Proto-conceptualism can be traced back to the era of Modernism, with artists like Manet laying the groundwork for conceptual art movements that emerged later in the art world.

Marcel Duchamp, a French artist born on July 22, 1887, is considered a precursor of Conceptual Art for his groundbreaking works that challenged traditional notions of art and authorship.

Marcel Duchamp's Bicycle Wheel is considered the first readymade artwork, where he mounted a bicycle wheel on a painted wooden stool. This piece is also recognized as the first kinetic sculpture in art history.

Marcel Duchamp's Bottle Rack, a galvanized iron bottle drying rack, is one of his readymade artworks. Initially bought as a sculpture, it later became a significant piece in the readymade art movement.

Marcel Duchamp created a readymade art piece by painting the title on a snow shovel, marking it as the first work officially referred to as a 'readymade'.

Marcel Duchamp's Fountain, created in 1917, is considered the first conceptual artwork. It is a readymade piece that challenges traditional notions of art by presenting a urinal as a work of art.

Marcel Duchamp altered a reproduction of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa by drawing a goatee and moustache on it, titled with a coarse pun, creating a rectified readymade.

In 1920, R. Fry authored a book titled 'Vision and Design'. The book explores the topics of vision and design, likely within the context of art and aesthetics.

Joseph Beuys, a German artist, was born on May 12, 1921, and passed away on January 23, 1986. He was a key figure in the Fluxus movement and known for his diverse artistic practice encompassing performance, sculpture, and social activism.

Marcel Broodthaers, a Belgian artist, was born on January 28, 1924, and passed away on January 28, 1976. He was known for his innovative contributions to the development of Conceptual Art and his exploration of language and representation.

Robert Rauschenberg, an American artist born on October 22, 1925, played a significant role in shaping Conceptual Art with his innovative approaches that blurred the boundaries between different artistic mediums.

Yves Klein was a French artist born on April 28, 1928. He is known for his influential work in the fields of painting, sculpture, and performance art.

John Baldessari, an American artist, was born on June 17, 1931, and passed away on January 2, 2020. He was a prominent figure in Conceptual Art and known for his innovative approach to photography and text-based art.

Piero Manzoni, an Italian artist born on July 13, 1933, made notable contributions to Conceptual Art with his thought-provoking works that challenged conventional ideas of art and its presentation.

Robert Barry, an American artist, was born on March 9, 1936. He is recognized for his conceptual artworks that often explore the nature of perception and communication.

Hans Haacke, a German artist, was born on August 12, 1936. He is known for his politically engaged and conceptually driven artworks that often critique social and economic systems.

Terry Atkinson, a British artist, was born in 1939. He was a key figure in the development of Conceptual Art in Britain, particularly through his involvement with the Art & Language group.

David Bainbridge, a British artist, was born in 1941 and passed away on June 30, 2013. He was known for his contributions to the British conceptual art scene.

Lawrence Weiner, an American artist, was born on February 10, 1942. He is known for his pioneering work in Conceptual Art, particularly his use of language as a medium.

Michael Baldwin, a British artist, was born on January 19, 1945. He is known for his collaborative work with Mel Ramsden as part of the conceptual art group Art & Language.

Barbara Kruger, an American artist, was born on January 26, 1945. She is known for her bold text-based artworks that critique consumer culture and gender stereotypes.

Joseph Kosuth, an American artist, was born on January 31, 1945. He is known for his pioneering work in Conceptual Art, particularly his piece 'One and Three Chairs' from 1965.

Marina Abramović, a Serbian artist, was born on November 30, 1946. She is a pioneering performance artist known for her durational and often physically demanding performances that push the boundaries of art and the body.

Sherrie Levine, an American artist, was born on April 17, 1947. She is associated with the Pictures Generation and known for her appropriation artworks that challenge notions of originality and authorship.

Jenny Holzer, an American artist, was born on July 29, 1950. She is known for her provocative text-based artworks that address social and political issues, often displayed in public spaces.

Sophie Calle, a French artist, was born on October 9, 1953. She is known for her conceptual and often autobiographical artworks that blur the boundaries between art and life.

Rhea Sue Sanders introduced the concept of complicity in art by combining visual art with poetry and philosophy, engaging the viewer in completing the artwork in their imagination.

