Pop Art

Pop Art is one of my favourite art styles. I like how artists took many things famous in pop culture and turned them into very nice pieces of art. Pop art is similar to data as it references pop culture. Pop Art originated in the US and the UK in the mid 1950s. In the US the art was seen with very hard edges and were prominent. Irony and parodies were often used to make the art. In the UK, pop art was seen much softer but still included the ironic and parody themes. Andy Warhol was one of the most famous pop artists. He did the Campbell's soup can. He also did many paintings of celebrities and included different contrasts with in the painting. His most famous and my personal favourite is of Maryann Monroe. The contrast of the colour really shows how the art style of the 50s and 60s. I really like this painting and enjoy the beauty of  the altered reality of it.

In the UK an group called the Independent Group was formed to reflect on the Pop Art form. Young painters, and sculptures, and many other artists formed together to create magnificent forms of art. They looked at many pop culture references and designed pieces around them that were later looked at by critics to be judged.

Many people did not think Pop Art was a form of art as it just took simple things and created paintings. It was much similar to when DADA Art came out and people did not believe it was art. Many thought it did not hold up with many pieces and would not be remembered in years to come. But they were proven wrong.

Pop Art took a major turn and started being used as designs for propaganda. It is widely used today for the effective colours and designs as it is something different. Che Guevara had one of the most famous ones during the Cuban Revolution. It was very simple but had a deep message behind it. Often times as well many pieces were seen warning of the "Nuclear War" as this was during the Cold War and there was always a fear of the Communists sending a Nuclear Bomb over to America. Often times it was a battle of who had the best form of art instead of the best weapons. It was also used to boost confidence of the troops and persuade them to join the fight during Vietnam. The most famous piece of propaganda in American history has to be the Uncle Sam poster, calling "you" to duty.



I think Pop Art is amazing and a large part of art history in the 20th Century. They seem so simple but do so much. They may not seem very complex but with the angles, shading and forming the colours there is a challenge behind it. It has become a part of our culture and I think it will live on forever.