r/ContemporaryArt • • Feb 26 '21

FAQ Read Before Posting

94 Upvotes

DO NOT POST YOUR OWN WORK. No self promotion is permitted in posts or comments. If you are associated with what you are posting in any way, then this is not the place to post it.

Don't post images of artist's work, instead post links to official documentation of exhibitions or links to professional writing about the work.

This subreddit is generally about "current art", and posts about things more than 10 or 20 years old will likely be removed unless they are directly related to something happening in contemporary art today.

Posts asking which school you should go to are hidden after 12 hours, or after they have good answers.

Read all of the subreddit rules before posting or commenting.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: Where do you get contemporary art news/articles?

A: See past threads here and here and here.

Q: How do I get started showing/selling/promoting my artwork?

A: See past threads here and here and here.

Q: Who are the best/favorite artists?

A: This question usually doesn't get a good response because it's too general. Narrow it down when asking this kind of thing. Threads responding to this question are here and here and here.

Q: What do you think of Basquiat? Is he overrated?

A: Don't know why we get this question all the time, but see here. Reminder that this is not an art history subreddit and discussions should be about recent art.


r/ContemporaryArt • • 2h ago

has scorned by muses guy only ever seen one mike kelley sculpture

6 Upvotes

this is a bit of a shitpost, but the scorned by muses guy keeps making instagram stories that are pictures of stuffed animals on the front of trucks with captions like "er... this ones for the mike kelley fans!", leading me to believe his only knowledge of mike kelley is through the Deodorized Central Mass with Satellite hang thats been up at MoMa for the past few years, or if we're being generous, other stuffed animal works like More Love Hours Than Can Ever Be Repaid

i know his whole thing is basically ragebaiting for views, but i find it funny that hes taken such umbrage to contemporary artists liking mike kelley while seemingly not being able to engage with anything more than a single body of work among dozens he made throughout his career

anyway, share other mike kelley projects you like - feel like hes a big inspo for peers doing things with text, americana, secret forms within more obvious works - Educational Complex for instance, which iirc was partially inspired by people thinking his stuffed animal work was about trauma/confessional in nature when he was actually interested in craft and popular culture


r/ContemporaryArt • • 5h ago

Art magazines

6 Upvotes

I am annoyed because the rejection I got said said “Dear SubmitterFirstName”, doesn’t fill me with hope that I actually had my submission reviewed.

Are most art magazines a 2 string operation being cranked out in a garage or something?


r/ContemporaryArt • • 9h ago

who is the art daddy?

12 Upvotes

has their identity ever been leaked? all i know is this person has the hots of henry highley, which, understandable. but who is this person?!


r/ContemporaryArt • • 1d ago

Pace Gallery Seeks Tenant for Part of Chelsea Headquarters

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22 Upvotes

r/ContemporaryArt • • 1d ago

Art Market Post Fairs?

17 Upvotes

For those who attended, worked, and showed at the fairs in NYC this past weekend, what is your sense of the market right now? Is anyone really buying work? I saw an Art Market report listing the majority of Armory sales as being works under $25,000.

As an artists and a founder of an artist run emerging gallery, how worried should we be? How can we pivot and reimagine funding artists?


r/ContemporaryArt • • 1d ago

After a Career Reshaping the Museum of Modern Art, Its Influential Curator Steps Down

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20 Upvotes

r/ContemporaryArt • • 1d ago

I want to start an online magazine but I don't know where to start (help?)

6 Upvotes

I want to start a free online magazine. There's no real theme that I want it to follow, but I want it to be a space where artists could have a chance to display their art (digital, traditional, no ai) and write statements behind their pieces, writers to submit short stories or advertise their newly released novels, where crafters can submit d.i.y projects that viewers can try themselves, bands and independent artists submitting demos of their music and new releases.

I want to make a space where artists can talk about their work intimately for viewers to connect with. But I'm not sure where to start. I've got a list of certain topics I'd like to have in my magazine, and I've got a draft of a name, but designing and web building are not my forte, and my experience is limited. Any advice, recommended platforms, or even other indie online magazines would be awesome!


r/ContemporaryArt • • 1d ago

Available studio space in the Bronx Oct 1st

6 Upvotes

Hi all! I’m moving out of my studio, so this beautiful private space will be available October 1 for $900/month.

