Unlocking the Terminology of the Art World
Avoid getting lost in translation – here’s the Art Voyage guide on “how to speak art”
The art world is full of specific – sometimes obscure – terminology, sometimes even including snippets of other languages, such as French or Latin. This can make things confusing and overwhelming, especially for those who are newer to the scene. If you’re curious about unlocking the language of art, Art Voyage has put together a handy guide to some of the most important or popular art terms as of 2025.
Abstract Art
Also known as non-representational art. Abstract art is an umbrella term for art which is not realistic – that is, it does not attempt to give a “realistic” depiction of something that exists in the visible world. Abstract art either depicts a “real” object, such as a portrait, landscape, or still life, in a non-realistic way (for example, think of Picasso’s portraits) or expresses an abstract concept, feeling, or idea (for example, think of Kasimir Malevich’s Black Square).
The term “abstract art” is extremely broad and can be divided into many different subcategories and related terms, styles and movements. The opposite of abstract art is representational art, which depicts something “real” or “realistically” – that is, it “represents” something that exists in the visible world.
AI Art
AI art is an umbrella term for art which has been created wholly or partially using generative artificial intelligence technology, such as Midjourney. This can come in many different forms, ranging from using prompts to quickly generate a graphic with ChatGPT (see below), to integrating AI into existing creative practices. In November 2024, a robot known as Ai-Da created a painting that sold for $1million at auction. The technology is still developing and remains somewhat controversial among artists and collectors due to concerns around copyright, ownership and sustainability.
Art Fair
Art fairs are some of the most popular and important events in today’s Art Market. Artists and galleries from all over the world are invited to set up booths in a single fair venue, where Collectors, Curators, and enthusiasts can browse and buy. They come in all shapes and sizes, from small-scale local affairs to massive international mainstays like Frieze and Art Basel. Aside from the main event, fairs often host performances, talks, and workshops or other educational programmes. Some fairs, such as viennacontemporary, also offer special programmes for children and young people.
Art Market
Contemporary Art Issue defines the art market broadly as “the commercial sphere of the art world.” It encompasses the buying, selling, and commercial collecting of all types of art.
Atelier
French term, literally meaning studio. This term either denotes an artist’s physical workshop or a collective of artists and/or designers working together. Can also mean a “small, independent art school.”
Biennial
A biennial is a form of large-scale Art Fair occurring every two years (not to be confused with a triennial, which takes place every three years). The term is sometimes also styled Biennale. These shows unfold over several weeks or even months, during which international galleries and art institutions come together to exhibit and sell works by current artists. Biennials tend to be spread out over several venues and may also include Satellite Shows. There are biennials and triennials on every continent – including Antarctica! Typically, the events are based in a single city or area (for example, the famous Venice Biennale), but Art Voyage does things differently. As a Nomadic Biennial, we come to a different city every two years! Find out more here.
Blue-Chip
Blue-chip art refers to high-value artworks by well-known Established or master artists (living or dead). Examples of famous blue-chip artists range from Claude Monet to Jeff Koons. Blue-chip artworks have been previously bought and sold at high prices and have a known Provenance. The opposite of blue-chip art is red-chip art, a newer term denoting works by Emerging or mid-career artists who experience a sudden, meteoric rise to fame. Both types refer to high-value art, but red-chip art is much newer and less predictable.
Buyer’s Premium
An art sale term meaning an additional fee paid by the buyer to the auction house, calculated as a percentage of the Hammer Price.
Catalogue Raisonné
French term, literally meaning reasoned catalogue. A comprehensive, annotated listing of all known works by an artist. These are carefully produced by one or more specialists, who use archival documents, photographs, and other research to decide which pieces belong in the catalogue. Many catalogues also contain information on a piece’s Provenance. They are very important documents both for art sales and for the study of art history.
Collector
An art collector is someone who researches, buys, and collects art, either privately or on behalf of an institution. While art collecting is traditionally seen as exclusive to the wealthy elite, it is becoming increasingly accessible to others. Many collectors visit Art Fairs and Biennials to discover and buy new art, and work with Dealers when they are ready to sell.
Commission
Commissioning is the act of paying for a specific artwork to be created. Commissioners often work closely with their chosen artists to make sure the final piece reflects their wishes for size, style, and content.
Conservator
Someone who restores, repairs, and cares for an artwork.
