Pop art artists and their paintings. Pop Art Style: A Brief History, Features and Interesting Facts

17.07.2019

Pop Art(English) pop art, or popular art) - a style in the visual arts that makes fun of the culture of the consumer society. This art direction arose as a reaction to abstract expressionism in the 1950s and 1960s. It is characterized by a slight irony, a mockery of what people used to consider beautiful and artistic. Pop art actively uses stereotypes and symbols. For example, products such as Levi's jeans and Coca cola, which in America are an attribute of success and prosperity in the post-war period and therefore often depicted in paintings and collages made in the style of pop art.

The term "pop art" was used for the first time in his article by the critic Lawrence Alloway. Subsequently, in 1966, he told everyone that he did not put as much meaning into this concept as it began to express later. "I just used the word, along with the term 'pop culture', to describe mass media products, not as a name for works of art," he said. But be that as it may, the concept quickly came into use between 1955 and 1957, despite criticism from opponents of the style.

The first Pop Art works were created by three young artists who were studying at the Royal College of Art in London at the time. They were Joe Tilson, Peter Black and Richard Smith. But the creation that has become an icon of pop art is Richard Hamilton's 1956 collage.

Pop art replaced abstract expressionism, relying on the new image created by the then mass media. Thanks to pop art, such new directions as kinetic and situational art, as well as op art, appeared.

In fact, pop art summed up and brought to its logical conclusion the traditional types of fine art. Thanks to this, the way was opened for completely new types of artistic practices. For example, pop art prepared the way for postmodernism and conceptualism. And already in the 80s of the XX century, as a result, a new type of art arose - neo-pop art.

This direction in the visual arts conveyed the taste and mood of that time. Sexuality, youth, transience, dreaminess and even some naivety in pop art paintings are considered a reflection of the real American dream. In Russia, they started talking about it only decades after the first appearance of pop art in America.

By the way, in our time, pop art is back in fashion, both in painting and in other art forms. And fortunately, there are plenty of modern masters working in this direction now.

Prominent representatives of pop art are Richard Hamilton, Robert Indiana, Tom Wesselman, Andy Warhol and others...

Pop art emerged as a replacement for the serious abstract art of the twentieth century. This style is mostly based on popular culture, so it has become a form of entertainment. The direction developed with the help of advertising, trends, as well as fashion. No philosophy, spirituality. Pop art (portraits) is one of the sections of avant-garde art.

When did the style originate?

Accessibility and simplicity are the qualities that made this style incredibly popular. The goal was originally to have a wide audience, so it is possible to cover the most talked about images. That is why the pop art style has become one of the most influential art movements in painting of the 20th century and beyond.

Popularization of style

In more detail, the style gained popularity in the 1960s, despite the fact that it was founded a little earlier, in the 1950s. Great Britain is considered to be the place of origin, and an active rise occurred in the United States of America. Jasper Johns was also the founding father of pop art.

It all started with the initiative of the Independent Group, which was founded in London in 1952 among enterprising artists and architects. Urban folk culture was supplemented by modern technologies when writing canvases. Using the example of American culture, the masters studied the influence of psychology on the mass audience, the deep meaning and content of linguistics. I was mainly interested in industrial advertising, current technologies for the production of advertising, and the distribution of collages.

"It's Tomorrow"

1956 Opening of the pop art exhibition "This is Tomorrow". Modern society was presented with film frames of all favorite films, Hollywood idols, enlarged images. Many were inspired by the new unusual style. After the exhibition, most of the graduates of art schools and not only wanted to join the new movement.

Main motives

Pop art (portrait) has the main characteristics by which it is easy to understand that this is a certain style:

  • When using drawings of popular art. Posters, graffiti, comics, vinyl records, Marilyn Monroe graphics.
  • Screaming, bright colors. Protest to the ordinary monotonous styles in the interior. Only disco-thrash and youth funk.
  • Objective “plasticity” in paints favorably emphasizes the originality of youth style.

