"Contemporary" is the word people reach for when they cannot name a style, and that is fine, because it was never a style to begin with. It just means art made by living artists working right now, in this decade, with today's ideas and materials. This page explains what contemporary art actually is, why it fits so many modern homes, and how our Vancouver artists sit inside that broad category.
Every contemporary piece we sell is an original, painted by hand and signed on the front by an artist based in Vancouver. We do not sell prints or reproductions. If you would rather look before you read, the full set is in our Canadian contemporary art collection.
What "contemporary art" actually means
Contemporary art is simply art made by artists who are alive and working today, so at VanArtHub it means current paintings by Vancouver artists, not a single look you can point to. That is the honest part most sites skip. Contemporary is an umbrella, not a recipe. Under it you will find loose abstract fields of colour, tight realist still lifes, moody coastal scenes, and bold graphic portraits, all made in the same city in the same few years. The common thread is the time it was made and the hand that made it, not the subject or the palette. So do not shop "contemporary" looking for one aesthetic. Shop it the way you would shop a room full of talented people who each paint differently.
Because it is so wide, contemporary art is where you get the most freedom. You are not tied to a period or a movement. You are choosing the specific painting that speaks to you, made by someone you could, in principle, email.
Why contemporary work fits modern homes
A contemporary painting reads as current, which is exactly why it settles into a newer home so easily. Open-plan rooms, clean-lined furniture, and neutral walls give a painting room to breathe, and a piece made in the same era as the room rarely fights it. The flexibility runs both ways too. A calm abstract can soften a hard, minimalist space, while a strong figurative work can give a plain room a clear focal point. If your taste leans quieter, our Canadian minimalist art guide covers the restrained end of the umbrella. If you want energy and movement, Canadian abstract art lives here too. Contemporary is the parent category that holds both.
How to size and place a contemporary piece
Get the scale right before you fall for a specific painting, because wrong size looks like a mistake while wrong subject is only taste. As a rule, a single work should span most of the furniture beneath it, and if you are caught between two sizes, go larger. Contemporary pieces often carry a lot of open space, so a bigger canvas can read as calm rather than loud. The table below is where we start first-time buyers.
| Where it hangs |
Size to aim for |
Typical price at VanArtHub |
| Above a sofa, bed, or sideboard as the room's focal point |
About 90 to 150 cm wide, or a pair |
About $900 to $3,000 |
| Above a console, desk, or in a dining nook |
About 60 to 90 cm |
About $300 to $900 |
| A hallway, entry, or gallery-wall cluster |
Up to about 40 cm each |
About $72 to $300 |
Treat these as planning figures. Every listing shows its own exact size and price. For the full method, see our guide on how to buy original art, and for placement height and light, our notes on hanging and lighting art.
Contemporary versus traditional, honestly
People often ask how contemporary art differs from traditional art, so here is a plain comparison across a few dimensions that actually matter to a buyer. Neither column is better. They serve different rooms and different tastes.
| Dimension |
Contemporary |
Traditional |
| When it was made |
By living artists, now |
Often earlier periods or period-style work |
| Range of looks |
Very wide, from abstract to realist |
Narrower, tied to established conventions |
| Framing |
Often unframed or a thin float frame |
Often an ornate or classic frame |
| Fit with newer homes |
Usually easy |
Can feel formal in a plain modern room |
| Access to the artist |
You can reach them and commission work |
Usually not possible |
The access point is the one buyers underrate. With a living artist you can ask for a specific size or palette. See our note on commissioning a Canadian painting if that appeals.
Living with it: framing and care
Contemporary paintings on stretched canvas often look best with no frame at all, or a slim float frame that leaves a shadow gap around the edge. That keeps the focus on the work and suits clean modern walls. If you do frame, keep it simple and let the painting lead. Care is undemanding: keep the piece out of direct sun, dust it with a soft dry cloth, and avoid damp rooms. Our guides on framing original paintings and caring for original paintings cover both in detail.
Key things to remember
- Contemporary art means work by living artists today, so it is a broad umbrella and not one single style.
- At VanArtHub every contemporary piece is an original, signed by a Vancouver artist, never a print.
- Size for the wall first: span most of the furniture below, and size up if you are between two.
- Prices run from about $72 for small originals to several thousand for large focal-point canvases.
- Every piece ships free and fully insured with a Certificate of Authenticity, and you get 14 days to send it back for a full refund.
Frequently asked questions
What is contemporary art, in plain terms?
Contemporary art is art made by artists who are alive and working today. It is a time period, not a style, so it covers abstract, realist, and figurative work all at once. At VanArtHub it means original, signed paintings made recently by independent Vancouver artists, each one a one-of-a-kind piece rather than a print.
Is contemporary art a specific style?
No. Contemporary is a broad umbrella defined by when the work was made, not by how it looks. Under it you will find calm abstracts, bold portraits, quiet still lifes, and coastal scenes, all by living artists. If you want one narrower look, browse our abstract or minimalist guides instead of shopping "contemporary" as a style.
How is contemporary art different from traditional art?
Contemporary art is made by living artists now, while traditional art follows earlier periods or period-style conventions. Contemporary work covers a wider range of looks, often hangs unframed or in a thin float frame, and fits newer homes easily. You can also reach a living artist and commission a piece, which is not possible with traditional work.
How much does an original contemporary painting cost?
At VanArtHub, original contemporary paintings start at about $72 for small works and reach several thousand dollars for large focal-point canvases. Size and medium drive the price more than the artist's fame, so a small original can cost less than a mass-produced print of the same wall size.
Does contemporary art suit a modern or minimalist home?
Yes, very well. A contemporary painting is made in the same era as a newer home, so it rarely fights clean lines or neutral walls. A calm abstract softens a minimalist space, while a strong figurative piece gives a plain room a clear focal point. Because the category is so wide, there is a fit for almost any modern room.
Are these real paintings or prints?
They are real originals. Every contemporary piece we sell is painted by hand and signed by a Vancouver artist. We do not sell prints, posters, or reproductions. Each work ships with a Certificate of Authenticity naming the artist, title, medium, and size, and arrives free and fully insured.
Ready to look? Browse the full Canadian contemporary art collection, or return to the Canadian art hub for the complete buying guide.
