Modern art is a style of art that occurs in the 1800s and 1900s.

Artist: Vincent van Gogh
Date: 1889
Medium: Paintings, Painting
Size: 29 x 36 1/2 in. (73.66 x 92.71 cm) (canvas)39 3/4 x 47 x 3 1/2 in. (100.97 x 119.38 x 8.89 cm) (outer frame)46 3/8 in. (117.79 cm) (diagonal)28 1/2 x 36 in. (72.39 x 91.44 cm) (sight)
Institution: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Accession #: 51.7

Art is one-of-a-kind.

Art is made by very gifted people.

Artist: Georges Seurat
Date: 1888
Medium: Paintings, Painting
Size: 26 x 32-3/4 in. (66.0 x 83.2 cm)
Institution: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Accession #: 55.38

Modern art is not always realistic.

It does not have to include a subject that looks like something you might see in real life.

Artist: Wassily Kandinsky
Date: 1924
Medium: Drawings and Watercolors, Gouaches/Watercolors
Size: sheet 13.625 x 8.875 x inches
Institution: Walker Art Center
Accession #: 1995.85

Henri Matisse was a modern artist.

Artist: Henri Matisse
Date: 1907
Medium: Paintings, Painting
Size: 69 3/4 x 45 15/16 in. (177.17 x 116.68 cm) (canvas)81 1/4 x 56 15/16 x 3 in. (206.38 x 144.62 x 7.62 cm) (outer frame)
Institution: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Accession #: 51.18

Pablo Picasso was also a modern artist.

This artwork is described as Cubist artwork.

How does the person in the picture look different from what you might see ordinarily?

Artist: Pablo Picasso
Date: 1949
Medium: Prints, Print
Size: 25 1/2 x 19 11/16 in. (64.8 x 50.0 cm)
Institution: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Accession #: P.12,574

This mobile artwork includes colorful shapes that move.

Artist: Alexander Calder
Date: 1966
Medium: Sculpture, Sculptures
Size: overall 235 x 351 x 351 inches
Institution: Walker Art Center
Accession #: 1971.16

Later in modern art, they begin to make artwork that shows everyday items, like this soup can.

Artist: Andy Warhol
Date: 1966
Medium: Sculpture, Sculptures
Size: overall 4 x 2.625 x 2.625 inches
Institution: Walker Art Center
Accession #: 2002.312

This artist made artwork that he copied again and again.

Artist: Andy Warhol
Date: 1972
Medium: Prints, Edition Prints/Proofs
Size: unframed 36 x 36 inches
Institution: Walker Art Center
Accession #: 1986.112.1

Sometimes there is no subject matter in modern art.

Artist: Ellsworth Kelly
Date: 1966
Medium: Paintings
Size: each unframed 70.5 x 70.125 x 1.375 inches
Institution: Walker Art Center
Accession #: 1998.13.1-.3

Postmodern art is the movement that occurs after modern art. "Post" means "after." Postmodern art began in the 1960s.

Modern architecture had few details or ornaments. Postmodern art includes more styles and influences from history.

Artist: Ellsworth Kelly
Date: 1988
Medium: Sculpture, Sculptures
Size: each 216 x 40 x 4.5 inches
Institution: Walker Art Center
Accession #: 1988.380.1-.2

Chuck Close is a postmodern artist who is alive today. He creates large portaits of himself and other people.

Zoom in on this painting to see the details. There are lots of small, square modern paintings inside of this large painting.

Artist: Chuck Close
Date: 2000
Medium: Prints, Edition Prints/Proofs
Size: sheet 65.5 x 54.125 inches
Institution: Walker Art Center
Accession #: 2000.62

Postmodern artists focus on equality.

They also pay attention to history. They feel that other people affect the society in which we live.

Betye Saar is an African American artist who uses everyday objects to make folk art.

Artist: Betye Saar
Date: 1989
Medium: Sculpture, Sculptures
Size: Installed 61.25 x 19.75 x 13.25 inches
Institution: Walker Art Center
Accession #: 1995.9.1-.3

Postmodern art believes art can be unique and special, and it can also include the ordinary.

The artist used lots of different materials to make this piece of art.

Artist: Kiki Smith
Date: 2005
Medium: Mixed media, Media Arts, Multimedia
Size: variable
Institution: Walker Art Center
Accession #: 2006.2.1-.178

Postmodern art can be made of many different things, such as televisions. 

If you were going to make an artwork and could use something from your everyday life, what would you use?

Artist: Nam June Paik
Date: 1990
Medium: Mixed media, Media Arts, Multimedia
Size: overall installed 148 x 64 x 48 inches
Institution: Walker Art Center
Accession #: 1990.194.1-.6

Postmodern art includes women and minorities, who were often left out of modern artwork.

Artist: Lorna Simpson
Date: 1991
Medium: Prints, Edition Prints/Proofs
Size: sheet 73.4375 x 37.8125 inches
Institution: Walker Art Center
Accession #: 1992.3

Postmodern art also can be funny, like this puppy!

Artist: Jeff Koons
Date: 1998
Medium: Mixed Media, Multiples, Other
Size: puppy overall 17.5 x 17 x 11 inches
Institution: Walker Art Center
Accession #: 2001.207.1-.2