Mission

“CoCA does not accept the standard definition of Contemporary Art used by many galleries and museums of “work by living artists”. Doing so not only unfortunately includes modern traditional artists whose work is in no way Contemporary (in our view), but also risks passing over those artists, who although are no longer living, were indeed Contemporary in their own day. Rather, we see as Contemporary that work which has a certain subversive, thought provoking edge, takes bold, experimental risks, or provides a fresh way of looking at the issues facing the culture, environment, or milieu in which it was created.

I see the word ‘Contemporary’ in ‘Contemporary Art’ to be a reference to the ideas and thought behind the work, not the canvas on which it was painted, on the wetness of the paint, or the age or vital status of the artist. It is perfectly possible for a living artist to produce conventional, non-contemporary art. It takes an elevated level of conceptual or intellectual content to tie a work of art to contemporary thought.”

- Ray C. Freeman III, CoCA Co-President