Modern Art

In Modern Art, designed by Reiner Knizia, players act as art gallery owners buying and selling paintings by five fictional artists across four auction rounds. The value of each artist's work fluctuates based on how many of their paintings are sold during a round. The player with the most money at the end of the fourth round wins the game.

The game was designed by renowned board game designer Reiner Knizia and originally released in 1992. It is widely considered a foundational classic of the auction and economic simulation genre. A highly popular new edition with updated artwork was later published by CMON in 2018.

Modern Art is designed to be played by 3 to 5 players, with games typically lasting around 45 to 60 minutes. The auction dynamics change significantly depending on the number of players at the table. It is highly recommended to play with a full group of five to maximize the bidding competition and market volatility.

Modern Art features up to five different auction types that dictate how paintings are sold, including open auctions, sealed-bid auctions, and once-around auctions. The specific auction type is determined by the card being played by the seller. This mechanical variety keeps the economic gameplay dynamic and highly interactive from turn to turn.