Movements Come and Go but Others have Staying Power

Some call it folk art, others prefer primitive or naive art; still others attach mod-sounding names onto it like pop surrealism or steam punk. Each is unique; but according to art critics and those “in the know,” are concocted from the same pot of sub-standard stew called Lowbrow Art.

Who are these authoritative judges who condemn a movement before it even gets out of the box? I call them “elites” who promote the exclusivity that keeps art in a privileged category for the few. Thank goodness these labels don’t apply to everyone. Today, lowbrow artists and their followers are finally getting noticed and their work is showing up in well-known galleries across the globe.

When you think of lowbrow art what comes to your mind? I usually think of science fiction, comic book illustrations and tattoos in that order. Why has it become so popular? Because it appeals to the masses either for its humor, sarcasm, or brashness.

Wickipedia writes: “Museums, art critics, mainstream galleries, etc., have been uncertain as to the status of lowbrow in relation to the fine art world, and today it has been largely excluded - although this has not stopped some collectors from buying the works. Some art critics doubt that lowbrow is a "legitimate" art movement, and there is thus very little scholarly critical writing about it. The standard argument of critics is that critical writing arises naturally from within an art movement first, and then a wider circle of critics draws upon this writing to inform their own criticism.”

Wikipedia’s definition is already becoming outdated as digital artists get wider exposure on the Internet. Their statement also reveals the blatant snobbery that exists in the art community. There, I’ve said it!

This attitude reminds me of the Emperor who stood stark naked before a circle of his peers while his tailors declared that, indeed, the Emperor was dressed, and his accouterments were exceedingly fine in order to cover up their own uncertainty and incompetence.

Many lowbrow artists are self-taught, which further alienates them from the world of museum curators and art schools. The educated, the elite, have the power to designate who will be seen, supported and exposed while the truly avant-garde continue to push the envelope and explore new means of expression literally under the radar.

This is one of my favorites! Well done.

Will elitists get left behind in the coming age of advancing technology? What do the critics say about these new genres? Will popular opinion and dollars weigh in? Love to hear your opinions!

http://youtu.be/HWKIoyFTV50   Check out this Fabulous  Trailer New Wave of high-tech art and animation.

The New York Times said of an exhibit in the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum: “At first, surrealism and popular culture seem to be oil and water. Surrealism mines dreams and the unconscious, while pop culture is concerned with surface and commonplaces. But in recent years they have been brought together in exhibitions concerned with proving that high and low are related."^[12]Kirsten Anderson, who edited a second book called Pop Surrealism, considers lowbrow and pop surrealism to be related but distinct movements.^[13] However, Matt Dukes Jordan, author of Weirdo Deluxe, views the terms as interchangeable.

Featured Artist

Abril Andrade Griffith In a world that moves fast, few things in life have the ability to make one stop and take a deep breath; few things allow you to become lost in a dream. The art of Abril does just that. Being transported into a wonderland, there is a sense of whimsical innocence paired effortlessly with creepy delusion.

Abril is well known all over the world for her cute, dark, abstract intense work. Her work can be found internationally in tattoo shops, galleries, and private art collections. Abril has been featured and published by major magazines. A link to her gallery on Fine Art America is beside her featured painting.

 http://fineartamerica.com/featured/oh-el-amor-abril-andrade-griffith.html