The first motive is taken as the basis, but others perfectly complement the image of pop art. In fact, this style is not independent, but only combines all sorts of details and creates a specific harmony.

Use in the interior

Details are the elements through which all the versatility of pop art is manifested in the interior.

  • Freedom. Spacious grounds, high ceilings, minimalism. It goes well in the design of living rooms, public cafes.
  • Light color. As a rule, a white background visually expands the space. Screaming bright furniture always fits perfectly into neutral shades.
  • Creativity of forms. The ideological creators were actively fond of retro-futurism, in addition to other philistine styles. When you are in a pop art style interior, there is a chance to remember the good science fiction of that time.
  • The minimum amount of furniture. The same idea of ​​simplicity and spaciousness. There will be no uploaded areas in the pop art room. Only the essentials for life. Multifunctional cabinets, cabinets, sofas.
  • Variety of accessories. It's easy to find a lot of little things: such as elements of mass culture, colorful details and bright accents. For example, pillows that are scattered around the perimeter, or catchy clothes hangers.
  • Unusual lighting solution. A lot depends on the light. Including the mood of the object. LED strips, liquid lamps, ceiling lighting. You notice such things especially when all attention is riveted to the light.

Style Features

Bright, original pop art style is not for everyone. It should be used primarily where the recreation area is located. Many note a clear similarity with kitsch. But in fact, these are two different styles. A challenge to society, a protest against boredom, an acceptance of one's own unique taste, a desire to stand out - all this shows this style in a favorable light.

Pop art portrait

A bright surprise does not lose its relevance. Such a gift will come in handy for all those who appreciate expression, style, creativity and, as a rule, deny simplicity.

It's no secret that you need to give emotions. A pop art portrait will do the job perfectly. Bright, fashionable, catchy. He will immediately draw attention to himself. Everything that is in style and presentation is reflected in the drawing. Artists always notice interesting details and facts.

We see a new surge in the popularity of pop art paintings, each of us has a chance to pamper loved ones and friends with a unique stylish portrait. For many, this will serve as an example, and they themselves will begin to perform such pleasant and romantic acts.

At the beginning of its appearance, this product was not in vain noted by many rich and influential people of that time, because it completely turned the cultural significance upside down. The concept of the movement changed the followers of the style. Pop art is recognized all over the world.

Lawrence Alloway published a resonant article about the challenge to the cultural society, where he described in detail the intentions of young talents. It happened in America, but interestingly, the critic was from the UK.

In most cases, material for pop artists' work is created from all sorts of information and uses technology combined with even more interesting objects. Like no one else, I realized it in due time and used it.

The origin of pop art can be attributed to the period of pop music of those years, it was this fact that influenced the development of the movement in London. No need to look far for examples, Peter Blake created the cover for The Beatles and Elvis Presley, especially since the main basis of his works was the portrait of Brigitte Bardot, like Andy Warhol in New York used the portrait of Marilyn Monroe.

Comparing the English approach and the American one, one can absolutely say for sure that the second one is much more aggressive and ironic in its message.

Although we should not forget the great motto of Andy Warhol, which has become a kind of symbol of American culture in general: "If everything in the world is done by machines, then I will think like a machine."

Clear motives, symbols, sharp lines. Anti-art in all its manifestations. Peculiar Dadaists who refused once and for all from the standardization of the world. It is generally accepted that the most popular theme in the works of pop art artists was food, but this is a misconception: they gave more preference to objects of simple life and toilets.

Warhol took the products of popular manufacturers to a new level by multiplying the logos of top brands in the works.

Conclusion

Thus, such a unique and inimitable popular art really turned the idea of ​​art. Made some revolution in the art world and not only. Until now, many artists, designers, decorators are inspired, live and create with the help of this style, and also use pop art in the interior. Life style called pop art. We think that it will be as popular for many years to come as it was in the middle of the twentieth century.

We hope that the article was interesting for you, and you were able to find answers to all your questions. Thank you for your attention, dear readers. Appreciate art.

