments mixed with a drying oil medium as the binding agent.
Oil pastels are a painting and drawing medium similar to both pastels and wax crayons.
The term ‘Old Masters’ describes the well-known European artists, primarily painters, who worked from the Renaissance to 1800.
Op Art, short for Optical Art, is an art movement that emerged in the 1960s.
An open edition refers to an edition of prints or artworks with no set limit on the number of copies that will be produced.
An original refers to a unique piece of artwork or the first instance of a particular work, as opposed to reproductions or copies.
Outdoor art is art positioned in outdoor environments, typically created as outdoor sculptures and monuments.
Outsider art is art created by people without formal artistic training, such as children or people with mental illness.
‘Painterly’ refers to the technique of painting in a loose or less controlled manner, so you can see brush strokes in the final piece.
Papier collé, a French term for ‘pasted paper’, is a distinctive form of collage that bears a closer resemblance to drawing than to painting.
Participatory art refers to an artistic form that actively involves the audience in the creative process, transforming them into active participants.
Patina typically refers to a distinctive green or brown surface layer that forms on bronze sculptures over time due to oxidation.
Performance art is an art form that combines visual art with actions performed by the artist or other participants.
Performativity is the capacity of language to bring about transformative effects in the world.
A photogram is an image created using photographic materials, such as light-sensitive paper, without the use of a camera.
Photomontage is a creative process that involves the cutting and merging of multiple photographs to create a single composite image.
Photopolymers are light-sensitive materials that harden or change their properties when exposed to specific wavelengths of light, commonly used in 3D printing and lithography.
Photorealism includes painting, drawing, and other visual techniques, in which artists strive to recreate a photo image with the utmost realism.
Photosensitive emulsion is a light-sensitive coating applied to a surface, typically used in screen printing and photography to develop images.
The ‘Pictures Generation’ describes a cohort of American artists from the early 1970s, noted for their critical examination of media culture.
Plane in art refers to a flat surface, usually in a painting or sculpture. Any clearly defined flat surface can be called a plane.
Planographic printing is printing from a flat surface, unlike relief printing that uses raised surfaces, or intaglio printing’s incised surfaces.
Plaster of Paris is a quick-setting gypsum plaster comprising a finely ground white powder, which solidifies when mixed with water.
A plinth is a rectangular slab or block at the bottom of a column, statue, pedestal, or pier, forming its base.
Pop art was a mid-20th-century art movement that celebrated popular culture and everyday objects through vibrant and bold imagery.
A portrait is an artwork or image, typically a painting, drawing, photograph, or engraving, that focuses on a person's face or head and shoulders.
Post-Impressionism was a reaction to the Impressionists’ concern for naturalistic depictions of light and colour, developed by Van Gogh and others.
Post-Internet is a 21st century art movement focusing on creations influenced by the Internet or its impact on aesthetics, culture and society.
Post-painterly abstraction is a response to the painterly and gestural techniques associated with some Abstract Expressionist artists.
Poster art is a type of 2D printed artwork that is hung on a wall.
Pre-Columbian art refers to the indigenous artworks of the Americas prior to Columbus' arrival in 1492.
A printer's proof (PP) is a proof made for the printer's use, designed to check the quality and consistency of the printing.
Printmaking is an artistic technique that involves transferring images onto another surface, typically paper or fabric.
‘Process art’ is when the creative process is a significant element in the finished piece, often making the act of creation itself the subject.
A proof is a preliminary version of a print made for the purpose of review and correction.
Proportion in art concerns the size relationship between different elements within a composition.
Provoke was a Japanese magazine from the 1960s that defied commercial imagery and the conventions of documentary photography.
Psychedelic art is linked to the 1960s, created by artists influenced by psychedelic drugs like LSD and DMT.
Psychogeography is the study of how the emotions and behaviour of individuals are influenced by their geographical surroundings.
A Rayograph is a photographic print created by placing objects onto photosensitive paper and exposing them to light.
Marcel Duchamp coined the term ‘readymade’ in 1916 to describe his art created from manufactured objects. It's now used for similar works by others.
A reference work is a book or online resource that provides factual information on a specific subject, like an encyclopedia, dictionary, or handbook.
Registration marks are symbols added to printing plates or screens to ensure proper alignment of colors during the printing process.
Relational Aesthetics was coined by curator Nicolas Bourriaud in the 1990s, referring to art that centres on human relations.
Relief is a sculptural technique where carved elements are connected to a solid background of the same material, from the Latin ‘relevo’ (to raise).
Renaissance art encompasses the painting, sculpture, and decorative arts from the European historical period referred to as the Renaissance.
A reproduction is a copy or replica of an original piece of artwork, created through various methods like printing, casting, or digital copying.
Resin art uses a mix of a fluid chemical known as epoxy resin with a variety of colour pigments and additives. It’s typically used by sculptors.
Rococo is a design style characterised by brief curves, scrolls, and counter curves, often embellished with imaginative details.