Morris Weitz in 1956 discussed the idea that art may be considered an open concept, with new conditions and art forms constantly emerging, leading to the need for decisions on whether the concept of art should be extended or not.

The suggestion that art should be defined based on its aesthetic character, where an artwork is considered as such if it evokes an aesthetic experience. This idea was proposed in 1958 by Beardsley.

Frank Stella's 'The Marriage of Reason and Squalor, II' from 1959 caused a sensation by stripping painting down to its physical presence, devoid of external references. This marked a significant step towards Minimalism and Conceptual Art.

Conceptual art revolutionizes the art world by prioritizing the concept or idea behind the artwork over traditional artistic mediums. It shifts the focus from physical objects to intellectual exploration, challenging the conventional notions of beauty and aesthetics in art.

Italian artist Piero Manzoni canned his own excrement as an artwork titled Merda d'artista in 1961, creating a controversial piece that challenged traditional notions of art.

In 1962, artist Barrie Bates erased his original identity and adopted the persona of Billy Apple. This act explored the concept of authorship, originality, and the role of the artist in the creation of art objects.

Tracey Emin, a British artist, was born on July 3, 1963. She is known for her confessional and autobiographical artworks that often explore themes of identity, sexuality, and vulnerability.

Yoko Ono released 'Grapefruit', a seminal work of heuristic art containing instructions and drawings aimed at guiding individuals towards experiencing art. The book exemplified Ono's conceptual and interactive approach to art.

Joseph Kosuth's seminal work in Conceptual Art where he presents a physical chair, its photographic reproduction, and the definition of the word 'chair' to explore the relationship between image, word, and reality.

Douglas Gordon, a Scottish artist, was born on September 20, 1966. He is known for his video installations and conceptual artworks that often explore themes of memory, time, and perception.

In 1967, Sol LeWitt published 'Paragraphs on Conceptual Art' in Artforum, emphasizing the importance of idea or concept in conceptual art. The text highlighted the pre-planned nature of conceptual art and the minimal importance given to execution.

Martin Creed, a British artist, was born on October 21, 1968. He is known for his playful and minimalist artworks that challenge traditional notions of art and perception.

In January 1969, art dealer Seth Siegelaub organized the exhibition '0 Objects, 0 Painters, 0 Sculptors' in New York, reflecting the ideas-based approach of conceptual art.

In May 1969, Sol Lewitt published 'Sentences on Conceptual Art' in Art-Language: The Journal of Conceptual Art, further contributing to the discourse on conceptual art.

In 1970, the first dedicated conceptual-art exhibition, Conceptual Art and Conceptual Aspects, took place at the New York Cultural Center. This exhibition marked a significant moment in the development of conceptual art.

Sol LeWitt created the piece 'Untitled from Squares with a Different Line Direction in Each Half Square' in 1971.

In 1972, artist Tom Marioni received funds from the De Saisset Art Museum to mount an exhibition. Instead of using the money for art materials, he purchased a used car, a Fiat 750, and displayed it in the museum on an oriental rug. The exhibition, titled My First Car, raised questions about the definition of art and the role of the artist.

Conceptual art places a strong emphasis on the idea or concept behind the artwork rather than the physical object itself. Artists like Kosuth and LeWitt highlighted the significance of ideas in art, leading to the de-materialization of art.

In 1974, Arthur Danto published an influential work titled 'Art and the Aesthetic: An Institutional Analysis', which discussed the concept of the 'artworld' and how artworks are defined within a social and artistic context.

Anna Maria Maiolino worked on 'Trajetóraia I' in 1976.

Marina Abramović and Ulay performed Imponderabilia at Galleria Comunale d’Arte Moderna di Bologna in 1977. The performance involved the two artists standing naked facing each other at the entrance, forcing the audience to squeeze between them to enter the gallery.

Early 'concept' artists like Henry Flynt, Robert Morris, and Ray Johnson influenced the later, widely accepted movement of conceptual art. Their ideas and works paved the way for the development of conceptual art as a significant art movement.

Arthur C. Danto published a book titled 'The Transfiguration of the Commonplace' in 1981, based in Cambridge, MA and published by Harvard University Press.

In 1982, the opera 'Victorine' by Art & Language, scheduled for performance at documenta 7 in Kassel, was cancelled. The opera was intended to be a significant artistic contribution alongside the Art & Language Studio exhibition.

Gregory Currie's book 'An Ontology of Art' was published in 1988 in New York.

