A–Z Art Terms: Themes & Market Vocabulary

A — AP

An Artist Proof (AP) is from outside the numbered edition. Historically, APs were the first artworks made from the printer and were used for exhibitions. Now, with digital printing, artist proofs and numbered edition prints are the same.

B — Blue-Chip Artist

An artist whose work is sought-after and well established, reaching consistent auction results and strong gallery representation, is consistently valued on the high-end art market.

C — COA

A Certificate of Authenticity (COA) is often included with a limited edition to validate a work. They will either be produced with an artwork by the artist or the gallery. A COA is not necessary to authenticate a work if it is signed and numbered, but if published with one, it can be essential to keep if you are looking to resell.

D — Diptych

A work that has a theme or image which spans over two works, often produced together, to be displayed side by side. A diptych can be any medium from a painting to a drawing, a print or a photograph. They each should be a piece in their own right, but the pairing will enhance each work and recontextualise each piece.

E — Edition

A limited set of prints, sculptures, or multiples produced by or under the supervision of the artist, often numbered and signed.

F — Figurative

Refers to artworks that depict recognisable forms, especially the human figure, as opposed to abstract or conceptual approaches.

G — Giclée

A fine art digital print using archival materials, including pigment-based inks and high-quality paper, meaning the materials can therefore safely be used for preservation purposes and ensure the artwork is a quality print.

H — Hegemony

A critical theory term used in thematic art analysis, referring to dominant cultural norms or power structures that artists might critique or subvert.

I — Installation

A genre of art that occupies a space as a unified whole, often immersive or multi-sensory, blurring boundaries between viewer and artwork.

J — Juxtaposition

Placing disparate images or themes side by side to create contrast, tension, or new meaning—common in collage, postmodernism, and Surrealism.

K — Kitsch

Art or design considered in poor taste due to excessive sentimentality or mass appeal—often reclaimed or subverted in Pop and Postmodern art.

L — Liminality

Themes of transition, threshold, or the in-between state—explored in contemporary art to reflect psychological, cultural, or existential ambiguity.

M — Memento Mori

A Latin phrase often used to describe the use of motifs such as skulls, butterflies, and hourglasses as they depict mortality and the passing of time through memento mori, meaning “remember that you will die.”

N — Negative Space

The part of an artwork around the subject, the area where shadows or flatness appear around the composition. Typically, the empty areas around and between the objects or people. It’s a crucial design principle that helps create balance, organisation, and readability in visual art and design. By providing breathing room for the elements, white space ensures that each part of the artwork stands out and is easy to understand.

O — Outsider Art

A movement began by Jean Debuffet in post war Europe, looking at the art of the under-represented and those that society overlooks, known as Art Brut. It is now a term broadened and used for art created by self taught individuals or those outside of the traditional art world.

P — Provenance

The history of a work shows where a work has been displayed and who it has been owned as a way to authenticate and value work within the art market.

Q — Queer Theory

A lens of analysis for works that challenge heteronormativity or explore LGBTQIA+ identity, sexuality, and representation.

R — Red-Chip Artist

A term used to describe ultra-contemporary artists in the age of social media outside of typical art establishments, gaining traction with pieces including brand collaborations and limited editions.

S — Secondary Market

When art is resold either by individuals or through auctions or by using online platforms like FairArt once the artwork is no longer available from the Primary Market, which would come directly from the artist, a publisher, or a gallery.

T — Typography

Art using words and phrases as a central part of their composition is known as typography or typographic works. A style that is seen to have started with the production of the printing press and mass-produced text. It is often associated with graffiti and urban art, alongside contemporary and humorous pieces.

U — Underpainting

A foundational painting technique where a preliminary layer is used to define tonal values before final colour is applied—also metaphorically used to discuss "layers" of meaning.

V — Vernacular

Every day or local imagery, language, or styles are incorporated into art to challenge high/low distinctions and engage with cultural identity.

W — WIP

An acronym for “Work in Progress.” This is used largely on original works rather than editions, when the piece has been left unfinished by an artist, as either it was an unpublished or incomplete work or they are actively working on the piece.

X — Xenocentrism

Thematic idea describing preference for or romanticisation of foreign cultures, often explored or critiqued in postcolonial or globalised art.

Y — Young British Artists (YBAs)

A generation of UK artists who gained prominence in the 1990s under the patronage of Charles Saatchi—including Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin—were known for shock tactics and commercial savvy.

Z — Zeitgeist

The “spirit of the age.” Refers to art that captures or critiques the dominant social, political, or cultural forces of its time.