performance art

noun

: a nontraditional art form often with political or topical themes that typically features a live presentation to an audience or onlookers (as on a street) and draws on such arts as acting, poetry, music, dance, or painting

performance artist noun

Examples of performance art in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The artist and activist has used performance art to challenge the government and advocate for civil liberties using the Cuban flag, demonstrations, and acts of civil disobedience. — News Desk, Artforum, 21 July 2026

As a founder of the San Isidro Movement, Otero Alcántara used performance art to challenge the Cuban government, repeatedly provoking authorities through works involving the national flag, public demonstrations and acts of civil disobedience. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 20 July 2026

One artist who inspired Kelela’s approach to world-building is her close friend Solange Knowles, a polymath whose work includes music, performance art, design, teaching and amplifying Black artistry through her Saint Heron platform. — Jack Irvin, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026

And London’s famous Barbican, the Brutalist performance arts center and sprawling residential complex, is one of the stars of the film as well. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 9 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1971, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for performance art

• apart
• depart
• flowchart
• forepart
• impart
• pushcart
• rampart
• redstart
• restart
• subpart
• sweetheart
• upstart