Contemporary Art is postmodern art

Contemporary art is a trend that originated as an unfolding - and overcoming - of modern artistic manifestations. Because of this, it can also be called postmodern art.

Appearing in the second half of the 20th century, this aspect constitutes a new way of producing and appreciating art, being produced until today.

More concerned with combining everyday life with the artistic universe, contemporary art tends to unite different languages.
Currently, it uses technology and digital media as great allies in order to provoke questions and innovative experiences for both artists and the public.

History of Contemporary Art
We can consider that contemporary art begins to bear fruit from movements such as pop art and minimalism, which had the USA as fertile soil in the 60s.

At that time, the context was the post-war period, technological development and the strengthening of capitalism and globalization.

Thus, the cultural industry, and consequently art, underwent major transformations that laid the foundations for the emergence of what we now call contemporary art.

This new artistic practice begins to value ideas and the artistic process more to the detriment of the final form or object, that is, artists begin to seek encouragement to reflect on the world and on art itself. Furthermore, they strive to bring art closer to common life.

In this sense, pop art, with its exponents Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and other artists, creates a cultural setting conducive to contemporary art.
pop art by Andy WarholPop art can be considered a "trigger" for contemporary art. Here, work by Andy Warhol, Marilyn Monroe (1962).Spatuletail/Shutterstock.com

That's because this strand saw mass culture as its founding support, using comics, advertising and even celebrities as creative material, bringing the public closer to the artistic universe.

Likewise, minimalism and post-minimalism (in the late 50s and 60s) offer the opportunity to think about the union between languages such as painting and sculpture, as well as the use of space in an innovative way, be it the gallery environment, urban public spaces or nature.

Subsequently, new developments occurred and enabled the emergence of other forms of expression, such as performances, video art, installations and others.