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Pop Art is the movement in art when artists
began to create art with the subject of things that are the iconic in nature
such as famous people, advertising, and movies. The British and the American
people were responsible for setting off this type of art in the 1950's and
60's. In art history, art movements are attached to time periods. It is the
most recent form of artistic movements next to postmodernism. Abstract
expressionism precedes pop art. An offshoot of pop are is a type of art called
"Lowbrow". It was started in the 70's in California, USA and is often termed
"pop surrealism".
One of the most notable pop artists was the artist Andy Warhol (1928-1987). One
of Andy Warhol's most famous paintings was that of a Campbell's soup can. How
much closer can you get to pop culture of the 60's than a can of soup? Well,
perhaps the answer is Marilyn Monroe. Warhol is noted for creating artistic
portraits of Marilyn Monroe. Warhol is noted to have mingled with many
different subculture circles and must have had some influence on how and why he
created the art that was famous for. I bet you didn't know his birth name was
Andrew Warhola. Or perhaps you did?
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Girl with Hair Ribbon
by Roy Lichtenstein |
Another
notable pop artist was Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997). Lichtenstein loved doing
abstract expressionism but later was drawn to pop art in the 60's. He created
art using comic strips as the subject. He also was known for creating pop art
style reproductions of master painters like Monet. Personally, I always like to
see someone play with a master's artwork. What better exercise could an artist
receive?
In 1962 the world's first public exhibit of pop art was shown at
the Pasadena Art Museum. The works included artists Jim Dine, Roy Lichtenstein,
Andy Warhol, Robert Dowd, Phillip Hefferton, Joe Goode, Edward Ruscha, and
Wayne Thiebaud.
I like to think of pop are as being fun, colorful and playful. As
much as it can be associated with a child-like playfulness and simplicity, it
has quite a bit of art theory to it.
Some books of interest:
Pop Art (Taschen 25th Anniversary)
by Tilman Osterwold
Pop Art (Movements in Modern Art)
by David McCarthyby Tilman Osterwold Illustrated
Andy Warhol: Giant Size
by Editors of Phaidon Press, Steven Bluttal, and Dave Hickey
Roy Lichtenstein: Beginning to End
by Fundacion Juan March, Juan Antonio Ramirez, Ruth Fine, and Avis Berman
Sources: Wikipedia, Encyclopedia Britannica, Amazon.com
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