This reference work investigates the defining characteristics, historical trajectories, and key figures of the diverse movements that constitute the avant-garde in the arts. Richard Kostelanetz, a prolific critic and scholar of experimental art, compiles an extensive lexicon to map the evolution of modern creative expression. The text provides a structured framework for understanding how disparate movements, from early twentieth-century futurism to contemporary digital art, intersect and influence one another.

Scholars and art historians frequently cite this volume as a foundational reference for navigating the complexities of experimental art history. Readers often note the density of the entries, which provide a concise yet rigorous overview of movements that are otherwise difficult to categorize.