The Pop art movement – why we still love the posters

The Pop art movement – why we still love the posters

Pop Art or Popular Art is generally characterized by its imagery of consumerism and popular culture. This is popular in many nations because of its bold, simple and vibrant color palettes. Pop art is interesting to look at as it emphasizes on ones search for the trauma of the soul which is expressed in the world of advertising, cartoons and popular imagery.

Historical perspective of Pop Art

A group of artists in London started to have gatherings in 1952 to discuss various topics in art. This group called themselves the Independent Group which include members such as Richard Hamilton, Eduardo Paolozzi, Alison and Peter Smithson, Lawrence Alloway and Reyner Banham. During their regular meetings, they discussed topics like the place of mass culture in fine art, the found object as well as science and technology. During this period, Great Britain was still recuperating from World War 2 and most people then were still hesitant to accept the popular culture of the Americans. One thing for sure, the British were very enthusiastic about the promise of the pop culture in the future. Among the imagery the group discussed were science fiction, movies, comic books, auto mobile designs and even rock and roll music.

It was strongly believed that the term “Pop Art” has been contributed by several famous persons, Lawrence Alloway, Alison and Peter Smithson and Richard Hamilton. In addition, the word “Pop” was first incorporated in the art work of Paolozzi in his collage entitled “I Was a Rich Man’s Plaything (1947). The art work contained a pinup girl, Coca Cola logo, cherry pie, a fighter plane of World War 2, and a pistol, which burst the word “POP”, held by a man’s hand.

During the mid 1950s in the United States, the art community is being awakened by various artists with their own movements such as Neo-Dada, Funk Art, Lettrism, Beat Art, Polymaterialism. Most of which are already incorporating articles of mass culture in their art works. They wanted their art to focus more on the inclusions rather than being traditional. As such, they made use of what can be considered as non art materials, yet recognizable subjects that expresses the popular culture of the period. Artists such as Robert Rauschenberg, Ray Johnson and Jasper Johns were making history by making an impact on the New York art scene. This breakthrough in art in the United States was further enhanced with the emergence of earlier movements such as Dada and Surrealism. The art then focused on the reality of contemporary America.

In the early 1960s, artists are becoming popular in several exhibitions in New York and Los Angeles. Some of which used scree printing to create their art instead of the traditional painting methodologies. The popularity of Pop Art spread widely in the United States and was simultaneously accompanied by the growth in economy as well as advancement in science and technology and contemporary music.  

 Here are some Pop Art works and their famous artists:

1. I was a Rich Man's Plaything (1947) – Eduardo Luigi Paolozzi

2. Bed (1955) – Robert Rauschenberg

3. President Elect (1960) – James Rosenquist

4. Mr. Bellamy (1961) – Roy Lichtenstein

5. Large Trademark with Eight Spotlights (1961) – Ed Ruscha

6. Marilyn Monroe (1962) – Andy Warhol

7. Floor Cake (1962) – Claes Oldenburg

8. Field Painting (1963) – Jasper Johns

9. Love (1964) – Robert Indiana

10. The Diner (1964) – George Segal

The undying love for Pop Art design posters

Many people love Pop Art posters in their rooms. Reasons vary from person to person. Pop Art designs are something different and colors are extraordinary. The use of vibrant and powerful colors truly add to the dynamic design of the art. Artists take simple everyday objects and transforms it into a work of art. Sometimes even non art enthusiasts are amazed with the creativity and innovative ideas of pop art artists. Although not all would accept these art works, pop art would open you to new techniques and ideas on how to express yourself in the form of art. With the use of simple everyday object such as a bottle of soda or a can of mushroom soup, the artist can transform ordinary things into something extraordinary. How about having the image of Marilyn Monroe holding a bottle of soda hanging on your bedroom wall? Or an image of an old Pepsi Cola van poster in your study room or mini library. For many, this type of images are timeless and should be treasured since they represent the history and development of the product and the contributions of the person in the image. We are now in the 21st century and still we find many Pop Art posters in many households and establishments. The love for Pop Art is unending especially for individuals who can appreciate and accept them fully.