The direction in art of the 1950s and early 1970s arises as an objection to immortal abstractionism, as a transition to a new vision of avant-garde. Artists of this direction use images of mass consumption products in their work. They combine everyday objects, photographs, reproductions, excerpts from printed publications in their works. Inspirers are glossy magazines, television, advertising, photography.

New techniques (photo printing, the use of a slide projector, borrowed from industrial design and advertising) deprived artists of their unique individual style of performance, but at the same time revealed the aesthetic side of mass production samples.

-History of Pop Art

In 1952, several artists, critics and architects at the Institute of Modern Art in London created the "Independent Group", which studied modern technology and urban culture. On the basis of research, they are trying to form a new art. They took American culture as a basis, which evoked dual feelings of irony and admiration. One of the members of the group, critic Lawrence Alloway, coined the term "pop art" to refer to this style. The first work that became an icon of this direction was Richard Hamilton's collage “So what makes our homes today so special, so attractive?” 1956 After that, the connection of various items of printed matter becomes one of the main techniques of pop art. Further students of the institute used urban images in their works - graffiti, advertising posters. A little later in America, the public saw a work that would later become recognizable throughout the world. This is the work of Andy Warhol, made in the technique of silk-screen printing - a portrait of Marilyn Monroe. Soon, other equally well-known works were added to this work: Liechtenstein's comics in oil painting format, huge vinyl hamburgers and others.

Criticism reacted differently to the emerging direction. Some said it was not art, but anti-art. However, in Los Angeles he was received excellently, as there was no strict artistic tradition and there were wealthy residents who were very willing to collect works of modern art. With the help of numerous exhibitions, Pop Art spread throughout Europe.

- Representatives of Pop Art

  • Richard Hamilton is an English painter and member of the Independent Group. Creator of the first Pop Art work entitled "So what makes our homes today so different, so attractive?"
  • Roy Lichtenstein- English artist, great master of pop art. He used acid colors and various typographic techniques to create his works. His comic book oil paintings symbolized American life in an ironic interpretation.


  • Andy Warhole- American artist, designer, writer. A cult figure in the direction of Pop Art and, in general, all contemporary art. He created the world-famous painting of Marilyn Monroe in silkscreen technique.

  • Claes Oldenburg- famous American sculptor, classic of Pop Art. His peculiarity was the manner of depicting everyday objects on a gigantic scale and often bizarre colors, which were subsequently unexpectedly located in the surrounding space of the city. For example, in Milan, in front of the railway station, there is his sculpture - a needle, with a multi-colored thread sticking out of it.



  • Robert Rauschenberg- American artist. Initially, he was a representative of abstract expressionism, and later on conceptual art and pop art. When creating his works, he liked to use garbage and various garbage.

  • Tadaomi Shibuya- designer, artist, illustrator. Creating images in the style of pop art, he takes straight lines as a basis, uses the blur effect, depicts geometric patterns from which in the end a very harmonious work with well-read images is obtained.

  • James Rizzi - the most talented artist, the star of the direction of Pop - art. This man made the world brighter. There were no barriers for him, he painted on almost everything he could reach: on any small objects, on fabric, on cars and houses. He gave happiness to all people.

  • Peter Blake - English painter who was a member of the first generation of British Pop Art painters. He was interested in contemporary art from a young age. Unlike many artists of this trend, who used clippings from advertisements and magazines in their work, Peter Blake creates real pictorial images. For example, a work called "Playing Chess with Tracy."

He also designed the cover for the Beatles' world-famous Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"

Having sung the culture of mass consumption, pop art itself has become one of the most cited trends in modern culture. We chose 5 pop art artists who still influence fashion today.

August 18 in Indiana opens the exhibition "POPOP: Pop and Op Art", which will demonstrate how "mass" art has influenced contemporary culture and trends in painting. And in this regard, we decided to recall which pop art artists made an important contribution to the development of fashion.

