In today’s era where consumption is done massively, pop art inspiration has become one of the most prominent art movements in contemporary culture and fashion world. It is also one of the most accessible types of fashion that revolutionized the common people market.
What exactly is Pop Art all about?
The term “Pop-Art” was first invented by British curator, Lawrence Alloway, in the year 1955, to describe a new form of “Popular” art – a movement branded by the smiles of common people and popular culture. Pop art is art that is labeled as being bold, simple, vibrant in colors and depicts the everyday imagery.
The pop culture first emerged in the 1950s in both New York and London. What started as a rebellious fashion trend for the youth and pop music in the 1960s gradually grew to become a global phenomenon today.
Pop Art Inspiration Timeline
- 1950s – Pop Art kicks off in London followed by Americans in New York
- 1952 – The independent group takes shape in London
- 1954 – Jasper John’s ‘Flag’ painting
- 1955 – Robert Rauscenburg creates ‘Bed’ painting
- 1956 – Richard Hamilton’s ‘Just What Is It That Makes Today’s Home So Different And So Appealing’ appears in the ‘This is Tomorrow’ exhibition at Whitechapel art gallery in London
- 1958 – Lawrence Alloway officially names movement Pop Art in ‘The Arts and Mass Media’ in Architectural Record
- 1959-1960 – Claes Oldenburg, Jim Dine and Tom Wesselman have their first shows in Judson gallery in New York
- 1960s: Pop Art gains precedence in the world of art
- 1962 – (1) ‘New Painting of Common Objects’ first American Pop Art exhibition at Pasadena art museum
(2) The solo exhibition of Andy Warhol at Los Angeles
(3) Ground breaking international exhibition of ‘The New Realists’ features Pop Art and new Realists’ works from all around the world
- 1963 – Guggenheim Museum exhibits ‘Six Painters and the Object’ showcasing the works of Jim Dine, Jasper Johns, Roy Lichtenstein, Rauschenberg, James Rosenquit and Andy Warhol
- 1964 – (1) Roy Lichtenstein’s ‘Kiss V’ using old-fashioned comic strip as subject matter
(2) ‘The American Supermarket’ exhibition is held, mimicking a typical small supermarket environment
- 1965 – James Rosenquist builds 25 metre-long artwork ‘F-111’ wrapped around the four walls of the Leo Castelli gallery
- 1967 – Andy Warhol createshis series of 10 colour screenprints of Marilyn Monroe
- 1968 – ‘Sao Paulo 9 Exibition – Environment USA: 1957-1967’ features who’s who of Pop Art Icons
Artists who have revolutionized the pop art inspiration
- Andy Warhol was one of the most influential artists in the pop art movement and was a cultural icon in the 20th.
“Pop Art is for everyone.”
Andy Warhol Marilyns Pop Art Poster Print
- Roy Lichtenstein’s work demarcated the basic premise of pop art inspiration through parody.
“Pop Art looks out into the world. It doesn’t look like a painting of something; it looks like the thing itself.”
Girl with Hair Ribbon
- Keith Haring was made popular by his graffiti-inspired drawings, which at first was presented in subway stations and later unveiled in museums.
“If commercialization is putting my art on a shirt so that a kid who can’t afford a $30,000 painting can buy one, then I’m all for it.”
Keith Haring Hardcover
- Takashi Murakami used his Japanese heritage and artistic sense in creating the super flat icons, another facet of pop art inspiration that is widely used in modern day.
“Rather than a big figure, I guess you could say I’m more of an influential minority symbol.”
Takashi Murakami Art
- Yayoi Kusama was known as the princess of polka dots began merging pop art and fashion in the 1960s.
“I am just another dot in the world.”
Yayoi Kusama: I Who Have Arrived in Heaven Hardcover
The Impact Of Pop Art Inspiration In The Fashion World
The merging of pop art and fashion design is nothing new as every single year new art-inspired collections are show-casted on the catwalks worldwide. Designer Yves Saint Laurent was among the pioneers to convert a piece of art into a dress design and infused pop art in his collections.
In this part of the fashion hemisphere, it is not uncommon for designers to influence each other in their work and predictably, Andy Warhol, portrayed the latter in one of his four-panel silkscreens. Pop art fashion was such a big hit that it also influenced the trends in Tv shows such as The Green Hornet and Batman.
The current fashion trend is probably one of the best signs that pop art inspiration is still popular and in vogue today as it was in the past. Contemporary designers thrive to follow this art movement.
With the continuous evolution and innovation, recently, graffiti-inspired garments influenced by street art have also emerged on the mass market. As long as pop art portrays today’s world, it will always make an impact in fashion. Here are some pop art inspirations to include in your wardrobe this year!
MARC JACOBS Wrap Cotton Midi Skirt
“A playful mix of painterly swirls, bright dots and rainbow-hued sketches brings punches of pop-art style to an all-cotton midi-length skirt. The gathered A-line silhouette and wrap design enhance the light and airy movement.”
Valentino Eye Graphic Sweater
“Sixties Pop Art inspires the lash-batting motif and mod color blocking of an intarsia-knit cotton sweater that’s sure to catch admiring glances.”
Ted Baker London Zebra & Floral Print Silk Scarf
“Pop-art-style zebras, oversized florals and colorful abstract prints combine on a vibrant, modern scarf fashioned from airy silk.”
Carven Pop Art Dress
The Kooples Rose Print Cotton & Silk Shirt
“A stunning print of red roses and messy dots lends unexpected pop-art edge to a classic front-button shirt cut from a buttery-soft blend of cotton silk.”
Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Andy Warhol Collection High Top
“Merging two American classics, this sporty high-top sneaker goes pop art with a modern take on Andy Warhol. The style is represented in collaboration with the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, which was created to advance the visual arts and encourage innovation by supporting artist-friendly cultural organizations.”
Feeling inspired? While pop art fashion is a very colorful one, it might not suit everyone’s taste; it definitely is available to everyone irrespective of where you are from. For those interested, it will certainly bring your brighter self out for the whole world to see. A big advantage to include this style in your wardrobe is that pop art inspiration in fashion will not fade out so soon since it is evolving continuously. And as the adage goes by, ‘Fashion is cyclic’, why not give it a try this summer?
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Feature image: pixabay.com
