Manchester City Library

While realist art tries to put forward a depiction of actual reality, abstract art strives for the exact opposite. Abstract art can encompass many types of mediums and uses visual language of shape, form, color and line to create a composition which may exist with a degree of independence from visual reality in the real world. Here are some examples of styles found in abstract art.

Paint Splatter, Drip, and Splash – Inspired by the work of the American abstract expressionist Jackson Pollock, paint splatter images and drip textures bring an eclectic and energetic feel to design projects.

Block Colors in Color Field Art – Art reached new levels of abstraction through the work of American painter Mark Rothko, who was renowned for his large-scale “Color Field” paintings. His monumental canvases explored the psychological and dramatic potential of block color. 

 Marbling – Suminagashi, the ancient art of Japanese marbling, is one of the earliest forms of abstract art, with the first known example dating to the 10th century. The artist floats colored ink on water before being transferring it to an absorbent surface, such as paper or fabric. Each marbling example is unique, and the results are ethereally beautiful and abstract.

Cubism – At the start of the 20th Century, artists Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque endeavored to represent all possible viewpoints of a subject or object, all at once. The happy result of these experiments was Cubism.

Line Art – Catalan artist Joan Miró combined abstract line drawings and paintings with surrealist subject matter. Much of his work used, or was influenced by, the printing process of lithography, which contributes to the graphic feel of his art.

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Memphis Style – No, not the Memphis style BBQ! The eclectic Memphis Style is the result of a movement initiated by a group of Italian designers, architects, and artists in the early 1980s. Memphis style emphasizes geometry, bold color, and patterns.

Abstract Organic Art – Fluid, curving forms and muted colors are the hallmarks of the abstract organic art style. Free use of organic shapes and an emphasis on natural materials, textures, and colors work to create beautiful and memorable art. The abstract organic style has been a favorite among designers for decades, and many use the style for branding projects, advertising, and packaging.

Halftone – Halftone describes the dotted effect created through printing, by breaking images up into a series of dots. The effect was replicated by pop artists such as Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein.

Surrealism – Although not strictly abstract, surrealist art aims to achieve a distorted version of reality by manipulating realist imagery. Artists such as Salvador Dalí, René Magritte, and Frida Kahlo were influenced by psychoanalysis. Prized by the art world by those who value the style for its ability to surprise and please the viewer.

Abstract Relief and Sculpture Art – Painting is often viewed as the dominant media of abstract art. However, many artists looked to sculpture and relief to translate abstract concepts into 3D form. Sculptor Barbara Hepworth for ultimate abstract inspiration. Her monumental sculptures cast in metal, stone, and wood represent the pinnacle of Modernist achievement.

Inspiration for this post comes from the current exhibition; Toward the New: A Journey into Abstraction currently on view at the Currier Museum of Art. Want to learn more? Check out a book or two from our abstract art display on the second floor of the library near the Art & Music Rooms.

See you in the Art Room!