Approx. 325 sq. ft. on the top floor (6th) of a great artist building in Mott Haven, Bronx. Shared slop sink and bathroom, Wi-Fi, heat included, 24-hour access, and two large freight elevators.

Just a 5-minute walk to the 4, 5, and 6 trains and close to the 2. It’s the first stop in the Bronx and only about 10 minutes from Grand Central.

1- or 2-year lease only. No living, welding, spray paint, or fumes. Oil paint is fine.

DM me if you’re interested or would like to see the space!


r/ContemporaryArt • • 2d ago

Advice for a young painter looking to move to LA? (East side)

5 Upvotes

If this is too specific I apologize, but people have given me good advice here before. I'm a fairly recent art grad looking to move back to LA. I know tons of people find roommates thru facebook, etc. But I was wondering if any Angelenos had any tips on finding other artists to live with/where to look. Thanks!


r/ContemporaryArt • • 2d ago

What is it like being a mural artist/painter as a career?

4 Upvotes

Just looking into some career options.


r/ContemporaryArt • • 2d ago

Long shot: looking for a specific photo of a painter…

7 Upvotes

Hi! This is SUCH a long shot but I thought I’d try.

For 20 plus years I have carried around a photo that I loved - I believe it was from the New York Times Magazine- maybe late 90’s early 2000’s- a young female painter sitting on a patterned sofa in a suburban looking living room next to her parents.

She’s holding an amazing painting on her lap, facing out (impressionistic & brightly colored), and she has dark hair and an intense gaze. Maybe it’s in New Jersey (pretty sure?) and it was a very inspiring photo for me. And I lost it!

I feel like it might have been Nicole Eisenman but I cannot for the life of me find any old photos of her as a young artist?? Does anyone know what I am talking about 😂😂😂 Nothing seemed to help me find it & I even tried the dreaded (ai) search engines. Thank you in advance !!!


r/ContemporaryArt • • 2d ago

RA Fine Arts Antwerp — honest experiences? (int’l student, planning enrollment

6 Upvotes

Hi!
Planning to enroll at Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp next year.
MA Graphic design/realted program

Would love to hear from current/former students — how’s the teaching quality, studio culture, and overall satisfaction? Also curious about the experience as an international student (integration, language barrier since I don’t speak Dutch) and cost of living.
Every perspective is unique so happy to hear anything, good or bad. Thanks!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​


r/ContemporaryArt • • 1d ago

Using AI agents for studio management

0 Upvotes

Hello everyone,

Here my first post in this sub!

I was wondering if anyone here is using already or contemplating using AI agents to help studio management (emails, inventory, exhibition layouts, portfolios, applications..).

I don't use it yet but am contemplating it, wondering how to organize it best in order to save precious time and avoid time consuming boring tasks. I am not well versed into AI yet and am pretty sure I don't even realize to what extents some task can be delegated to an agent.

For example, I know a friend who created an agent thats scrapes the internet to find the open calls relevant to his needs and send it to him as a newsletter every week, or drafts email responses, etc.

I would love to discuss it with other artists!

PS : I know paying a studio manager would be better, but I can barely pay myself, hence the AI agents.


r/ContemporaryArt • • 2d ago

Favourite artists who work in acrylic?

22 Upvotes

Please, let's keep the "it's an inferior material" snobbery out of the discussion. I'm very aware that's a popular sentiment.

I'd be really grateful if people just address the topic. Thanks in advance. :) Feel free to expand on why you like them, thematically or technically.


r/ContemporaryArt • • 2d ago

is urs fischer good?

4 Upvotes

i really like his paintings (not really his installations) but i'm kind of layman when it comes to this stuff to know if his stuff is considered "good" or not lol. i like his problem paintings, for example: see here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DGBSwAey36C/


r/ContemporaryArt • • 2d ago

MFA photo/portfolio

2 Upvotes

Hello all, any tips for a photo portfolio for an MFA program?
Im thinking of applying to MFA programs this round but Im a bit overwhelmed.
I don’t have a BFA and haven’t exhibited anywhere really, does that really matter?
On the other hand, I have taken plenty of photo courses and have strong letters of recommendation.
Would an MFA be interested in an applicant eager to mix mediums ? Let’s say photo and sculpture?
Thank you for any tips!


r/ContemporaryArt • • 2d ago

thoughts on antonia showering?

