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visual arts JUST WRITTEN FOR YOU

/ˈvɪʒ.uəl ˈɑːrts/ · vis·u·al arts
noun
  1. Art forms intended to be appreciated primarily through sight, such as painting, photography, printmaking, and filmmaking. She enrolled in a university program that specializes in the visual arts, focusing on both painting and digital media.
  2. Collective term for artistic disciplines that are primarily visual in nature, including painting, photography, printmaking, and filmmaking. The museum's new wing showcases works from the visual arts, ranging from Renaissance canvases to contemporary video installations.
Did you know? The term 'visual arts' was popularized in European academies during the 1800s to separate sight‑based practices from music and theater, shaping modern art education curricula.
Written by Lexi Wordsworth, Dictionary Editor 0 lookups Added Jul 15, 2026