Art in The Home
Art in The Home
Art in The Home
1. ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISM
During the 1940’s and 1950’s, artists like Jackson Pollock focused on a new movement of
contemporary art called abstract expressionism. Through these paintings, they expressed the
spontaneity in subjective emotions. It originated in New York but has permeated artistic culture
to the point where it’s one of the most relevant movements today. Abstract expressionism is
incredibly important to the way that people see each other today.
2. POP ART
With the introduction of mass media, artistic culture responded to the inundation of information
across the world with art that reflected that. By holding a mirror up to society reflecting what
mass media does to culture, the pop art movement is one of the most important critiques of
modern society that exists today. Check out artists like Andy Warhol if you want a look into the
pop art movement, and the diverse perspectives that it has to offer the world.
We believe:
Bringing contemporary art into schools and communities enables educators to
promote curiosity, encourage dialogue, and initiate debate about the world and the
issues that affect our lives.
Art21 artists serve as creative role models, who can inspire people of all ages to consider
how ideas are developed, articulated, and realized in the contemporary world, offering
educators opportunities to support diverse learning styles.
Contemporary artists address both current events and historical ideas. These references
help educators and students make connections across their curriculum and support
interdisciplinary thinking
As artists continue to explore and employ new technologies and media, the work they
create encourages media literacy in an increasingly media-saturated society.
Personal Expression
One of the benefits of Contemporary Art is that it allows individuals a means of personal
expression. Through painting, sculpture, and performance art, anyone can express themselves in
a way that will be safely observable for others. Likewise, the perspectives that are expressed are
valuable for society because it gives a unique window into the minds and thoughts of the artist.
Cultural Commentary
Along with personal expression, Contemporary Art allows the artist to make commentary on the
culture around them. This can include depicting literally or figuratively their views on everything
ranging from politics to pop culture. With imagery, shapes, and other varied media the artist can
create a dialogue or narrative of their views. When the viewer engages with the piece, they
engage with the artist’s dialogue.
As this style of art comments on the current sociopolitical and pop culture climate, it also
becomes a visual historical record of life. This is a record that contains not only the facts such as
dates and names, but the feelings that were held by people at the time. There is a reason that art
is so often carefully preserved, it gives a unique lens to the past that cannot just be read about in
history books.
Thought Provoking
Given the fact that Contemporary Art is both personally expressive and a commentary on
culture, for most viewers, it will be thought-provoking. This is indeed the reason that many
people enjoy going to museums and spending time with art. It allows people the chance to be
exposed to stimuli that can provoke thoughts and even emotions. For many, it can lead to new
information, education, and growth.
At times, art can be powerfully thought-provoking. This is because it does communicate through
visuals and not words. Contemporary artwork can trigger not only the thoughts but also the
accompanying emotions so that the viewer is able to fully engage with the piece. This promotes
an internal dialogue that can be shocking, sensational, and even transformative to the person’s
mindset.
As the previous educator mentioned, "benefits" are subjective. There are some who say that
studying art is a waste of time and that students benefit more by focusing on more "practical"
subjects, such as science, technology, engineering, and math, otherwise known as the STEM
fields.
What these detractors do not realize is that the study of the arts, particularly visual art, is very
helpful in teaching young people new ways of seeing their worlds. Visual artists, such as painters
and photographers, encourage us to see those aspects of life that we might take for granted or not
otherwise notice.
Art can inspire imaginative exploration, which can expand into other areas, such as technological
innovation. The study of the arts encourages us to "think outside of the box," or to see other
possibilities beyond what we already know.
Subjects in contemporary art tend to deal with themes in contemporary life or with the subjects
that interest us now. It also applies versatile techniques that encourage us to think beyond our
traditional understanding of what art can be. Contemporary art includes not only painting and
photography, but also a lot of conceptual art, such as textual art (e.g., Jenny Holzer, Lawrence
Weiner). It also allows for the use of non-traditional materials, such as recycled trash.
Finally, the study of contemporary art, along with the other humanities, is key in teaching
students empathy. Art allows us to "see" through another person's eyes, which gives us access to
an experience we might not otherwise have. The ability to empathize is fundamental to a
cohesive society.