Contemporary Arts: Minimalism and Pop Art

Student’s Name
Instructor’s Name
Course
Due Date
Contemporary art is ever-evolving. It is often defined as art created during the last 50 years, and the two movements that have had the most impact on the art world of this era are minimalism and pop art. These two movements are expressions of the modern condition, using various media to create works that challenge the traditional definitions of art and its purpose.
Minimalism is an artistic movement that began in the late 1950s and was heavily influenced by the abstract expressionist movement of the 1940s. The goal of minimalism was to simplify art by stripping away any unnecessary elements. The minimalist works were typically abstract and focused on using basic geometric shapes and colors. One of the most iconic and quintessential examples of minimalism is Barnett Newman’s Who’s Afraid of Red, Yellow, and Blue? II, which was created in 1966. This painting is composed of three vertical stripes of color, which are red, yellow, and blue. The painting is an excellent example of minimalism because it minimizes the use of elements, has a simple composition and is composed of basic geometric shapes. The painting is also a great example of the use of color in minimalism, as the colors are vibrant and draw attention to the painting.
On the other hand, pop art is an artistic movement that emerged in the late 1950s and early 1960s. This movement was heavily influenced by the consumer culture and mass media of the time. Pop art was characterized by everyday objects, bright colors, and often comic book or cartoon-like images (Needham). One of the most iconic and quintessential examples of pop art is Andy Warhol’s Gold Marilyn Monroe, which was created in 1962. This painting is an excellent example of pop art because it uses a well-known image of the iconic actress Marilyn Monroe. It is composed of bright, vibrant colors and a grid-like pattern of rectangles. The painting is also an excellent example of Warhol’s technique of “screen printing,” which he used to create the painting by printing an image onto a canvas.
These two artworks are perfect examples of contemporary art because they represent two of the most influential artistic movements of the twentieth century. Minimalism and pop art have had a lasting impact on the art world and have shaped how we view and experience art today. These artworks are masterful examples of their respective movements, as they perfectly demonstrate minimalist and pop art aesthetics. They are also iconic images synonymous with the movements they represent. The two artworks are perfect examples of contemporary art because they demonstrate the creative, innovative, and revolutionary ideas of two of the most influential art movements of the twentieth century.
...