1. Andy Warhol

The icon of pop art, which basically turned any consumer product into a work of art, did not bypass clothing. The famous paper dress The Souper Dress, inspired by his work with Campbell's soup cans, marked the beginning of a long relationship between Warhol and fashion. So, in the same collection as the Mondrian dress, Yves Saint Laurent turned to Andy's work, using a collage of his portraits on A-line dresses.The influence of Warhol on the fashion world did not end there.In 2013, Dior released a collection of dresses and accessories with sketches of shoes made by Warhol, and Jean-Charles de Castelbajac creates an ironic dress with a black and white portrait of his father pop art and white synthetic fur instead of hair.

2. Roy Lichtenstein

In terms of the use of motifs of paintings in the design of clothing and furniture, Liechtenstein occupies almost the first place. In 2011, Lisa Perry released a collection of dresses entirely dedicated to comic book paintings by the famous artist. A year later, Karla Spetic followed suit, and Markus Lupfer released a series of cashmere sweaters with embroidered sequins with inscriptions from Liechtenstein paintings. And the number of pairs of shoes created based on the works of the artist is innumerable: Nike sneakers, Charlotte Olympia shoes, Vans and Converse sneakers - there is a pair for every taste and lifestyle.

3. Keith Haring

Haring's work has become so ingrained in modern culture that Colette launched a pop-up store last year filled with pieces inspired by his work. A whole collection of T-shirts, accessories and even skateboards were very popular. The highlight of the fashion program then was a dress designed by Vivienne Westwood. This is not the first time that fashion designers have turned to the work of the famous student of Warhol: shoe designer Nicholas Kirkwood has already created a provocative collection of shoes based on the work of Keith, however, as well as adidas, and even Tommy Hilfiger (the designer released rubber boots with the famous Haring men).

4. Takashi Murakami

One of the most successful contemporary Japanese artists works in a style very close to pop art. The source of his inspiration is the culture of manga and anime. Murakami himself says that "it most of all represented the modern life of Japan." His interest in fashion as part of contemporary pop art has resulted in a collaboration with Marc Jacobs for a line of bags and other pieces from the Louis Vuitton collection. As a result, boutiques around the world have turned into a fabulous "land of Murakami", inhabited by anime characters and childishly bright colors.

5. Yayoi Kusama

The house of Louis Vuitton generally ranks first in the number of collaborations with pop art artists. Yayoi Kusama, a Japanese artist known throughout the world for her recognizable polka dot pattern that she fills rooms, objects and even the naked bodies of her assistants, is no exception. In 2012, her collaboration with Louis Vuitton turned the brand's boutiques into art installations, and the artist's image served as a prototype for the brand's shop window mannequins around the world. Cooperation with Kusama continued the good tradition of involving painters to work on the collections of Marc Jacobs. Prior to this, iconic bags have already been turned into works of art with the help of Richard Prince and Stephen Sprouse.

Colorful posters, bright posters of stars, comics, huge sculptures, playing with sizes and textures, stylish 60s - all this is associated with shocking and cheerful pop art. It is not for ordinary people, but for those who like to shock and stand out from the gray crowd. Pop art is for young, extravagant and cheerful people.

History of occurrence

Pop art (from abbr. popular art - popular art) is a bright, provocative style that came to the world of design from painting.

The term was coined by British critic Lawrence Alloway in 1956. A decade later, he told everyone that he did not put into this concept as much of the ideological meaning that it acquired and began to express later. “I only used this word together with the concept of “pop culture” to describe consumer products, and not as the names of works of art,” the critic justified. But, one way or another, by the end of the 50s, the concept rapidly came into use, despite the flurry of criticism from opponents of the style.

The emergence of pop art, a new trend in the art of painting, was caused by a reaction to abstractionism, which occupied a strong position in the middle of the 20th century. Artists who have joined this trend use images of mass consumption products in their works. They mix and match household items, photographs, reproductions, print scraps.

It is noteworthy that in almost all works there is a slight irony and even mockery of what the people consider to be the ideal of artistic beauty.

The first works in this style were exhibited by three artists: Richard Smith, Joe Tilson and Peter Black. However, the true creations that have become an icon of pop art are the collage of the Englishman Richard Hamilton, written in 1956.

