Title: Activist artists | 11 famous protest art examples | Ruth Millington
Headings: You May Like
Meta
Activist artists | 11 famous protest art examples
Why is protest art important?
1. Dada & anti-war protest art
2. Diego Rivera & mural protest art
3. American artists protest the Vietnam War
4. Jacob Lawrence protests racial inequality
5. Keith Haring & AIDS activism
“Art is nothing if you don’t reach every segment of the people” – Keith Haring.
6. Paula Rego & abortion rights
7. Guerilla Girls & feminism
8. Ai Wei Wei & political protest art
“I believe the core value of an artist must be to express yourself freely and fight for the freedom of others” – Ai Wei Wei.
9. Nan Goldin protests drug money
10. Void One attacks government cuts
“I didn’t set out to make political art but art is a platform where I can vent my frustrations” – Void One.
11. Kara Walker & anti-empire protest art
Want to read more on the topic of protest art?
Next Post
Women in Art | 11 female artists to know past to present
You May Like

Content: They are most well-known for clever and humorous posters, bill boards, flyers and books which criticise large publicly funded institutions and private galleries for their lack of pay, and inclusion for marginalised artists. 8. Ai Wei Wei & political protest art
Ai Wei Weu is one of the most famous protest artists today. His work is deeply political and critical of China’s communist party. Whether it’s covering the floor of the Tate Modern with 150 tons of porcelain sunflower seeds or photographing himself flipping-off Mao’s mural on the walls of the Forbidden City, Ai’s work has drawn intense criticism from the Chinese state. In 2011 he was arrested and imprisoned by the Chinese Government for 81 days. The alleged crime was ‘economic crimes’ but the artist’s family, human rights activists, and other supporters have long said his arrest was politically motivated, because of his criticism of government authoritarianism and censorship. Even after he was released, Chinese authorities retained his passport and forbid him from leaving Beijing, placing him on modified house arrest for 4 years. “I believe the core value of an artist must be to express yourself freely and fight for the freedom of others” – Ai Wei Wei. Most recently, he has stood up for anti-government demonstrations in Hong Kong.