The 'L'art conceptuel' exhibition took place at ARC–Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris in 1989. It featured conceptual art pieces from different artists.

Edited by Juan Vicente Aliaga & José Miguel G. Cortés, this book revisits the concept of Conceptual Art. Published in Valencia by Universidad Politécnica de Valencia in 1990.

Felix Gonzalez-Torres set two battery powered clocks to the exact same time, exploring human relationships and the impact of time passing. The clocks falling out of sync serves as an allegory based on personal experiences.

Thomas Dreher's thesis from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, München, focusing on Conceptual Art in America and England between 1963 and 1976. Published in Frankfurt am Main by Peter Lang in 1992.

A book by Robert C. Morgan providing an American perspective on Conceptual Art. Published in Jefferson, NC/London by McFarland in 1994.

The 'Reconsidering the Object of Art: 1965–1975' exhibition was held at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles in 1995. It reexamined the concept of art objects during that period.

Robert C. Morgan's collection of essays focusing on Conceptual Art. Published in Cambridge et al. by Cambridge University Press in 1996.

A book by Tony Godfrey discussing Conceptual Art. Published in London in 1998.

An anthology edited by Alexander Alberro & Blake Stimson, critically examining Conceptual Art. Published in Cambridge, Massachusetts, London by MIT Press in 1999.

Tracey Emin's artwork titled Unmade Bed is a notable piece from the early 2000s. It gained attention for its controversial and unconventional representation of a messy bed as an art form.

In 2001, Martin Creed wins the Turner Prize for his artwork Work No. 227: The lights going on and off. The piece consists of an empty room where the lights continuously switch on and off.

A book by Peter Osborne focusing on the themes and movements within Conceptual Art. Published by Phaidon in 2002.

Alexander Alberro's work that discusses the politics of publicity in Conceptual Art. Published by MIT Press in 2003.

An edited work by Michael Corris that delves into the theory, practice, and myths surrounding Conceptual Art. Published in Cambridge, England by Cambridge University Press in 2004.

In 2005, Simon Starling wins the Turner Prize for Shedboatshed, a wooden shed transformed into a boat, floated down the Rhine, and then converted back into a shed. The artwork explores transformation and functionality.

In 2006, the book 'Art after Conceptual Art' edited by Alberro, Alexander & Buchmann, Sabeth was published in Cambridge, MA & Vienna by MIT Press/General Foundation.

The philosophy of art deals with various theoretical issues related to different objects of attention, including Conceptual Art.

The exhibition at Tate Modern featured leading figures of the New York Dada movement, including Duchamp, Man Ray, and Picabia.

The past exhibition at Tate Modern showcased the works of Cildo Meireles.

In 2009, a book titled 'Who’s Afraid of Conceptual Art?' was published by an unknown author. The book delves into the topic of fear surrounding conceptual art.

Peter Osborne delivered a public lecture at Fondazione Antonio Ratti, Villa Sucota in Como, where he discussed the evolution of contemporary art from conceptualism to post-conceptualism, emphasizing the influence of linguistic theories of meaning in the mid-twentieth century.

In 2011, the Art Institute of Chicago presented an exhibition catalog titled 'Light Years: Conceptual Art and the Photograph 1964–1977', exploring the relationship between conceptual art and photography during that period.

In 2014, Olaf Nicolai creates the Memorial for the Victims of Nazi Military Justice in Vienna. The sculpture features a poem by Ian Hamilton Finlay and is dedicated to the victims of Nazi military injustice.

The exhibition at Tate Britain displayed works from 1964 to 1979 that revolutionized the perception of art.

The exhibition highlighted Yves Klein, a highly influential figure in the post-war era.

The exhibition 'Not Everyone Will Be Taken Into the Future' at Tate Modern showcased the fantastical world of the Kabakovs, pioneers of installation art.

In 2019, Maurizio Cattelan sells editions of Comedian, a banana duct taped to a wall, for $120,000 each. The unusual artwork attracts significant media attention for its concept and value.

Lawrence Weiner, an artist known for his expansive work, passed away in 2021. His art challenged traditional boundaries and emphasized the idea that art knows no limits.

A book titled 'Aesthetics, Philosophy and Conceptual Art' was published in 2022 by David Dal Sasso and Elisabeth Schellekens in London under the publisher Bloomsbury.