modern art

American  

noun

1. art that was produced in the late 1860s through the 1970s and that rejected traditionally accepted forms and emphasized individual experimentation and sensibility.

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Etymology

Origin of modern art

First recorded in 1800–10, for an earlier sense

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

modern art

Suspects behind the theft were arrested last week as authorities discovered they were next planning to target the Fondation Maeght in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, home to one of Europe's largest collections of modern art.

From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026

In the 1930s and 1940s, postrevolutionary Mexico emerged as both an incubator of modern art and haven for European refugees, political exiles and other expats.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026

Our critic said the show “stakes out enlightening new ground” in its exploration of “one of the most influential figures in modern art history.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 21, 2026

The album is experimental, merging modern art with Romanticism.

From Salon ● Jun. 5, 2026

But in Miss Penelope Lumley’s day, modern art had not yet been invented, and a painting of a sheep was universally expected to show legs, wool, and a fluffy tail.

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood

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