What Cultural × Contemporary Art Means and How We Use It to Create Modern Prints

Jack Cyphus

“Cultural × Contemporary” is a phrase we use at CITTRA Collective to describe one clear idea: culture-inspired art made modern. If you like the meaning, history, or place-based feeling behind cultural art, but you want something that still looks clean and current, this is the lane.

Quick answer: Cultural × Contemporary art starts with a specific cultural anchor (a place, motif, tradition, symbol, or recognised art movement) and translates it using modern composition, colour, and design choices.

  • Cultural anchor: you can point to what it’s rooted in.
  • Modern treatment: updated palette, cleaner shapes, simpler layout, or a contemporary medium.
  • Intent matters: it reads as “inspired by”, not “pretending to be”.

What makes something “cultural” (without overthinking it)?

For us, “cultural” means there’s a real reference behind the artwork. That might be a region, a craft tradition, a repeating motif, or an art-history influence.

  • place and everyday visual culture (architecture, signage, food culture)
  • patterns and symbols (tiles, textiles, seasonal traditions)
  • recognised movements (Impressionism, Bauhaus, Ukiyo-e, Neo-Expressionism)
  • a story with context, not a random mash-up

What makes it “contemporary”?

The contemporary part is the translation. You’ll usually see stronger graphic structure, more intentional negative space, simplified forms, and colour choices that feel modern. It’s not about making it “trendy”; it’s about making it legible and easy to live with.

How to spot Cultural × Contemporary art in 30 seconds

  1. Name the anchor: can you tell what culture, place, or movement it’s drawing from?
  2. Check the design: does it use modern layout, palette, or simplification?
  3. Sanity check the vibe: does it feel respectful and intentional?

Common misunderstandings

  • “Cultural means busy.” Not true. A single motif can carry the whole idea.
  • “Contemporary means meaningless.” Also not true. Good contemporary art can still be rooted and specific.
  • “Inspired by” equals “copied”. Inspiration is about taking a clear reference and making something new with it. People have been inspired by others for centuries and incredible things are born from shared inspiration.

Bottom line: Cultural × Contemporary is a simple filter for art that feels modern at first glance, but has a real reference when you look closer.

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