Whether street art, urban art or graffiti, these new artistic trends have been established for several decades now in all major cities: from New York to Paris or from London to Tokyo via Rio. of Janeiro. First of all, the use of the word "Street art" is relatively recent. It dates from the 2000s. It was used in 2006 during the first art auctions representing works from this artistic movement. In 2008 the "street art" exhibition at the Tate Modern in London imposed this term to describe this new singular artistic movement characterized by a great diversity of style (graffiti, collages, stencils, installations, frescoes, mosaics, stickers...)
You could say it's a global art movement that started in the 1960s and is still alive today. The diversity of media used, styles, techniques and the freedom to create in the public space. It's a new movement that has entered the history of art.
Traces of art have been found on the walls since time immemorial. Whether it is parietal art in the caves of Lascaux, or names found on the walls of Pompeii, the art of drawing and graffiti in the public space is found at all times. What is called street art today is therefore not totally new.
In France in the 1930s, the artist Brassaï, interested in graffiti, decided to photograph them to memorize them in photos. In the 1950s, Jacques Villeglé (1926-) and Raymond Hains recovered posters from the street in order to recreate a work of art with these lacerated pieces of poster. They thus laid the first foundations of what would later become street art. At the same time Gérard Zlotykamien (1940-), in 1963, he began to paint black and red silhouettes in the street that he would call “ephemera”. He will continue to paint his silhouettes for several years.
This theme of silhouettes and the use of spray paint are also important in the work of Ernest Pignon-Ernest (1942-). His stencil-cut silhouettes and drawn on the walls are his signature. He will invade certain places and walls with his creations like today's graffiti artists.
At the end of the 1960s, in Philadelphia (United States), the first of the "graphers" was the artist Cornbread, who wrote his signature everywhere. This is the birth of the first tags: Capital letters made with an aerosol spray. Many young people follow their example and will tag their name on the walls.
In 1969 Julio 204, in New York is one of the first to tag in the city, he is also the first to add his street number to his signature. Phenomenon that will become the marker of the New York movement. Taki 183 is truly the first tagger to become known in the city, covering walls and subway trains with his signatures.
Faced with the increase in the number of graffiti artists, artists are beginning to seek to differentiate themselves. Stay High 149 is the first to add graphic elements to its signature by doubling its tag and adding the halo visible in the Le Saint series. Following this many graffiti artists will follow his example and the style will become more and more inventive. Phase 2 is the outstanding artist who will modify the tag by creating ever more original letter shapes and ending its composition with an arrow.
The late 1970s prolific artist Seen produced works in bright, contrasting colors while Blade worked on perspective and geometry in his work. He is one of the first artists to be spotted by a gallery and to have his first exhibition.
The style is evolving more and more, sometimes moving away from the original graffiti. The real hunt led by the authorities against the artists who tag the doors and subway cars intensifies, the artists are forced to redouble their ingenuity to work by being more and more rapid in their work and in creativity to be able to stand out from other artists. This will also lead to a change of place for their work and the increase of walls as a support for their achievements. The evolution of their work tool the aerosol can evolves. Many colors appear and the spray tips allow artists a variety of line thickness.
Artists Futura, Dondi White, Rammellzee or A-One were the leading artists of the late 1979s and early 1980s in the USA. They are also the first to give a more or less political message to their work. Since 1979 art venues and alternative galleries have been interested in and exhibited street art artists. The success became international and from the 1980s the artists Blade, Futura or Seen exhibited in numerous exhibitions in Europe. European museums such as the Boijmans Van Beuningen museum in Rotterdam will acquire street art works. With the exhibitions and the discovery of street art through travel, from 1983 and 1984, the phenomenon spread in Europe (France, Italy, Germany...)
In Paris, the first known graffiti artist is Bando who imports graffiti in France and joins the artists Blek le Rat and Jérôme Mesnager who make stencils in artists using urban supports.
The stammering beginnings of Parisian graffiti are concentrated on the banks of the Seine between the Pont Neuf and the Pont de la Concorde. Exchanges between European artists are intensifying. The English artist Mode 2 will thus work in Paris with Bando who will then collaborate with the Dutchman Sho. The exchanges are also intensifying with North American artists like JonOne who met Bando in New York, he is going to show him what is being done in Paris. JonOne then comes to Paris, he then joins the Bad Boy Crew (BBC) and ends up staying permanently in the French capital. JonOne will differentiate himself from other artists by focusing on movement rather than lettering. In the early 1990s, the BBC exhibited throughout Europe.
