This six-week course provides rich answers to those questions, moving from the birth of Pop Art and Minimalism in the 1960s to the latest developments in the downtown galleries. Designed as an accessible introduction to the field, it covers concepts and terms in ways that can help explain a broad range of work. The course explores conceptual art and painting, video art and sculpture, and much more, and to provide context for these issues we also touch on market developments, explaining how contemporary art gets supported, bought and sold.
Demonstrate an understanding of the evolution of art from Pop Art to today
Learn about different types of art forms from these periods and how they influenced future work, from land art and sculpture to painting and drawing
Consider contemporary art within the wider context of circulation, curation, display, and consumption
Understand broad theories or philosophies of art, as well as being able to competently discuss and communicate responses to artworks
Apply knowledge about art to the historical, cultural and economic context, and vice versa
Faculty, MA Contemporary Art, and MA Historic Art and Design, New York
Morgan Falconer is a critic and art historian. After completing a PhD on art and culture in New York in the 1920s and 1930s, he worked as an art journalist and critic, first in London and later in New York. He has written about contemporary art for publications including "The Times (London)," "Art Journal," "The Economist," "Frieze," "The Burlington Magazine," "The Village Voice," and "Art in America." He has written catalogue essays on artists including Georg Baselitz ("Gagosian," 2019), Ugo Rondinone ("Ringier," 2018) and Alex Katz ("Hannover Kestnergesellschaft," 2011). His research interests span Postminimalism, art criticism, and the avant-garde, and his books include "Painting Beyond Pollock" (Phaidon), a history of painting after 1945, and "How to Be Avant-Garde" (W.W. Norton), a biographical exploration of modern artists’ quest to end art.
Read MoreDay 1: Begin with an introduction to Pop Art, Minimalism, and the birth of contemporary art.
Day 2: Explore conceptual art, pictures, and museological puzzles.
Day 3: Discuss the medium of painting and the waning and waxing interest in it throughout recent decades.
Day 4: Learn about the art of photography, from the arrival of color to the triumph of big pictures.
Day 5: Understand how sculpture and monuments impacted the art scene.
Day 6: Discover the contemporary global art scene and how we got here.
Course participants take away in-depth and valuable insight into the current and future art world. Those who successfully complete their course will receive a certificate of completion from Sotheby’s Institute of Art.
Sotheby’s Institute of Art course participants come from all over the world, from a wide variety of backgrounds. As they study, travel, and explore the art world alongside each other throughout the program, fierce and long-lasting collaborations are frequently born. Individuals who complete these courses join our network of over 8,000 past participants around the globe who hold top positions at renowned art organizations.
English Language Requirement
Course participants should be proficient in written and spoken English and be able to participate in group discussions and presentations in English. It is recommended that participants have the equivalent level of IELTS score of 6.0 /TOEFL score of 78 IBT, however evidence of test scores is not required to register.
Age Requirement
Courses are open to participants 18 years of age or older, however, we prefer that students have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience to be able to properly engage in the course.
For more information, please see our Terms and Conditions.
We encourage interested individuals to book a consultation time with a member of our admissions team to learn more about this course and our registration process.
Please use this link to book a consultation time via phone or video call.