Abstract art is an art movement that represents objects and ideas in non-representational, non-naturalistic ways. Abstract art has been a trendy art style and movement since the 1900s. It first became popularized by European artists like Wassily Kandinsky and František Kupka. However, many artists have created abstract works of art since then, including Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollack, and Andy Warhol.
A response movement
The Abstract Art Movement was a reaction against Impressionism, a trendy style of painting at the time; Impressionism is a style that uses visible brushstrokes to show the effect of light on an object or scene. Many artists felt that painting in this way diminished the meaning and value of art. Instead, abstract artists focused more on what the artwork represented than how it was created; for example, instead of focusing on the brushstrokes used to create an image, abstract artists would focus on what the image represented. Artists like Jackson Pollack and Wassily Kandinsky would use splashes of paint and different colors to represent their thoughts and feelings about what they saw in the world around them.
Abstract art is still a popular style and movement today
Abstract art still has the same goal: to present the art without focusing on how it was created. Artists of Abstract Art often use colors and shapes to represent emotions, feelings, or objects they care about. Today, Abstract Art can be found everywhere; however, it is very closely associated with casino murals in the United States. The early 20th century saw a lot of growth in casino gambling throughout the United States. Along with this new industry came new venues for art. To differentiate themselves from other casinos and build their brand, casinos started commissioning artists to create murals on their walls to attract customers. Art collections are associate with wealth. You can see why casinos would marry well with modern art.
Purpose of Abstract Art
People use Abstract Art to show how they feel. The American artist Jackson Pollock made his paintings by splashing paint all over the canvas. He wrote a poem about how much he liked to do this in his book. Other artists used Abstract Art to show how they felt about things that were important to them. They also used it to reflect what was going on in the world around them.
For example, Picasso was famous for using abstract art when he was older. He wanted to connect with younger generations because he wanted them to accept his work without remembering it was him. He made young, vibrant paintings that showed how much fun it was for him and how young he looked.