The description contemporary art generally refers to any art that is being produced today. The use of the word "contemporary" to define this type of art is mainly due to the lack of any one particular school of art as recognized by current artists, art historians and critics. It generally includes art produced from the 1960s to the present not forgetting however that artists are still creating works in many past styles and modes.

One sure way of defining contemporary art is that in essence it is indefinable. Before the latter part of the 1960s, most artwork could be categorized quite easily. Even through the 1970s and 80s, there were certain trends such as Minimal art, Lyrical Abstraction, and Conceptual Art to name a few, the changes taking place in the world and the speed with which ideas and communication can be shared mean that a lot of the defining boundaries of art groups have become relaxed.

Contemporary art is not quite the same as the workings of modern art, although the trends and ideas in contemporary styles may directly reflect in modernism.

Contemporary art often deals with matters and issues that are present in the world today. This emphasis on current affairs and politics is in no way a new theme but of late appears to have risen in popularity. Contemporary art can be portrayed in a variety of mediums and is not limited in its methodology or the materials used.