All About Pop Art
“Junk Food” Limited Edition Serigraph Print by Kathleen Gwin
When people think of Pop Art, they might think of Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup Cans or The Marilyn Diptych by the same artist. Pop art is known for its fun nature and bold, simple colors. However, there is much more to the genre. Keep on reading to learn all about pop art!
Beginnings of Pop Art
Pop Art became popular in New York City in the early 1950s, then grew to prominence in the late 50s and early 60s. The New York artists that started it all include Andy Warhol, James Rosenquist, Roy Lichtenstein, and Claes Oldenburg. Most of the famous Pop artists had some background in commercial art as well as fine art, which gave them the foundation to create art of their own.
The Context of Pop Art
The Great Depression of the 1930s and World War II in the 40s left the world bereft. The outgrowth of this was Abstract expressionism, a movement of the 1940s, which obliterated realism, leaving the viewer with nothing more than a total abstraction of lines and forms. It was the closest representation of the soul that fine artists of the time could capture.
“Only You Can Hear” Limited Edition Serigraph Print hand-signed by Romero Britto
The next wave of fine artists went the opposite direction: in light of this extreme form of abstract art and the heavy industrialism and consumerism that swept the U.S., New York artists took the most recognizable and mundane objects and made them into fine art. Art historians can disagree on whether Pop artists fully embraced the new consumeristic culture or whether they were critiquing it. Regardless, we have today a full and varied collection of Pop Art to admire today.
Notable Pop Artists
As mentioned above, Andy Warhol was one of the most famous Pop artists of his time. He used silkscreens to create some of his most iconic works, perhaps furthering the acknowledgment of a culture of mass production.
Two early Pop artists not to be forgotten are Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg. Jasper Johns is most famous for his Flag painting and series, which were inspired by a dream he had. Rauschenberg created fine art through collages consisting of newspaper, magazine, and TV clips that he manipulated to create philosophical works.
Zimmerman Limited Editions had the privilege of creating a limited collection of serigraph posters with Roy Lichtenstein, one of the most notable of the New York Pop artists. Both Roy Lichtenstein and Romero Britto have had prolific careers creating Pop art with a whimsical angle. Lichtenstein’s most famous works use comic strip images with altered meanings. You can also find the notable art of Kathleen Gwin.
Contact Zimmerman Fine Art Today!
Since 1979 Zimmerman Editions Ltd. has worked closely with many internationally acclaimed artists to execute editions of their most unique images. Collaborating directly with the artists, Zimmerman Editions’ atelier has printed, fabricated, and published many special limited editions of fine art, including both prints and sculptures. All images have been faithfully produced to meet the artists’ most exacting requirements. Many of these high-quality art prints and objets d’art are represented in public and private collections around the world.
If you are a fine art dealer or marketer, or interested in collecting contemporary fine art, contact us today through our short form or our number at 888-484-1850. For more about fine art, keep in touch through Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn!