What Is Pop Art and When Did It Start?

Art|Pop Art

Pop art is a movement that began in the 1950s and reached its peak in the 1960s. It was an art movement that challenged traditional notions of fine art, by turning everyday objects and images into works of art. Pop art is characterized by a bold, bright, and often humorous use of color and imagery.

Pop artists sought to explore the relationship between popular culture and fine art by using imagery from popular culture, such as advertisements, comic books, magazines and newspapers. They also incorporated materials such as fabric, plastic, and even metal into their work. Pop artists wanted to challenge traditional ideas about what constituted “high” or “low” art by incorporating found objects into their work.

The most recognizable names associated with the Pop Art movement include Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Claes Oldenburg and Robert Rauschenberg. These artists were all part of a larger group of artists known as the New York School or The New Realists who sought to challenge traditional notions of beauty.

One of the most recognizable pieces of pop art is Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup Cans (1962). This painting features 32 different soup cans arranged in rows on a canvas in bold colors with flat areas of color reminiscent of commercial printing techniques used in advertising at the time.

The term “pop art” was first coined by British critic Lawrence Alloway in 1956 to describe the emerging trend in American artwork which utilized imagery from popular culture such as comics, advertisements and everyday objects. By 1960 it had become an international phenomenon with exhibitions being held worldwide featuring works from prominent pop artists such as Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol.

Pop Art has had a lasting influence on modern-day art with its bold use of colors, appropriation of everyday images and its challenge to traditional notions about what constitutes fine art. Its influence can be seen in contemporary works ranging from graffiti to streetwear to digital media.

In conclusion, Pop Art is an influential 20th-century movement that challenged traditional notions about what constitutes fine art by incorporating everyday items like comic books and advertisements into works of art. It was first coined by British critic Lawrence Alloway in 1956 but gained international recognition when exhibitions featuring works by prominent Pop Artists such as Roy Lichtenstein were held worldwide beginning in 1960. Today it continues to have a lasting influence on modern-day artwork through its bold use of colors and appropriation of common images from popular culture.