Online Modern & Contemporary Art Courses
Discover the artists, ideas and movements that have shaped the art world from the 19th century to the present day with City Lit’s online modern and contemporary art courses. Whether you’re curious about Impressionism, Dada, Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art or cutting-edge contemporary practice, our expert-led courses will deepen your understanding and inspire your creativity — all from the comfort of your own home.
Explore how artists have responded to social, political and cultural change, and examine the ways in which modern and contemporary art continues to challenge, provoke and innovate. With flexible online learning, live interactive sessions and supportive feedback from experienced tutors, you’ll engage with key works and ideas in a collaborative and accessible environment.
Our courses are open to all adults — no previous experience needed. Join a community of like-minded learners and enjoy the chance to explore the art of our times.
Explore our online modern and contemporary art courses today and gain fresh insight into the ever-evolving world of art.
- Art and imagination: from the Enlightenment to the Victorian age
Course start date: Tue 21 Apr 2026Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Emma Rose BarberStudy the art of the period from c.1750-1880 considering Romanticism and the Pre-Raphaelites. We look at ‘romantic’ landscape, the modern moral subject and the depiction of women. Explore the art of women artists who struggled to survive as artists in the tightly controlled world of the art academy where the woman was encouraged to be muse and model rather than creator and thinker.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £129.00 - Art Revolutions from 1905-1925 Course start date: Wed 3 Jun 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Christopher CollierCubism, Futurism and Constructivism are pivotal movements in the history of modern art – encapsulating all the promise and peril of the 20th century’s devastating birth, and even helping rewrite perceptions of space and time.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £51.00 - Teatime talks: Woman and Object -Inside the world of Marisol Course start date: Tue 9 Jun 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Chantal CondronStep into the world of Marisol Escobar (1930–2016), the Venezuelan American artist, whose bold, witty sculptures blended Pop Art, Pre-Columbian traditions, and social commentary. This online talk will introduce you to the work and background of this New York-based artist who challenged gender norms and captured American society from the 1960s in her uniquely quirky style.
Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £15.00 Concession £12.00 - The Norwich School - a unique society of landscape painters Course start date: Wed 10 Jun 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Elizabeth EyresOn this course you will study the fascinating work of the 19th century Norwich School, a loose association of generations of painters from artistic families who worked in Norwich, Norfolk, one of the most important and wealthy regional capitals of the day. You will explore the beautiful landscapes produced by these artists and also discover work produced by remarkable women in the group.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £63.00 Concession £51.00 - Friday lates: a culture in transition - contemporary art in China Course start date: Fri 12 Jun 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Meitao QuLearn about the art of contemporary China from the end of the Cultural Revolution to today. This introductory session explores the social, political and cultural conditions of Chinese society through the lens of art and visual culture.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £12.00 - Teatime talks: Woman and Object: inside the world of Nicola LCourse start date: Tue 23 Jun 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Chantal CondronDiscover the eclectic life and work of Nicola L., a pioneering French Moroccan artist who in recent years has gained wider international attention. Renowned for her radical sculptures and performances, Nicola L.’s practice explored connections between the representation of the female body and everyday objects. Witty, dynamic and inherently feminist, her iconic works including Red Coat and Woman Sofa, placed her as one of the most exciting female artists of the 1960s avant-garde and Pop Art movements.
Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £15.00 Concession £12.00 - Friday lates: Lubiana Himid – longing and belongingCourse start date: Fri 23 Oct 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Chantal CondronThis Friday Late art history course spotlights the work of artist Lubaina Himid, one of Britain's most thought provoking artists.
Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £29.00 Concession £29.00 - Introduction to contemporary art: ideas and origins Course start date: Mon 26 Oct 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Christopher CollierEver wondered what's going on in the mind of contemporary artists? This course explores the ideas and historical background behind some of today’s most intriguing works, from Conceptualism and Video to Body Art and Installation.Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £103.00
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