If until now street art was essentially a tagging technique, from the 1990s urban art will experience a small revolution. Some artists will replace the signature with representations of faces, portraits...- like Shepard Fairey alias Obey. Still a student in 1989, he created an icon “André the Giant Has a Posse” and made a sticker out of it that he distributed to his friends asking them to stick it everywhere. Its objective is to make us aware that the images we see all have a meaning and that it is important to understand it.
The new generation will no longer use only the aerosol can to invade the urban space, but will use stickers, collage, mosaic, stencil...
The French Space Invider will invade public space by sticking mosaic tesserae on the walls to create visuals inspired by the 1978 arcade game Space Invaders. Invader has installed over 3000 parts in over 60 cities around the world.
In reaction to the visual pollution created by commercial communication in the public space, the artist Zevs will divert the logos of major brands by liquefying them on the facades of department stores after dark. He will also create shadows of street furniture objects by painting the shadows of these objects on the sidewalks.
Over the years, the artist Banksy will use his art to denounce the failings of society with humour, poetry and shocking visuals, in particular using the stencil technique. His simple and refined scenes astonish and mark the minds. He quickly became one of the most famous artists. Other French artists will use this technique like Miss.Tic, Blek le Rat, Jef Aérosol or C215.
Street art is constantly evolving. From the simple graffiti of his beginnings to the graffiti of Seen or JonOne, the techniques are diversifying. Graffiti artists continue to use spray cans to create their works. But they also use new techniques and supports such as mosaic, stencil, sticker, installations, sculpture or video projection.
Artist who managed to keep his identity a secret from the media. His works made mainly in stencil initially in the streets of London before invading the streets of the whole world.
His satirical and subversive work is carried out with the aim of highlighting a different way of thinking than the ambient one. Especially the mass media. His work focuses on strong political and social demands.
The 2010 documentary "Exit Through the Gift Shop" was nominated for the Best Documentary Oscar.
Born in 1970, he is a contemporary artist known for his graphic serigraphs. Known first for his stickers, his work became famous thanks to his poster of Barrack Obama during the US presidential election in 2008.
His work is in the collections of many museums such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
Artist born in 1957. He is one of the pioneers of street art in France in the early 1980s. Stencil artist, he creates portraits of personalities such as Elvis Presley, Lennon, Basquiat... but also anonymous people such as children , passers-by or beggars.
"Graffiti is one of the few avenues available to you when you have next to nothing. And while you can't cure poverty in this world with a picture, at least you can make someone smile while they piss".
"The greatest crimes are not committed by those who break the rules but by people who obey orders. They are the ones who drop bombs and massacre villages."
"Creation is a disease, an anomaly from which I have no intention of curing!"
Many street art and urban art festivals take place all over the world:
Contemporary art is a vibrant constellation of artistic expressions. This creative universe encompasses a wide array of mediums, from paintings, sculpture, and photography to drawing, printmaking, textile art, and digital art, each medium a star shining with its own distinct radiance. Artists use diverse supports and materials to bring their visions to life, such as canvas, wood, metal, and even innovative digital canvases for the creation of virtual masterpieces.
A contemporary painting, for instance, may weave its story through the masterful strokes of acrylic or oil, while a contemporary sculpture might sing its song in the language of stone, bronze, or found objects. The photographic arts capture and manipulate light to produce striking images, while printmaking employs techniques like lithography and screen-printing to produce multiples of a single, impactful image. Textile art plays with fabrics and fibers, whereas digital art pushes the boundaries of creation with innovative technology.
The allure of contemporary art lies in its boundary-pushing nature, its relentless quest for experimentation and its constant reflection of the evolving human experience. This boundless creativity, coupled with its strong social and personal commentary, makes every piece of contemporary art a unique emblem of its time, a mirror held up to the realities and dreams of our complex world. It whispers to us, moves us, provokes thought, and kindles a deep emotional response, stirring the soul of anyone willing to listen. It is, indeed, the language of emotions and ideas, spoken in the dialect of our era.