In the 1960s, pop art flourished in the United States. Famous American authors create their works in this colorful style:

  • Robert Rauschenberg - bright collages;
  • Roy Lichtenstein - oversized comic book pictures;
  • Claes Oldenburg - giant plaster cakes.

Huge popularity is won by the artist and photographer Andy Warhol. Using screen printing and bright, acid paints, he creates stunning portraits of world stars: Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley.

The artists depicted the world of beauty of the banal, their creations show pride in American manufacturers creating cheap, affordable and high-quality goods. The art of American followers of pop art is a kind of monument to social equality and consumer goods. At the same time, the adopted image of mass culture has always been placed in a different context, changed the material, scale, revealed a technical method or technique. At the same time, it turned out that the original image was ironically reinterpreted and transformed.

Pop art in the visual arts conveyed the taste and mood of that time. Youth, dreaminess, transience and slight naivety in the paintings of this style is considered a reflection of the real American dream.

The ideas of American pop art from painting quickly migrated to the art of interior design and clothing. Why decorate your home with an expensive or expensive painting if you can put a tin can on the table and hang a big, bright collage of old newspapers on the wall? Something like this defines the concept of pop art, which is preferred by extravagant individuals who challenge society.

The American city of Seattle in the late 1980s became the birthplace of music and clothing. This term began to denote everything unpleasant, untidy, repulsive.

In Russia, people started talking about pop art only at the end of the 70s.

Modern direction

Today, pop art is returning to fashion not only in painting, but also in other forms of art. There are a lot of modern masters experimenting in this direction. Echoes of pop art of the last century can be found in the printing of comics and portraits of world celebrities on the clothes of young people. Clubs, cafes, beauty salons often decorate in this style. The boring, expressive, plastic style of pop art is still winning the hearts of its admirers today. The style is similar in nature to .

Having appeared in painting, pop art quickly penetrated the life of first Americans, then Europeans, and now it has reached us. Pop art has reached massive proportions today. Its elements can be found everywhere: in the interior, textiles, on clothes, posters and signs, in the form of stickers on cars.

Pop art manifests itself in painting, cinema, theater, its influence is noticeable in music (“Velvet Underground”, “Fug”).

Over the 70 years of its existence, pop art has acquired several varieties:

  • op art (artistic optical effects, combinations of lines and spots);
  • okr-art (artistic organization of the environment);
  • e-art, which resulted in a separate direction - kinetism;
  • neo-pop art that originated in the 80s.

The cult figure of the pop art style - Andy Warhol - became famous not only for the famous portrait of Marilyn Monroe in the silk-screen printing technique.

In addition, the artist introduced the art of pop art into fashion design, creating unusual sketches. In 1965, he opened the Parafenaliya store, where brave fashionistas could purchase extraordinary dresses decorated with metal, plastic, paper, as well as costumes with unusually bright patterns. Details of food, TV, advertising, comics are displayed on clothes brightly, unusually, catchy.

In the 60s, fashion designer Andre Courrèges created men's and women's suits that were no different from each other. It was then that the concept of "unisex" began to come in handy.

Pop art clothing is an extraordinary cocktail of colors and catchy shapes, as well as synthetic fabrics. Today, designers often resort to this extravagant style. Miniskirts and neon dresses, off-the-shoulder jackets, T-shirts and T-shirts with color photographs, geometric tights, leggings, straight-cut bodysuits and sweater dresses are all pop art clothes. Often there are applications in the form of colorful butterflies, juicy fruits, scarlet lips and hearts. The main thing is to surprise and be noticed!

The image is complemented by decorations made of cardboard, paper, plastic and plexiglass, retro bags with images from old films or posters made in black and white. Platform or heeled shoes and bright makeup complete the look. Pop art clothing is designed for those who cannot imagine life without bold experiments.