Romanticism emerged in Europe in the late 18th century as both an artistic and intellectual movement, focussing on human psychology and feeling.
Screen fill refers to the act of pushing ink through a mesh screen to fill an image area in screen printing.
‘Secession’ was a significant rift between avant-garde artists and the conservative European academics in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
A self-portrait is a depiction of oneself created by oneself.
Serigraphy, also known as screen printing, is a printing technique that involves pushing ink through a mesh screen onto a substrate, using stencils to create patterns or images.
Silkscreen printing, also known as silk-screening or serigraphy, is a printing technique that uses a tightly stretched mesh or screen.
A simulacrum is a representation or copy of a person or thing.
Site-specific art describes artwork created specifically for a certain place and is closely connected to that location.
The Situationist International was a European organisation of avant-garde artists, intellectuals, and political theorists, from 1957 to 1972.
A smart contract is a self-executing computer program that runs on a blockchain and automatically enforces the terms of an agreement between parties without the need for an intermediary.
Socially engaged practice is an art form that centres on human interaction and meaningful social discourse as its primary medium.
Soft sculpture is a sculpture created from flexible and non-rigid materials like cloth, foam rubber, plastic, paper, fibres, and similar substances.
Sonic art, or sound art, is a form of creative expression that primarily uses sound as its medium or material.
Sound art is a form of artistic expression where sound serves as the central medium and material.
Sound-on-disc is a category of sound film techniques that use a phonograph or disc-based system for synchronising sound with a motion picture.
South African art is the art created by the people who live in modern South Africa, which is where some of the world's oldest art objects were found.
A squeegee is a tool with a flat, smooth rubber blade, used to spread or push ink or other substances across a surface, ensuring an even application.
Stencilling is a method for replicating designs by applying ink or paint over cut-out holes in cardboard or metal onto the surface.
Street art refers to artistic creations produced in a public space, usually without formal authorisation.
A substrate is a foundational or base material on which another material is applied or mounted.
Suprematism is an early 20th-century art movement that emphasises the fundamentals of geometry, often using a limited range of colours.
Surrealism was a 20th-century, avant-garde movement in art and literature that aimed to unlock the imaginative power of the subconscious mind.
Synthetic Cubism is the subsequent stage of cubism, from approximately 1912 to 1914, known for its simplified forms and vibrant colours.
Synthetism is a term used by post-Impressionist artists, including Paul Gauguin, to differentiate their artistic approach from Impressionism.
‘Tableau’ describes a painting or photograph in which characters are arranged for a picturesque effect, acting entirely oblivious to the viewer.
Tempera is a painting technique that involves using pigments mixed with a water-soluble emulsion, typically composed of water and egg yolk.
Textile arts are crafts that use natural, synthetic, or animal fibres to create both functional and ornamental items.
The Clique was an informal group of friends, from about 1837, during their time as students at London's Royal Academy Schools.
Sublime Art is Edmund Burke's 18th-century theory that defines art as that which alludes to an immeasurable greatness beyond comprehension.
A time-limited edition refers to an edition of prints or artworks that are available for purchase only within a specific time frame.
Tone refers to how dark or light a colour is. Each colour encompasses a wide range of tones that can be changed by adding black or white.
A topographical artist aims to create an accurate representation of a chosen land or cityscape’s physical features.
Trompe-l'oeil is a French term meaning "deceive the eye", used to describe art that creates a 3D illusion on flat surfaces.
Ukiyo-e is a type of Japanese art that thrived during the 17th to 19th centuries, focussing on paintings and woodblock prints.
‘Uncanny’ in art is a concept that describes a strange and anxious feeling evoked by familiar objects placed in unfamiliar or unsettling contexts.
Underground art is any artistic expression that exists beyond the conventional boundaries of the mainstream art world.
The vanishing point is the point at which receding parallel lines, when viewed in perspective, seem to converge.
Vanitas is an art genre that uses symbolism to depict the fleeting nature of life, the emptiness of worldly pleasures, and the inevitability of death.
Verism was a realistic style in Roman art, primarily observed in portraiture of politicians.
The front and back of a single sheet of paper can be referred to as the ‘recto’ (front) and ‘verso’ (back).
A vitrine is a glass cabinet or showcase that displays artworks.
Vorticism, a British artistic movement from 1914 to 1915, was inspired by cubism and futurism, emphasising rugged, angular, and machine-like forms.
Virtual art describes the transformation of art into a virtual form, created using the technological tools that emerged in the late 1980s.
Web 3.0 is the next generation of the internet that describes decentralised networks built using blockchain technology.
Wood engraving involves carving lines directly into the woodblock, rather than cutting the background to create raised relief lines, unlike woodcut.
Woodcut, the earliest printmaking technique, is a relief process which involves carving a design onto the surface of a wooden block.
‘Young British Artists’ (YBA) is a loosely-affiliated group of British artists from 1988, known for shock tactics and openness to materials.