kinetic art

American  

noun

1. art, as sculptural constructions, having movable parts activated by motor, wind, hand pressure, or other direct means and often having additional variable elements, as shifting lights.

---

kinetic art British  

noun

1. art, esp sculpture, that moves or has moving parts

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• kinetic artist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of kinetic art

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

“It’s stunning,” said Christina Carvalho, a 43-year-old accountant from Oakland, Calif., as she stood on the ship’s Royal Promenade, gaping up at “The Pearl,” a gigantic kinetic art installation.

From New York Times • Feb. 9, 2024

Venezuela, in particular, was a hotbed of geometric and kinetic art.

From Washington Post • Apr. 14, 2023

Pinball is living, kinetic art with many of the games inspired by pop culture.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 15, 2023

Pictured at top: This work, titled “Rotorelief,” is by Marcel Duchamp, who was the pioneer of kinetic art, and is often referred to as the greatest artist of the 20th century.

From Washington Times • Jan. 13, 2021

The word signals just how tainted the established term, kinetic art, now demoted to subtitle status, has long been.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 27, 2017