What is Conceptual Art?

Conceptual Art prioritizes ideas over visual form or technical execution. Emerging in the 1960s, the movement proposed that the concept behind a work matters more than its physical manifestation. This traces back to Marcel Duchamp’s readymades, which prioritized artistic choice over craft. While distinct from Surrealism’s interest in unconscious imagery, Conceptual Art shares its questioning of traditional artistic values and boundaries. Some contemporary artists blend conceptual approaches with surrealist imagery, using ideas as frameworks for dreamlike visual content. Explore Conceptual Art on Surrealism Today.