Sam Francis

Untitled, 1984

106.7 X 73 inch

What is pastel?

What is pastel?

Pastel is an art medium in stick form made from powdered pigment and a binder. The pigments used in pastels are the same as those in other colored art media. The color effect of pastels closely resembles that of dry pigments, more so than any other medium. Artworks created with pastels are called pastel paintings, pastel drawings, or simply pastels. The term pastel can also refer to the process of creating art using pastel sticks.

Roberto Matta

Homenaje aux Pyrenees, 1976

Drawing / Watercolor

Pastel

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Cynical Realism

Cynical Realism is a term first used in 1992 by art critic Li Xianting to describe a group of Beijing artists who created satirical social realist paintings. The group aimed to depict the psychological turmoil experienced in China as the country grappled with new political ideologies.

Minimalism

Minimalism is a style in music and visual arts characterized by pared-down designs and simplicity. It began in Western art after World War II, gaining prominence particularly in American visual arts. Minimalism draws heavily on aspects of modernism and is often viewed as a reaction against Abstract Expressionism, as well as a precursor to post-minimal art practices. Prominent minimalist artists include Agnes Martin, Donald Judd, Robert Morris, Frank Stella, and Dan Flavin.

Young British Artists (YBAs)

Young British Artists (YBAs), also known as Britart or Brit artists, refers to a group of artists who began exhibiting together in London in 1988. Most of them graduated from the BA Fine Arts course at Goldsmiths in the late 1980s. The YBAs are known for their wild lifestyles, use of unconventional materials, and a combination of entrepreneurial and oppositional attitudes. They dominated the British art scene in the 1990s and gained significant media attention. Many of these artists were initially supported and collected by Charles Saatchi, a key figure in their rise to prominence.

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