Welcome back to our blog series with CEO Ann Priftis, where we take a closer look at the ever-evolving world of contemporary art.

You’ve probably heard the terms Pop Art or Installation Art before, but do you know what they actually mean? The art world is full of terminology that can feel overwhelming at times, and even seasoned collectors encounter words that spark curiosity.

At Off Piste Fine Arts, we represent only Contemporary artists, yet their practices span a wide range of styles and movements. To help you navigate this vibrant landscape, we’ve created a quick guide to some of the most frequently used art terms.

Let’s dive in.

You’ve probably heard the terms Pop Art and Installation Art … but do you know what they mean?  The vast vocabulary used to describe the various movements and styles of art within the art world can be confusing.  While Off Piste art galleries represent work only by Contemporary artists, the styles of art we show cover a broad range including minimalism, realism, pop, etc.  Here’s a cheat sheet of frequently used art terminology to describe Contemporary (Late 20th Century - Present), styles:

Minimalism: Simplicity, repetition and industrial materials are all traits of minimalist art which originated as a movement in the late 1950s and ‘60s.  In a minimalist piece, all unnecessary things are stripped away in order to emphasize form, material and space.

Pop Art: Bold colors and the use of imagery from popular culture are hallmarks of Pop Art.  Often Pop artists leverage ironic use of imagery from popular culture including advertising, comic books, celebrities and mass-produced consumer goods. The production process of Pop Art can mimic the commercial printing techniques of more mass produced items. Pop Art challenges the distinction between “high” and “low” art. Jeff Koons is a highly recognizable figure in the Contemporary Pop Art movement.

Conceptual Art is focused on the idea or the concept behind the art and potentially the process of creating it, as opposed to the final object. Originally conceptual art was started as a protest against traditional forms of fine art like painting and sculpture, challenging the notion that art must be beautiful, permanent or tangible.

Installation Art is used to describe typically large-scale, immersive environments. Installation art is often temporary or site-specific with the work created for a particular location or event.  Usually meant to be experienced in person, installation art is designed to transform a viewer’s perception of space.

Street Art: While often painted in public spaces - typically on walls, sidewalks or other urban surfaces, (often without official permission), street art has increasingly become more mainstream and is often focused on political, social or cultural commentary.  Street art is known for both its bold style and accessible compositions. Mr. Brainwash is considered a street artist.

Digital Art is a form of artistic expression that uses digital technology as an essential part of the creative or presentation process. Encompassing a wide range of styles, tools and formats, it has become a major part of contemporary art and design.  Digital art is often screen-based but can also be printed, projected or interactive.  

The next time you visit Whistler Contemporary, Mountain Galleries, or Sun Valley Contemporary, see how many styles you can recognize. From bold street art to meditative minimalism, contemporary art offers endless ways to engage and connect—and now you’ll have the vocabulary to better understand it.

Ann Priftis

CEO