The story of contemporary art unfolds in the mid-20th century, marked by seismic shifts in artistic expression. Post-World War II, around the 1950s and 1960s, artists began experimenting beyond traditional confines, challenging the norms of what art could be. This revolutionary epoch birthed myriad new movements and artistic forms such as abstract expressionism, pop art, and minimalism. Paintings, once confined by realism, embraced abstraction, as artists used color and form to express emotions and ideas. Notable periods like the advent of pop art in the late 1950s and early 1960s saw artworks mimicking popular culture and mass media, reflecting society’s shifting focus.
The sculptural arts, too, witnessed a metamorphosis. Sculptors started to experiment with new materials and forms, often creating artworks that interacted with the viewer and the surrounding space, fostering a sense of engagement. Drawing, a timeless practice, also evolved, with artists incorporating innovative techniques and concepts to redefine its role in contemporary art.
Photography, a relatively new medium, emerged as a powerful tool in the contemporary art landscape. Born in the 19th century, it truly came into its own in the latter half of the 20th century, blurring the lines between fine art and documentation. Printmaking, a practice dating back to ancient times, saw renewed interest and experimentation with techniques like lithography, etching, and screen printing gaining prominence.
The realm of textile art expanded dramatically, as artists began to appreciate the versatility and tactile quality of fabric and fibers. Artists began using textiles to challenge the boundaries between fine art, craft, and design.
The dawn of digital technology in the late 20th century heralded a new age for contemporary art. Digital art emerged as artists started leveraging new technologies to create immersive, interactive experiences, often blurring the line between the virtual and the physical world.
Through these transformative periods, the essence of contemporary art has remained the same: a dynamic, evolving reflection of the times we live in, continually pushing boundaries and embracing the new, always questioning, always exploring.
As we navigate through the 21st century, the dynamic landscape of contemporary art continues to evolve and expand, reflecting our ever-changing world. Contemporary paintings, once primarily confined to two-dimensional canvases, now embrace a multitude of forms and techniques, ranging from mixed media installations to digital creations, each piece a rich a weaving of thoughts, emotions, and narratives. Sculpture, too, has ventured far beyond traditional stone and bronze, with artists incorporating light, sound, and even motion, embodying the ephemerality and flux of the modern world.
Photography, in the hands of Contemporary Artists, has expanded its horizons, seamlessly blending with digital technology to create breathtaking imagery that challenges our perception of reality. Drawing, as well, has transcended the borders of paper, incorporating multimedia elements and exploratory techniques to redefine its role in the artistic discourse. Printmaking continues to flourish, with contemporary artists using traditional methods in innovative ways to deliver potent social and personal commentaries.
Textile art, once considered a craft, now holds a prominent place in the contemporary art world, with artists using it to explore issues of identity, tradition, and cultural heritage. Meanwhile, digital art, the newest member of the contemporary art family, has revolutionized the way we create and interact with art, presenting immersive experiences that blur the boundary between the virtual and the physical.
These diverse forms of contemporary art hold significant value in the current art market, not only due to their aesthetic appeal but also their ability to encapsulate and communicate complex ideas and emotions. Collectors, curators, and art lovers worldwide seek these works, drawn to their inherent dynamism, their innovative use of materials, and their eloquent expressions of our shared human experience. As a testimonial to our times, these contemporary artworks encapsulate the pulse of our society and the resonance of individual voices, forever etching our collective narrative into the annals of art history.
As we delve into the vibrant realm of contemporary art, we encounter an array of artists who shape this dynamic field. Each a master in their medium - painting, sculpture, photography, drawing, printmaking, textile, or digital art - they push artistic boundaries, reflecting our era and challenging perceptions. Let’s explore these remarkable contributors and their groundbreaking works.
1. Gerhard Richter - Known for his multi-faceted approach to painting, Richter challenges the boundaries of the medium, masterfully oscillating between abstract and photorealistic styles. His works, whether featuring squeegee-pulled pigments or blurred photographic images, engage in a fascinating dialogue with perception.
2. Jeff Koons - A significant figure in contemporary sculpture, Koons crafts monumental pieces that explore themes of consumerism, taste, and popular culture. His iconic balloon animals, constructed in mirror-polished stainless steel, captivate with their playful yet profound commentary.