Interior

Pop art in the interior is a very bright and extraordinary phenomenon. It, like a surge of emotions, is designed to shock and stun with its design similar to. There are no special rules here, but several fundamental patterns can be traced:

  • Bright, saturated and even contrasting colors, shine is the main aesthetic principle.
  • Art objects should be inexpensive, modern, stylized under the ideas of pop art.
  • Large, unusual accessories and pieces of furniture.
  • The composition is built on the principle of repetition, cyclicity;
  • The use of household items in the context of works of art.

The interior in this style is characterized by a play with sizes and bright colors, as a result, the design of the room turns out to be very unusual. He sometimes has a certain "puppetry"; it seems as if not people live in it, but toys. But pop art does not refuse comfort at all. So for this style it is not typical in its classical sense, but still things need to be stored somewhere. After all, you have to live in it.

For decoration, it is better to choose the largest room in terms of area. However, even a miniature room can be styled as pop art. True, here you have to mainly focus on the details.

Color spectrum

The main color of the interior in the style of pop art is white. Against the background of light walls, ceilings and even floors, colored pieces of furniture, accessories, collages and paintings will stand out brightly. Shiny chrome surfaces will also work here, as chrome finishes have become widespread at the same time as style. Accents in the interior are not just bright, but juicy. The most non-standard combination of acid colors is welcomed in the art of pop art.

materials

Pop art is called an inexpensive style, as glass, metal, plastic, synthetics, and paper are taken as the basis. Often, designers use artificial leather in the design.

Floor, walls, ceiling

Ceilings are light and glossy. Structures can be suspended or tension, can have several levels. Niches in the ceilings are illuminated with neon lamps of different colors. A pendant lamp of an unusual shape can become a compositional accent on it.

Pop art offers two variations of wall decoration:

  1. Solid white with bright spots: panels, paintings, photographs.
  2. Colored, decorated in contrasting, juicy, incongruous colors. In this case, the walls themselves carry a stylistic load.

Wall decoration is the most diverse. They can be painted, wallpapered, covered with decorative plaster. On one of the walls, the principle of cyclical composition is often applied: the same ornament is repeated many times, throughout the entire wall. Sometimes wallpaper with an optical illusion is used, when the view of the picture changes in each corner.

The floor can be neutral, laminated or carpeted. In this case, a carpet of an unusual shape or atypical texture, for example, the skin of a jaguar or zebra, will serve as a bright accent. The second option is a catchy floor, lined with ceramic tiles in a chaotic manner.

Furniture

Expensive, luxurious furniture is in no way welcomed by pop art.

Cheapness is one of the key principles of this style.

Heavy cabinets and sideboards overload the space, so they are also out of place here. Built-in furniture, niches, pull-out beds, convertible sofas - that's what will look organic here. Bright sofas, multi-colored pouffes of round shapes made of synthetic materials will create an atmosphere of comfort and joy.

Relevant furniture made of plastic, striking in color and shape. Shiny and glossy surfaces are an indispensable attribute of furniture.

Decor and accessories

In the decor, the presence of flashy textiles with original prints is very important. Optical ornament and drawings from comics, images of cartoon characters will emphasize the ideas of pop art. They can even be applied to fabrics used for curtains.

Accessories are paramount here; in many ways they determine the style.

The portrait of Marilyn Monroe in the spirit of Andy Warhol is the most popular decor element in the interior of pop art.

Original sculpture, plastic items, lamps depicting Hollywood movie characters, posters on the walls, photographs of stars in interesting frames, intricate vases - all these details are typical of the pop art style. Handmade creations are very valuable for the interior. Products made of plastic, glass and paper are preferred. It is possible to use drawings that cause a mystical state (hallucinations), but this, of course, is intended for special amateurs.

Pop Art Interior: Video

conclusions

So, pop art is art for bold experimenters who break stereotypes and centuries-old traditions. This is a style for people who want to stand out from the crowd, to attract attention. Only truly bright, creative, extravagant personalities who do not like to be like everyone else can live comfortably in such a room. Which is the opposite of loving people.

At one time, styles such as and blew up the classical representation in art and architecture.



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