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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

modern art

In her bedroom, she mixes floral textiles and modern art with a quirky stepstool shaped like an ear of corn.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 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

Who knows what faces I’m making, what kind of modern art I’m drawing onto myself?

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood