Pop Art

Pop Art, a visual art movement of the 1950's characterised by imagery of popular culture.

Pop Artists were influenced by consumerism and mass produced goods.  Scenes from everyday life were used, as were common visual elements such as advertisements, consumer products, brand names and celebrities.  This recognisable imagery of popular culture along with design elements of commercial art and illustration ie: the comic book aesthetic, collage, graphic design and bright colours,  all helped to create a high visual impact.
Ordinary people could recognise and relate to this popular imagery.  Therefore it broadened the general publics exposure to Art and made it more popular and less academic.

This image from Belgian Artist Guy Peellaert
who was to Europe what Andy Warhol was to America.

Drowning Girl by Roy Lichtenstein

Pop Art first emerged in Britain in the mid 1950's.  It became a mode of expression for British artists who having grown up in wartime austerity of ration books viewed the imagery of commercial popular culture and its consumerist lifestyle with a sense of irony.  

In America we see pop art emerging later in the 1950's.  It evolved slightly differently than in Britain, Pop Art in America was a reaction to the globally recognised art movement Abstract Expressionism, it was an attempt to pull art from the obscurity of abstraction, back to the realities of everyday life.  

Pop Art challenged social and cultural hierarchies. It was a powerful vehicle through which a Social or Political comment could be made.  The pop art artist  adapted a similar visual technique to that of the Dadaist  (irrational combinations of random images put together to provoke a reaction). 

Andy Warhol is probably the most famous and well known Pop Artist.    His works explores the relationship between artistic expression, celebrity culture and advertisements that flourished in the 1960's.  His works are produced through many forms of media including silk screen printing which allows repetitive patterns.  He was a pioneer of computer generated art.

Andy Warhol  Campbells Soup

Andy Warhol  Marilyn Triptych Series

Erwin Olaf is Dutch photographer who work is shown in museums and Gallaries around the world.  He is best known for his contemporary advertising photography.  His clients include large international companies like Levi's Microsoft and Nokia.  His work is daring and controversial.    

Erwin Olaf

          

Erwin Olaf

I believe that the Pop Art movement inspired many new forms of creativity.  Its influences can be seen today not only in Art but in advertising, in fashion, film and music.   The Pop Art concept that, The idea that a work represents is regarded as the essential component and the finished product is regarded as a form of communicating that idea, is evident in some of the works of todays contemporary artists.