Across the globe, new art traditions have responded to the radical changes of the 20th century.
1945 - present
videos + essays
We're adding new content all the time!
Ibrahim El-Salahi, Reborn Sounds of Childhood Dreams
How would you paint a picture of something that’s not quite representable… like the sound of voices chanting, a spiritual vision, a childhood memory, or a dream that you can’t remember?
Song Su-Nam, Summer Trees
Song explores Western abstraction, but also embraces the East-Asian tradition of ink wash painting.
Uche Okeke
Okeke learned uli, an Igbo female painting tradition, from his mother, and infused it with a modern sensibility.
Liu Chunhua, Chairman Mao en Route to Anyuan
Chairman Mao is portrayed as a revolutionary leader championing the common people in this work of socialist realism.
Browse Smarthistory images for teaching & learning!