What is Contemporary Art?

Contemporary art is the art of now. It’s made by living artists—across disciplines, across mediums, across cultures—and it speaks to the complexity of our world in real time. Sometimes it’s political. Sometimes intensely personal. Sometimes it’s a giant blue rooster. Or a set of instructions on a simple notecard.

At its core, contemporary art reflects this moment in culture: our identities, our technologies, our tensions and dreams. It resists easy answers and predictable forms. Instead, it invites dialogue. It sparks debate. It might even change your mind.

Since 1940, the Walker Art Center has been a platform for artists creating what’s next. We champion art in all its expressions—from the visual arts to performing arts to moving image and design—and support the makers who stretch the edges of each medium. Step inside and you might see a film that rewrites the rules of narrative, a performance that transforms silence into spectacle, or a sculpture that listens as much as it speaks.

But the Walker isn’t just about what’s on our walls, stages, or screens. It’s about the exchange that happens between you and the art. Moments when you don’t just look at something—you feel seen by it.

The Walker exists to create those kinds of moments. Through artist talks, informal gatherings, community openings, and hands-on learning, we create space for you to engage with the ideas and people behind the work. It’s a level of access that’s only possible at a world-class center for contemporary art.

So what is contemporary art? It’s your world, as seen through the eyes of today’s artists. It’s a mirror. A megaphone. A meeting place. And most importantly, it’s happening now.