Post-Modern Art

The Post-Modern Art Movement began around 1930-1950, and still shows face today, time and again; used the modernist movement like a trampoline to project themselves further away from reality/realistic renderings and further into the depths of the subconscious, emotional entanglement of the act that is art. Thrusting itself forward from two major world wars, Post-Modern Art took aim for New York and its liberal democracy, ideas and freedoms.
Art became an action rather than an object; a way of doing something as opposed to the item that displayed something being done, i.e. dancing. Art became a tool, such that of a microscope, to expose humanistic reaction, emotion, aggression, sexuality, social status, and religious orientations of the culture from which the artist was amerced in. It even went as far as having, pop culture/icons hung on walls and denoted as property of the artist.
From action painting to recoding videos, art was vigorous during this time. Exposing the underbelly of society as well as defying its once very well laid out boundaries, the Post Modern era ran ramped like ivy vines on Brooklyn building sides, and its evidence is not only still visible as living vegetation, but marked by the sun bleached satins of the past.
The artist of this time such as; Brenton, Dali and Picasso; all whom I view as overlapping artist from Modern to Post- Modern, Jackson Pollock, Robert Motherwell, Alexander Calder, Hans Hofman, William de Kooning, David Smith, Jasper Johns and Andy Warhol; just to name a few, all went through many expansive process throughout their time. The list of important characters of Post-Modern Art is way to long to sieve through to find the larger particles that left lasting impressions upon the rest of the arts community. Any one of the hundreds of artist during this movement that had their work hung, published or cited as reference could be used as an effective means to define the Post-Modern Art Movement.
The materials being used to create art changed drastically during this time too. Artist began experimenting with different mediums such as silk screening, rubber, found objects and house paint. Sculpture opened new doors into its ability to transfer ideas through its use of the leftover scrap metals and rubbers from the booming industrialized market place. Using the use of these new materials became a way for artist like Louise Nevelson, to create a three-dimensional interpretation of what she felt, such as in City on the High Mountain.
Huge shifts happen during this time that opened a lot of doors for individuals on a larger scale to witness and have a say in the art world. Art magazines began being published and publicized while communicating became easier with the popularization of the telephone and the television; information about art and the art world became better well known. Education and communication on a global had changed drastically too, which allowed more people into the art arena. Art was becoming itemized and more useful to everyday people.
Critiques became increasingly bias as well as popularized and spoke about. Critics of this time argued in great length about the very definition of art and the act of creating art. Some of the most notable of these art critics where, Lawrence Alloway, early on; Clive Bell, John Berger, John Canady, Robert Coates, Clement Greenberg and Arlene Raven who all help define this period.
The Post-Modern era is still haunting us today with in the advertisement industry and will surely not be heading to its grave anytime soon. Its effects on the art of today are well known on a global level and seen on a panoramic level when visiting any industrialized city. The Post- Modern Art Movement has become part of our everyday lives, and with out a question or reflection, most people just accept it as a way of life.

Pollock











de Kooning













Rothko



















Kahlo












Johns