Historical narratives of global modern art

Diversifying the current art historical scholarship, this edited volume presents the untold story of modern art by exposing global voices and perspectives excluded from the privileged and uncontested narrative of “isms.”

This volume tells a worldwide story of art with expanded historical narratives of modernism. The chapters reflect on a wide range of issues, topics, and themes that have been marginalized or outright excluded from the canon of modern art. The goal of this book is to be a starting point for understanding modern art as a broad and inclusive field of study. The topics examine diverse formal expressions, innovative conceptual approaches, and various media used by artists around the world and forcefully acknowledge the connections between art, historical circumstances, political environments, and social issues such as gender, race, and social justice.

The book will be of interest to scholars working in art history, imperial and colonial history, modernism, and globalization.

Irina D. Costache is Professor of Art History at California State University Channel Islands. The books she published include The Art of Understanding Art (Wiley-Blackwell, 2012), translated into Chinese in 2015, Venezia, Italia/Venice, California (Sestante Edizioni, 2015), co-authored, and the anthology Academics, Artists and Museums (Routledge, 2018), co-editor. Her current research examines issues related to modern art, digital media, and museums. She is also working on a digital project on futurist art theory and another on nature and culture in the Anthropocene. Dr. Costache has also curated numerous exhibitions including recently The Long Struggle for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Icons, Moments, and Voices Selections from the Santi Visalli Collection at CSUCI, (2022–2023). Dr. Costache was elected to and served on the Board of Directors of College Art Association. She also served as Vice-president and later President of the Art Historians of Southern California.

Clare Kunny, Educator and Arts Administrator, is an art historian and museum professional with extensive experience working in and with art museums. Clare is founding director of Art Muse Los Angeles. She leads a team of educators, artists, and art historians to develop educational programs and offer professionally guided tours of art museums and galleries in greater Los Angeles and beyond. From 2014 to 2022, Art Muse Los Angeles has worked with Paris Photo LA and Frieze LA, providing private tours of the art fair for corporate sponsors. Art Muse also works with LA Opera and the Hammer Museum on special projects to unite the fine and performing arts. In 2003, Clare joined The J. Paul Getty Museum's Education Department as Manager of Public Education and Teaching. Prior to moving to Los Angeles, Clare served as Associate Director of General Programs for 17 years in the Department of Education at The Art Institute of Chicago.