A Dictionary of Modern and Contemporary Art (Oxford Paperback Reference) - Hardcover

This unique and authoritative reference work contains around 2,000 clear and concise entries on all aspects of modern and contemporary art. Its impressive range of terms includes movements, styles, techniques, artists, critics, dealers, schools, and galleries. There are biographical entries for artists worldwide from the beginning of the 20th century through to today's globalized art world, from conservatives and academics to the most controversial of the avant-garde, from household names to a host of lesser known figures. There are indications of public collections and publicly sited works, and in-depth entries for key topics (for example, Cubism, abstract art, and Conceptual art): this dictionary is a fascinating and thorough guide for anyone with an interest in modern and contemporary culture, amateur or professional.

Formerly the Dictionary of 20th Century Art, the text has been completely revised and updated for this major new edition. Over 300 entries have been added and it now contains entries on photography in modern art as well as the new media such as installation and Performance which are such a crucial element of the contemporary scene. With emphasis on recent art and artists, for example Ai Weiwei, Tracey Emin, and Damien Hirst, it has an exceptionally strong coverage of art from the 1960s onwards, which makes it ideal for contemporary art enthusiasts. Further reading is provided at entry level to assist those wishing to know more about a particular subject. In addition, this edition features recommended web links for many entries, which are accessed and kept up to date via the Dictionary of Modern and Contemporary Art companion website.

The perfect companion for the desk, studio, bedside table, or gallery visits, A Dictionary of Modern and Contemporary Art is an essential A-Z reference work for art students, artists, and art lovers.

Ian Chilvers is a freelance writer and editor. He edited The Oxford Dictionary of Art and Artists and co-edited The Concise Oxford Companion to Classical Literature. He has also contributed to many other reference books, including the Macmillan Encyclopedia of Architects and the Grove Dictionary of Art, and he is one of the principal consultants for the Oxford Children's Encyclopedia. John Glaves-Smith has 25 years of experience as a lecturer in the history and theory of modern art at Staffordshire University and Rochdale College of Art. He has contributed to Art Monthly and Artscribe. He organized the highly acclaimed exhibition Reverie, Myth, Sensuality: Sculpture in Britain 1880-1910 at Stoke on Trent City Museum and Art Gallery.