There are numerous art forms, and they can be broadly categorized into several major types. Here are some of the primary categories and examples within each:
Painting: Oil, acrylic, watercolor, gouache, fresco, digital painting
Drawing: Pencil, charcoal, ink, pastels, digital drawing
Sculpture: Stone, metal, wood, clay, plastic, 3D printing
Photography: Portrait, landscape, street, fashion, documentary, fine art
Printmaking: Etching, lithography, screen printing, woodcut, mono type
Film and Video Art: Experimental film, video installations
Mixed Media: Combining different materials and techniques in one piece
Dance: Ballet, modern, jazz, hip-hop, contemporary, folk
Theater: Drama, comedy, musical theater, improvisation, puppetry
Music: Classical, jazz, rock, pop, electronic, folk, world music, opera
Performance Art: Live performances that may combine various art forms
Poetry: Sonnets, haikus, free verse, spoken word
Prose: Novels, short stories, essays, creative nonfiction
Drama: Plays, screenplays, scripts
Design: Graphic design, interior design, fashion design, industrial design, web design
Crafts: Ceramics, glass art, woodworking, metalworking, textiles, quilting, jewelry making
Digital Painting: Created using digital tools
Digital Illustration: Commercial and conceptual illustrations
3D Modeling and Animation: For films, video games, VR experiences
Interactive Art: Art that involves audience interaction, often using digital technology
Game Design: Creation of video games as an art form
Folk Art: Traditional crafts, music, dance, and storytelling specific to a culture or community
Indigenous Art: Art forms created by indigenous peoples, often tied to cultural and spiritual practices
Weaving: Creating textiles on a loom
Embroidery: Decorative stitching on fabric
Knitting and Crochet: Creating fabrics from yarn
Quilting: Sewing together layers of fabric
Furniture Design: Artistic furniture creation
Glass Art: Stained glass, blown glass
Ceramics: Pottery, porcelain, and earthenware
New Media Art:
Installation Art: Large-scale, often site-specific installations
Sound Art: Art that uses sound as its primary medium
Light Art: Art that uses light and shadow as mediums
These categories cover a wide range of art forms, but the boundaries are often fluid, and many artists work across multiple disciplines, creating hybrid or interdisciplinary art forms.
Copyright © National Art Foundation 2024