Enduring Legacy of Pop Art

The continued evolution of pop art across cultures.

- Anoushkha Prasad

Pop art, which is often identified with being an American innovation, originated in Britain. Pop art first altered the way society is perceived, and then, reinvented the role of art in the economy. Magazine covers, storefronts, and billboards were all utilised to showcase pop art as a marketing tool for selling more publications and other consumer items. It wasn't long until the things for sale were pop art pieces like coffee cups and wallpaper. Pop art has a wide mix of men and female artists. Roy Lichtenstein, for example, specialised in comic books and visual language. Idelle Weber, Tom Wesselman, Marjorie Strider, Ed Ruscha, and Rosalyn Drexler are just a few of the many unique artists who contributed to individualised pop art being a permanent part of consumer society.

One of the most appealing aspects of pop art is its familiarity to the general public. Because pop art is generally inspired by mass media that is widely consumed, the resulting artwork features recognised iconography, such as Andy Warhol's silkscreen prints of Campbell's Soup and Marilyn Monroe. Of course, recognition does not always lead to acceptance. Art "purists" who are accustomed to "high art" frequently dismiss pop art. Nonetheless, purists are a small minority compared to the majority who admire pop art in all of its sensationalised and commercialised manifestations.

The Pop Art Movement