Throughout our history, there have been many influential art movements and trends that you’ll want to know about. They each impacted our modern art world and continue to affect art as it develops into the future. Learning more about these trends will help you better understand contemporary art.
There’s a lot to know about these different movements, so keep reading. Everything about the 7 art trends that changed art for the future is below!
1. Abstract Expressionism Movement
- Started: 1946
One of the most influential movements that changed art for the future would have to be abstract expressionism. After World War II, many artists didn’t want to paint the same images as they did before. Instead, they turned to creating abstract works that captured emotion. The movement emerged in New York, with artists focusing on gestural marks instead of capturing portraits in their work.
Abstract Expressionism consists of many unique techniques and lets artists express themselves in unconventional ways. It felt incredibly freeing then, and the resulting art is an emotion captured on the canvas.
Two parts made up this movement: color field painting and action painting. Color field painting is when artists use a single flat area of color to capture a feeling. In contrast, action painting requires the artist to use dynamic movements.
This movement significantly impacted art throughout history, leading to today. It reinvented many mediums and brought out the idea that artists can make art unconsciously.
Some of the leaders of this movement include:
- Jackson Pollock
- William de Kooning
- Mark Rothko
- Franz Kline
2. Pop Art Movement
- Started: Mid 1950s
Pop art was both praise and critique of popular culture, primarily directed towards commercial imagery such as advertising. This movement changed how many people viewed art using bright, attention-grabbing colors. It was also the first time people saw that advertising could be seen as art, which hugely impacted today’s modern art.
Pop art inspires fashion, design, advertising, and more today, making it one of the most impactful art movements ever. This movement continues to affect modern commercials, even those you see on social media.
It’s still highly relevant today because it focuses on social commentary and making art accessible to everyone.
Some influential pop artists include:
- Andy Warhol
- Roy Lichtenstein
- David Hockney
3. Impressionism Art Movement
- Started: 1860
Impressionism art was a very radical movement at the time as the artists were rebelling against painting traditional subjects.
This movement would allow artists to express more freedom in their paintings, as it wasn’t nearly as common beforehand. It uses subjects from everyday life, whereas previously, artists would strive to make perfect landscape paintings without leaving their studios.
The Impressionism art movement continues to inspire many artists today through its unique lighting effects, colors, and textures featured in the works.
These are some of the leaders of the Impressionism movement:
- Claude Monet
- Edouard Manet
- Paul Cezanne
4. New Impressionism Art Movement
- Started: 1886
Impressionism would lead directly to neo (or new) Impressionism. This movement was also highly influential on the path that art would take. The movement featured divisionism (also often called pointillism), which is when an artist uses dots or single strokes of color to place paint on the canvas. This technique would cause your eyes to blend the colors together. Check out some cool Impressionism art at Elena Bond.
It was very unique at the time because the artist didn’t blend the colors themselves, which was common in many other movements.
The movement would be a massive step towards abstraction in art, leading to many other movements.
These are some of the most influential new Impressionist artists:
- Vincent van Gogh
- Georges Seurat
- Camille Pissarro
5. Art Noveau Movement
- Started: 1810
Art Noveau took a lot of inspiration from natural objects such as flowers. It broke down the line between fine arts and applied arts by incorporating textiles, ceramics, and more in the works. You can still find the influence of this movement in many homes today. It even directly impacted graphic art and architecture in many ways.
These are some Art Noveau artists you’ll want to keep in mind:
- Gustav Klimt
- Egon Schiele
- Aubrey Beardsley
6. Art Deco Movement
- Started 1920
The Art Deco movement followed immediately after the Art Nouveau movement. Its main goal was to make mass-produced and functional items more visually appealing. For example, you can find Art Deco on cars and various buildings constructed at the time. It represented luxury and sophistication and continues to impact how we design many of these objects today.
Art Deco influenced jewelry, fashion, furniture, and more, making it essential in many ways. These are some of the most recognized Art Deco artists for you to reference:
- Tamara de Lempicka
- René Lalique
- Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann
- Sonia Delaunay
7. Dadaism
- Started: 1916
Dadaism was founded by Hugo Ball as satire, which would set up the mood for the rest of the movement— it was described as strange and absurd. This art trend is widely reappearing today in many different media forms.
It was very experimental, which opened the way for many other art trends and movements. The trend was also political and called attention to the horrors of war. Overall, it was very influential and continues to be so today.
These are a few of the most well-known Dada artists:
- Marcel Duchamp
- Salvador Dali
- Hugo Ball
- Hans Arp
What is the Most Used Movement in Contemporary Art?
Impressionism (and neo-Impressionism), Abstract Expressionism, and Pop Art are some of the most influential movements in contemporary art. However, every single art trend impacts contemporary art in some way.
All art today combines the movements that came before, so learning as much as possible about art is essential to those who want to create and experience it.
Art Trends Continue Impacting Art
Art trends will always impact art, causing it to change throughout history. Each movement leads into another, and modern artists draw inspiration from previous movements, causing everything to remain connected and relevant today.
To summarize, there are many influential art trends, and learning more about them can influence your own taste in art.
