How Do Artists Use Pop Art?

Among the many forms of art, pop art is one of the most popular. Emerging in the 1950s, it was made world famous by artists such as Andy Warhol. From simple Campbell's soup cans to cartoon-like depictions of celebrities, it has become an important part of the art landscape. 

Pop art emerged in the 1950s in reaction to abstract art, which was the dominant from of art at the time. Rather than using abstract ideas or photographic like realism, it employed objects which were found in popular and celebrity culture. It also utilizes graphics which have cartoon-like qualities, which were very popular at the time. Rather than being restricted those very educated about art, pop art was easily accessible to almost anybody. Because of this quality, artists often used it as a way to convey their ideas in a way that was very accessible to the general public.  

The artist most linked to pop art was Andy Warhol. His portraits of Campbell's soup cans have become iconic, as have his cartoonish depictions of celebrities (such as Marilyn Monroe). Another artist commonly linked with pop art is Roy Lichtenstein, who took art masterpieces and recreated them with a cartoon strip-style spin.  

Pop art was very much a product of the time. It took aspects of modern mass media and television, which was becoming a worldwide phenomena in the 1950s. Pop artists used images that were commonly seen on television and in advertising and presented them in an artistic (rather than commercial) context. Because of the common images and techniques it used, it quickly became one of the most popular art movements of the 20th century.