What Started Pop Art?

Art|Pop Art

Pop Art has become an iconic art movement of the twentieth century, and its influence can still be seen in contemporary art today. The movement began in the late 1950s and early 1960s, when artists began to challenge traditional artistic norms and embrace popular culture. Pop Art sought to break down the barriers between “high” art and “low” culture, by creating art that was inspired by popular culture such as advertisements, comics, films, and celebrity personalities.

The origins of Pop Art can be traced back to the work of British artists Richard Hamilton and Eduardo Paolozzi. Hamilton’s 1955 collage “Just What Is It That Makes Today’s Homes So Different, So Appealing? “ was one of the first works to use everyday images from magazines and advertisements to create a subversive commentary on consumer culture. Paolozzi’s 1957 collage “I Was a Rich Man’s Plaything”, which included images of robots and other pop-culture icons, set a precedent for using mass-produced imagery in artwork.

In the United States, Pop Art was pioneered by artists such as Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. Warhol famously appropriated images from newspapers, magazines, and advertising to create his iconic silkscreen prints. Lichtenstein used comic strips as inspiration for his work; he used a process called Benday dots to mimic the look of comic book panels. Both Warhol and Lichtenstein pushed boundaries with their use of commercial imagery; their work challenged viewers to reconsider their preconceived notions of what constituted “art”.

Pop Art is often associated with bright colors and bold shapes; however, it is important to note that not all Pop Art works fit this description. The movement also includes works that are more subtle in nature such as Robert Indiana’s 1966 sculpture “LOVE”, which featured a simple but powerful four-letter word in block letters. Similarly, Jasper Johns’ Flag paintings used mundane objects like flags or Targets as visual metaphors for American patriotism or consumerism.

The rise of Pop Art marked an important shift in how people view art; it allowed people to see beauty in everyday objects that had previously been overlooked or dismissed as being trivial or insignificant. By embracing popular culture and incorporating everyday images into artwork, Pop Art pushed boundaries in ways that had never been done before.

Conclusion:

What started Pop Art was a desire among some artists to challenge traditional artistic norms by creating artwork inspired by popular culture such as advertisements, comics films, celebrities personalities etc., This movement was pioneered by British artists Richard Hamilton & Eduardo Paolozzi who encouraged American artists like Andy Warhol & Roy Lichtenstein to use mass produced imagery in their work & challenge viewers’ preconceived notions about what constituted “art”.