3. Cindy Sherman - An acclaimed photographer, Sherman uses her lens to explore identity and societal roles, particularly of women. Renowned for her conceptual self-portraits, she assumes myriad characters, pushing the boundaries of photography as a medium of artistic expression.
4. David Hockney - Hockney, with his prolific output spanning six decades, is a pivotal figure in contemporary drawing. His bold use of color and playful exploration of perspective convey an intoxicating sense of joy and an unabashed celebration of life.
5. Kiki Smith - An innovative printmaker, Smith’s work explores the human condition, particularly the female body and its social and cultural connotations. Her etchings and lithographs speak to universal experiences of life, death, and transformation.
6. El Anatsui - A master of textile art, Anatsui creates stunning tapestry-like installations from discarded bottle caps and aluminum scraps. These shimmering, flexible sculptures blend traditional African aesthetic with contemporary art sensibilities, speaking to themes of consumption, waste, and the interconnectedness of our world.
7. Rafael Lozano-Hemmer - A leading figure in digital art, Lozano-Hemmer utilizes technology to create interactive installations that blend architecture and performance art. His work, often participatory in nature, explores themes of surveillance, privacy, and the relationship between people and their environments.
The contemporary art landscape is a dynamic patchwork of diverse expressions and groundbreaking ideas, each artwork a unique dialog with its audience. Here are a selection of some renowned contemporary artworks, spanning various media such as painting, sculpture, photography, drawing, printmaking, textile art, and digital art, that have profoundly influenced this vibrant movement.
"Cloud Gate" by Anish Kapoor, 2006 - This monumental stainless steel sculpture, also known as "The Bean," mirrors and distorts the Chicago skyline and onlookers in its seamless, liquid-like surface, creating an interactive experience that blurs the line between the artwork and the viewer.
"Marilyn Diptych" by Andy Warhol, 1962 - An iconic piece of pop art, this silkscreen painting features fifty images of Marilyn Monroe. Half brightly colored, half in black and white, it reflects the dichotomy of celebrity life and its influence on popular culture.
"Rhein II" by Andreas Gursky, 1999 - This photographic artwork, a digitally-altered image of the Rhine River, is celebrated for its minimalist aesthetic. It strips the landscape to its bare essentials, invoking a sense of tranquility and vastness.
"Black Square" by Kazimir Malevich, 1915 - A revolutionary painting in the realm of abstract art, this piece, featuring nothing more than a black square on a white field, challenges traditional notions of representation, symbolizing a new era in artistic expression.
"Puppy" by Jeff Koons, 1992 - This giant sculpture, a West Highland Terrier blanketed in flowering plants, explores themes of innocence, consumer culture, and the interplay between high art and kitsch. It’s a delightful blend of traditional sculpture and garden craft.
"Re-projection: Hoerengracht" by Ed and Nancy Kienholz, 1983-1988 - A room-sized tableau representing Amsterdam’s red-light district, this work combines elements of sculpture, painting, lighting, and found objects. It engages viewers in a stark commentary on commodification and objectification.
"Untitled" (Your body is a battleground) by Barbara Kruger, 1989 - This photomontage, combining black-and-white photography with impactful text, explores issues of feminism, identity, and power. Its potent, confrontational message is a prime example of the power of text in contemporary visual art.
"For the Love of God" by Damien Hirst, 2007 - This sculpture, a platinum cast of a human skull encrusted with 8,601 diamonds, probes themes of mortality, value, and the human fascination with luxury and decadence. It’s a compelling blend of macabre and magnificence.
"Physical impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living" by Damien Hirst, 1991 - This artwork, featuring a tiger shark preserved in formaldehyde, blurs the line between traditional sculpture and biological specimen. It prompts viewers to contemplate mortality and nature’s ferocity.
"One and Three Chairs" by Joseph Kosuth, 1965 - A piece of conceptual art, it presents a physical chair, a photograph of a chair, and a dictionary definition of a chair, thus exploring the relationship between language, picture, and referent in art.
These pieces, in their diversity, exemplify the rich tapestry of contemporary art, each piece a unique commentary on our world and a testament to the limitless potential of creative expression.