Curator
A curator is responsible for creating exhibitions and managing collections at museums and galleries. They are traditionally affiliated with a particular cultural institution, but more recently freelance and independent curators have also played a more prominent role.
Deaccessioning
Removing a piece from a museum or other institution in order to sell it, often to help raise funds for the care, Conservation or expansion of a museum’s collection. This can be a controversial process, as it often leads to ethical debates about the cultural versus financial value of an artwork or artefact.
Dealer
A dealer is an individual or organisation responsible for facilitating the purchase and sale of artworks.
Emerging Artist
An artist who is still in the process of establishing their reputation and developing a body of work. Usually, emerging artists are younger creatives in the first 5-10 years of their careers, but this is not always the case – many celebrated artists began their careers later in life, or experienced sudden career growth after decades of work.
Established Artist
The opposite of an Emerging Artist. An established artist is one with a considerable body of work and several major shows under their belt, usually including international exhibitions. They are more widely known, have been written about in art publications and press, and tend to fetch consistently higher prices at auction.
Gallerist
A gallerist owns or operates an art gallery. The role is sometimes, but not always, similar to that of a Curator, often depending on the size of the gallery. A gallerist is the face of their gallery, and is often involved with representing and promoting their artists at exhibitions, auctions, Art Fairs, and Biennials.
Graduate Show
A graduate show is an art show typically hosted towards the end of the academic year in order to showcase the work of new art graduates. They are often, but not always, hosted by art schools or arts universities. These are typically separated into undergraduate and postgraduate shows and may be interdisciplinary or focus on one specific course (e.g. BA Fine Art or MA Painting), depending on the number of students. Graduate shows help young artists to establish connections and build their reputations as they enter the art world.
Hammer Price
Art sale term. The final bid price on an artwork at auction, before the addition of Buyer’s Premium.
Installation
An umbrella term for a type of art made up of different pieces or objects arranged in a space. It is often multimedia and can be made up of different traditional and non-traditional forms, such as paintings, sculptures, video and audio art, and found objects. Installations make use of space in different ways and can even be interactive, with viewers invited to enter, touch, or otherwise engage with the piece. Some installations are site-specific, which means they are designed to be set up and displayed in one specific location.
NFT Art
NFT is an abbreviation for “non-fungible token,” which means something that cannot be copied or exchanged. NFT Art is a piece of digital art, usually traded with the cryptocurrency Ethereum, that comes with a unique blockchain identifier, guaranteeing ownership in a way that other digital art cannot. NFT Art can come in the form of images, videos, or audio files, but are always digital. NFTs experienced a major boom upon first release, sparking intense debate and controversy. They depend heavily on the fluctuations of the crypto market and operate largely separately from traditional galleries and fairs.
Op Art
Short for Optical Art. Op Art is a type of abstract art which plays with shapes and patterns to produce effects of moving, blurring, flashing or any kind of distortions of space, similar to an optical illusion. This is intended to create a sense of disorientation in the viewer. The Op Art movement first emerged in the 1960s.
Performance Art
Performance art is an umbrella term that encompasses a vast variety of art forms. As the IMMA explains,performance art uses “the body […], time, space and the relationship between performer and audience” as a medium to convey ideas and emotions. In other words, instead of a physical painting, sculpture or installation, performance artists create artwork through their actions or the actions of participants. Often interdisciplinary and highly conceptual, they can be one-off live events or recorded pieces.
Not to be confused with “the performing arts”, which is a broader term for performance-based art forms such as theatre, dance, and music.
Provenance
The history of ownership of a particular artwork, used to establish authenticity and value. Provenance research is an important part of the acquisition process for collectors and curators. You can read more about an example of museum provenance research here.
Retrospective
Derived from the Latin word retrospectare, meaning to look back, a retrospective is a type of exhibition which usually represents the entire body of work of one artist (although can also represent one longer period of an artist’s life). Therefore, they tend to focus on Established Artists later in their careers with large existing oeuvres. They are typically arranged chronologically, but can also be arranged thematically.
Satellite Fair
Smaller fairs and events that take place during larger Art Fairs and Biennials.
Vendor’s Commission
Art sale term. A percentage of the Hammer Price that goes to the auctioneer if the item is sold.
Vernissage
French term, meaning varnishing. A vernissage refers to a private viewing before the official opening of an exhibition or show.
Video Art
A type of performance art installation consisting of film or video.