artspan contemporary art

Introduction to Art in the UK

Thanks to the success and the prominence gained by the Saatchi Gallery during the 1990's, the work of breakout collectives such as Young British Artists (YBA), and the promotion of alternative media by newcomers such as self-proclaimed "art terrorist," Banksy, the art scene in the United Kingdom has come a long way from aristocratic portraiture and romantic harbor scenes. Today, art in the UK, not unsurprisingly centered in London, is defined by conceptually challenging installations, comical and often controversial commentaries on topics such as society, commercialism, and the art scene itself, and reference to and reinterpretation of its long artistic past.   Over the course of the past couple decades, government-sanctioned projects and renegade street and performance art have come together to create a unique artistic energy in London in particular, and the rest of the UK as well. In the Tate Modern, England’s capitol enjoys the world’s largest museum dedicated to modern and contemporary art. At the same time, the city plays host to less conventional venues such as Paul Stolper and Jason Brown’s Cab Gallery, a taxi that housed rotating installations and made audiences of its unsuspecting passengers. Whether it has been through anonymous collaborative work or the branding of inspired individuals, art in the UK has surged past a history of traditionalism and found a new stride in its provoking work, unconventional production, and alternative forums for expression and exhibition.

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