Appreciation of Modern/Contemporary Art by Polish Primary School Children: Evidence from Abstract Paintings and Conceptual Works.

The current study tested changes in modern/contemporary art valuation among students ages 6–15. Participants rated abstract paintings and conceptual works (and two control categories—traditional Western figurative paintings and everyday objects) on the dimensions of liking and art classification. As we hypothesized, modern/contemporary art was valued lower than traditional paintings. In addition, conceptual works were assessed lower than everyday objects. The relationship between the students' age and the evaluation of contemporary art depended on the genre. Liking and art classification of conceptual works decreased linearly with increasing age. In turn, the relationship between the students' age and abstract paintings' ratings (on both dimensions) was curvilinear because in younger students, ratings increased with age, and in older students, they decreased. Summing up, considered modern/contemporary art genres pose a challenge to students who, without special preparation, do not appreciate their value, even in the older grades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]