Key Artists: Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cézanne, Georges Seurat

A departure from Impressionism, emphasizing personal expression, structure, and the emotional potential of colour.

Van Gogh's expressive brushstrokes and use of colour revolutionized the way emotions were conveyed in art.

Key Artists: Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque

A revolutionary approach to form and space, breaking objects down into geometric shapes and presenting multiple perspectives at once. Picasso’s "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" (1907) is often seen as the starting point.

Key Artists: Salvador Dalí, René Magritte, Max Ernst

Focused on the unconscious mind, dreams, and irrationality. Dalí’s "The Persistence of Memory" (1931) remains an iconic surrealist piece.

Key Artists: Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Willem de Kooning

Emphasized spontaneous, automatic, or subconscious creation. Pollock’s "drip paintings" and Rothko’s color field paintings became central to the movement.

Key Artists: Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Claes Oldenburg

Focused on consumer culture, mass media, and commercial products. Warhol's "Campbell's Soup Cans" (1962) and Lichtenstein's comic-inspired works challenged the boundaries between fine art and popular culture.

Key Artists: Donald Judd, Frank Stella, Dan Flavin

A reaction against Abstract Expressionism’s emotional intensity, Minimalism focused on simplicity, geometric forms, and industrial materials.

Key Artists: Bridget Riley, Victor Vasarely

Based on optical illusions and perceptual effects, Op Art creates the illusion of movement or vibrating colors.

Key Artists: Sol LeWitt, Joseph Kosuth, Bruce Nauman

Focused on the idea or concept behind the artwork rather than the physical object. Kosuth’s "One and Three Chairs" (1965) exemplifies this shift.

Key Artists: Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Banksy

Graffiti and street art began to gain prominence, with Basquiat’s raw, energetic paintings and Haring’s vibrant, graphic figures making a major impact on the art world.

Key Artists: Anselm Kiefer, Julian Schnabel, David Salle

A revival of emotional intensity and figuration in painting. Neo-Expressionism was a reaction to Minimalism and Conceptualism, with artists bringing back vivid colors, dynamic compositions, and often dark themes.

Key Artists: Jeff Koons, Cindy Sherman, Jenny Holzer

The rise of digital technologies led to new forms of art, including computer-generated works, video installations, and interactive art. Artists began experimenting with new media, video art, and digital photography.

Key Artists: Ryan Trecartin, Petra Cortright

Emerging as a response to the ubiquity of the internet, post-internet art explores themes of virtual identity, digital culture, and online spaces. Artists create works that often exist solely online or blur the lines between physical and digital realities.

Key Artists: Yayoi Kusama, James Turrell, Olafur Eliasson

Artists began to create immersive environments that engage the senses. Yayoi Kusama's Infinity Rooms and Olafur Eliasson’s environmental installations invited viewers to engage physically with art in new ways.

Key Artists: Agnes Meyer-Brandis, Tania Bruguera, Olafur Eliasson

A growing number of contemporary artists are engaging with environmental and ecological themes, addressing issues such as climate change, sustainability, and the human impact on the planet.