The Center for the Technical Study of Modern Art concerns itself with the materials and issues associated with the making and the conservation of works of art of the modern era and serves as a resource for conservators, scholars, and students by collecting, preserving, and presenting relevant materials and research.

In pursuit of its mission, the Center collects and makes available for research artists' materials, artist interviews, documents related to conservation assessments and treatments, and ephemera associated with the creative process. It facilitates the dissemination of such information through teaching, lecturing, and publication.