Welcome back to our blog, where we explore the art world through the lens of collectors, artists, and industry insight. 

As you navigate galleries, online platforms, or conversations with artists, you may come across terms that feel unfamiliar. Understanding this language can make the experience of collecting more accessible, allowing you to engage more confidently with the work you’re drawn to.

 One of the most commonly used terms in contemporary art is “mixed media.” While widely referenced, it can encompass a broad range of techniques and approaches. In this post, we break down what mixed media means, how artists use it, and why it continues to play such an important role in contemporary art.

Let’s get started.

If you’ve browsed an art gallery, scrolled through an online art platform or visited an artist’s studio, chances are you’ve seen the phrase ‘mixed media’ … but what exactly does this mean? The art world has its own language and we’re here to help you decode it so you can feel more comfortable speaking about art and collecting pieces you love.

In art, mixed media refers to a technique or artwork that combines two or more different artistic materials or mediums in a single piece. For example: 

• Traditional combinations: Paint (oil, acrylic, watercolor) with ink, charcoal or pastel. 
•  Textural elements: Adding fabric, paper, wood or found objects to a painted surface. 
• Contemporary approaches: Incorporating photography, digital prints, or 3D elements with traditional painting or drawing.

The goal of mixed media is often to create depth, contrast and unique visual effects that a single medium alone might not achieve. Mixed media techniques are widely used in contemporary art because it allows artists to experiment and push boundaries. 

One note: mixed media is not the same thing as multimedia.  Mixed media always refers to visual art that combines different physical materials or mediums in a single artwork. Multimedia refers to art that combines different formats of media, often including digital or interactive elements, for example: video, sound and animation combined in a single piece.

Throughout our Whistler, Mountain and Sun Valley Contemporary galleries, you’ll find a wide variety of mixed media artworks including Taylor Smith’s upcycled floppy disc pieces, Mr. Brainwash’s silkscreen and spraypaint works on paper and Brendan Murphy’s innovative use of gouache and oil.  Simply search our sites through the Mixed Media filter on our Artists & Artwork pages or reach out to your trusted Off Piste Art Advisor for guidance.

Ann Priftis

CEO