当代艺术在艺术形态中是最有希望、最具艺术原创力的，它承担起视觉艺术上“前卫”和“旗手”的开拓重任，同时也被赋予了当代文化发动机的责任，越来越赢得广泛的国际声誉和社会影响力。西南交通大学当代艺术研究中心作为国内艺术交流的平台，策划与国内各美术馆与研究中心接轨的各种展览与学术活动，为学院师生、公众以及中外艺术家提供一个观摩、学习以及展示的实际空间。通过邀请国内知名艺术家举办展览、学术论坛、专题讲座与专业美术史论研究，对当代艺术进行深入的梳理、研究、推广，尤其是让其在国际上产生更大的文化影响和竞争力以及对话能力。最终使本中心成为中国高校内具有标志性、专业化、国际化的艺术理论研究中心。

本中心现有成员10余人，其中教授2人，副教授多名。

    Modern arts, the most original and hopeful in all the artistic forms, are avant garde pioneering in the frontier of visual arts, and recognized internationally as the driving force for the development of modern cultures. The Center of Modern Arts of Southwest Jiaotong University is the place where exchanges, exhibitions, and academic activities can be held and the space where observation, studies, and demonstration can be performed. Prestigious artists both at home and abroad are invited to the Center to hold exhibitions, forums, workshops, and lectures on art theories and histories to promote the development of modern arts. Eventually, the Center will be built into a professional and international research center of art theories with great influence and competitiveness in the world.

    There are over 10 staff members in the Center, 2 of them are professors, and many associate professors.