STYLES IN VISUAL ARTS

Visual artists represent their ideas in many different ways. These can be grouped in to various styles or
categories.

This table illustrates different artistic styles with a definition and examples of Australian and New Zealand
artists.
Style Definition Example
Realism Depiction of people or objects as they Jeffrey Smart, Sam Foley,
are really seen. Peter Churcher
Anna Platten, Mark Cross,
Rebecca Hastings, Lindsay
Jefferis, William Hodges
Figurative (or Depicts real people or objects but is Davida Allen, Brett
representational) often distorted or altered, e.g. comic Whitely, Charles
book style of Roy Lichtenstein, Blackman, Grace
Impressionists, Crowley, Fran Gould,
Expressionists. Nigel Brown, James
Nairn, Toss Woolaston
Expressive Artists express themselves and the Albert Tucker, Arthur
times they live often using distortion Boyd, Joy Hester, Peter
and strong use of colour to give Booth, Wendy Sharpe,
emotional impact. Philip Clairmont
Abstract Can be either completely abstract or Angela Brennon, Ralph
non-objective (bear no resemblance Balson, Janet Dawson,
to nature or reality). Robert Jacks
Ralph Hotere

Abstract A combination of abstraction and the Ian Fairweather, John

expressionism expression of emotions through art Olsen, Leba Bovard, Tony
elements such as colour or line. Tuckson, Belinda Herford,
Don Peebles, Colin
McCahon
Surrealist Express the workings of the James Gleeson, Max
subconscious, characterised by Dupain, Robert Klippel,
fantastic imagery and unexpected Justin Summerton, Rozi
juxtapositions. Demant
Cubist A way of depicting reality from Grace Crawley, Paul
multiple, simultaneous viewpoints. Haeflinger, Eric Wilson,
Contemporary artists utilise Robert Rooney, Colin
Cubism’s formal and conceptual McCahon, Timon Maxey,
innovations and its investigations into John Weeks
the representation of time, space and Melvin Day
motion by variously adapting, Melinda Harper, John
developing, quoting and critiquing Dunkley-Smith and Daniel
aspects of Cubist practice. Crooks, Madonna
Staunton, Rosalie
Gascoigne and Masato
Takasaka
Conceptual art Art as ideas, theory and concepts Influenced by Marcel
more important than the actual Duchamp (1887–1968),
object. A way of making a statement Fiona Foley, Fiona Hall,
about art. Theory about how we Tracey Moffat, Gordon
know what we know: what is Art? Bennet, Scott Redford and
Readymades: found objects or work Ritchey Sealy, Jim Allen,
not made by the artist. Chris Braddock, Brydee
Rood, Tui Slater
Installation art Three-dimensional works that are Jonathon Jones, John
usually site-specific. Intention is to Dahlsen, Bea Maddock,
alter the perception of the space. Christian Nicholson,

Performance art ‘Live’ art but not theatre. It is not a
commodity (cannot be sold) and
lately often involves the use of new
technology.
Narrative Telling a story.
Appropriation Copying or quoting an existing
artwork to create a new artwork.
Time A specific moment in time can be the
subject of an artwork, but artists
today can also manipulate how that
moment is experienced.
Kinetic art Art that is made to move. It interacts
with the audience and the space it is
in. Movement may be mechanically
powered (for example, by electricity,
air or water motion) or produced by
the viewer moving past a work.
Michel Tuffery, Tiffany
Singh, Sean Kerr, Debra
Bustin
Jill Orr, Mike Parr,
Di Ffrench, Humanimals,
Adrian Hall and Tony
Coleing
Tracey Moffatt, Frederick
McCubbin, Tom Roberts,
Nigel Brown, Alice Munro
Anne Zahalka, Dianne
Jones, Marcus Beilby,
Sofia Tekela-Smith,
Gordon Walters
Daniel Crooks, Todd
McMillan
Phil Price, Theo Jansen,
Len Lye, Kozo Nishino
and ‘Sculpture by the Sea’