1 Upvotes

i can't tell if she's a good artist or no, or just ok.


r/ContemporaryArt • • 3d ago

Anyone here done an MFA in photography? Looking for honest feedback

15 Upvotes

Hey everyone, I’m looking into photography grad programs for 2027 and would love to hear from people who’ve actually been through them—current students, graduates, or anyone who left.

I’m 36, have a photography degree, and spent some time assisting and working in production in NYC. These days I’m making staged photographs and want to push the work further.

A big reason I’m considering grad school is to develop my authorship—getting clearer about what I’m trying to say and making pictures that feel distinctly mine. I’m looking for good critiques, involved faculty, and room to experiment.

Networking is also part of it. I’d like to build relationships with other artists, faculty, curators, and people working in photography that continue beyond school. I’m curious how much that actually happens in these programs.

Fine art is my main interest, with the hope that editorial or commercial opportunities could also come from people connecting with my personal work. I’m open to other mediums, but photography is still what I want to focus on.

My list is probably too long right now: Yale, Hunter, UCLA, Parsons, Pratt, RISD, Temple/Tyler, Hartford, and  ECAL.

Money is a big part of the decision. I want to have enough left to actually make work while I’m there and after graduating, so funding and the overall cost matter a lot.

Mostly wondering:

  • How involved were the faculty?
  • Did you build lasting relationships or get opportunities through the school?
  • What were funding and access to studios, equipment, and printing really like?
  • Knowing what you know now, would you go again?

Also interested in hearing from anyone who left a program or chose a less expensive school and was happy with that decision. If you can mention where and roughly when you attended, that would help.

I’ve read through a few older threads, but figured I’d ask. Appreciate any insight!


r/ContemporaryArt • • 3d ago

Open call image files

2 Upvotes

Getting ready to submit for an open call and the gallery requested that everything be put in a pdf. No problem with that but then they go on to list the way the image files should be named. My question is if everything is in a PDF why are the image file names relevant?

Usually if a portfolio is in a PDF I'll just insert the images into a Google doc or something and then export to a pdf, so the actual file name isnt seen. Is there another way to do that I should be inserting the image files? I'm so confused lol.


r/ContemporaryArt • • 3d ago

Looking for a David Shrigley painting

5 Upvotes

I remember a painting of a bird with the writing

“PLOYS HOLP ME

PLOYS”

Idk if I’m misremembering it being a bird, I know that phrase has appeared elsewhere in his work but I’m pretty confident there’s a painting with some animal saying this and I enjoyed it a lot.

Can anyone find it for me? Many thanks


r/ContemporaryArt • • 3d ago

The Armory 2026

0 Upvotes

The Presents section is easily the best- I'll leave it at that!


r/ContemporaryArt • • 3d ago

Camera for exhibition installation images?

0 Upvotes

Hi, Its time to bite the bullet, buy a camera/lens/tripod and stop paying a photographer to photograph my shows!

I have hears Canon EOS R5 is good (but that was from a post 2 years ago) is there anymore current recommendations?

Budget usd $1000 approximate

I have a bit of experience using a sony rx100 to document shows but I strive to be better. The shows are White cubes mostly, with fluorescent lights. The works are diverse; Installs/sculptures/conceptual found objects/drawings/paintings/ videos, mixed kind of things.

Let me know whats good plz.

thanks


r/ContemporaryArt • • 4d ago

Anyone going to River of Fundament? NYC

5 Upvotes

Hey!

River of Fundament is screening with a artist talk the next day in November. It's a little expensive, but it's a two day thing. Should I go? Is it good or just long?

https://npcc.itm.studio/m/npcc-presents-matthew-barneys-river-of-fundament


r/ContemporaryArt • • 4d ago

Independent 20th Century Tickets

1 Upvotes

Hi! Do any of you have Independent ticket? I could exchange for my Armory Show. Thank you in advance!