-
Street Art: The Lennon Wall Various Artists
The Lennon Wall in Prague Czech Republic is an iconic collaboration of artists coming together to create a work of art made with bright colors. The mural took on a new emotional meaning for most after the assignation of John Lennon. The wall has since been covered with political and peaceful verbiage taken from songs of The Beatles. Becoming a shire to John Lennon and The Beatles, The Lennon Wall is one of the most iconic street art compositions. -
Period: to
Crow Museum
The 1980s -
Music: Phil Collins, In the Air Tonight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkADj0TPrJA English drummer/singer/songwriter Phil Collins released his hit “In the Air Tonight” in 1981 and it continues to be one of Collins’ best-known hits, often called his signature song. The infamous drum break towards the end of song has gained him notoriety as a drummer and insights people to “air drum” their fantasy of being a famous drummer and living the rock star dream. -
Silkscreen: Andy Warhol, Guns
Andy Warhol perfected the use of silkscreen in his artwork. He favored silkscreen as a way to mass produce his works. Gun is transferred black and red on white. The contrasting colors of the weapon give it a standout appearance. The frigid steel vison represented the cold violence of weapons. -
Music: Toto, Africa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTQbiNvZqaY Toto is an American rock band that released their hit “Africa” in 1982. By 1983 the song had hit #1 on the Billboard top 100. The unique synthesizer, keyboard, catchy lyrics, and random gong gives this song an ever presence that alludes to its veracity. The song is still popular today and will remain a classic that will surpass the tests of time. -
Photography: Richard Prince, Untitled (Fashion)
Richard Prince, an American artist of the 1980s used the photographs from magazine pages by cropping or obscuring any text or logos. The surprising factor is that once the magazine pages were stripped of their text and logos they became more powerful. -
Painting: Anselm Kiefer, Innenraum
Anselm Kiefer connects with fiction and memory. Kiefer's epic-scaled, complex sculptures and paintings are often exposed to elements like acid and fire, and incorporate materials such as burned books, lead, concrete, prickly branches, ashes, and clothing. -
Literature: Alice Walker, The Color Purple
Alice Walker’s book The Color Purple, is a critically acclaimed winner of several reputable awards such as the Pulitzer, making her the first black female to win this award. The book was groundbreaking for its feminist text and portrayal of poor black women. This literary excellence is a work of art that will make an impression on readers regardless of their existing time period. -
Musical: Cats
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRsb2FX-Bnw
The 1982 musical Cats composed by Andrew Lloyd Weber has many memorable songs and rhythmic dancing. The ability to take a simple subject like cats and turn them into graceful singing and dancing creatures is remarkable. The musical was recently recreated into a film with big Hollywood names. Regardless, if Cats is performed in the 1980s or 2020’s the production has a robust presence. -
Painting: Jean-Michael Basquiat, Brett as a Negro
Jean-Michael Basquiat was an American artist who rose to success during the 1980s. Regarded as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century and the Neo-expressionism movement. He had a special way of uniting text and image. His art focused on dichotomies such as prosperity versus poverty, integration versus segregation, and inner versus outer experiences. Brett as a Negro is a work painted on tile and glued to plywood. -
Photography: Cindy Sherman, Untitled #130A
Cindy Sherman was a leading feminist artist who “re-examined” women’s roles in history and modern society. She does not title her photographs leaving them open to interpretation. During the 1980s she expanded her emphasis grotesque images. -
Architecture: Frank Gehry, Norton House
The eye-catching structure in Venice Beach, CA was designed by Frank Gehry in 1984. The structure is known for his eccentric physicality. The structure is created from everyday materials. The dominant feature is the box perched on a post with a panoramic window. The contrasting shapes, colors, and heights work together to form a semblance of a coherent work of art. -
Architecture: Antoine Predock, Nelson Fine Arts Center
Construction began in 1985 of the Nelson Fine Arts Center designed by Antoine Predock and located in Arizona. The building contains a theater arts center, dance department, and museum. The design reflects the epitome of Arizona’s deserts. The structure encompasses the typical 80s “boxiness” and geometrical shapes. Stripped of decorative elaborateness, the structure once again proves less is more. Buildings do not need over the top ornamental complexity to be aesthetically pleasing. -
Literature: Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid's Tale
Shockingly the Handmaid’s Tale was a book written in 1985 and not just a modern Hulu series that can be streamed in 3 seasons. This book is a masterpiece of genius that paints the portrait of a totalitarian world where the reigning class has been sterilized by toxins. Fertile women are forced into becoming breeding machines and insurgents are hung at the post. The imaginative world created by the author makes a lasting impression on the reader. -
Lithograph: Jeff Koons, Baccarat Crystal Set
Jeff Koons uses ideas of taste, fame, class, and commerce. He worked with commercial materials such as stainless steel and transformed clichéd objects into “high art.” His work tends to borrow from previous techniques and styles and is often seen as iconic. -
Sculpture: Jeff Koons, Rabbit
Rabbit, by Jeff Koons, is a strikingly phenomenal work of art made from stainless steel which he is renowned for. This artwork is the most expensive piece sold by a living artist which brought in $91.1 million dollars in 2019 on an action. The details in the seams give the appearance that this is a child’s balloon animal. However, this is another example of Koons taking a basic object and transforming it using the medium of stainless steel. This is an remarkable work of art. -
Street Art: Keith Haring, Crack is Wack
The 1980s brought about a new form of art known as street art or graffiti art. Crack is Wack is one of Keith Haring’s best-known works. During the 80s crack cocaine was an imminent problem in New York City. The artist was familiar with personal experiences of the affects of drugs on his friends and family. His mural created a positive message that was relatable to the times. -
Music: A-ha, Take On Me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djV11Xbc914
A-ha is a Norwegian electropop trio who became internationally famous with their hit “Take On Me.” They introduced their groundbreaking music video that combined live-action and pencil animation. This music video won 6 MTV awards. The song is distinguished by the octave-spanning vocal range. -
Literature: Toni Morrison, Beloved
Pulitzer award winning book Beloved, written by Toni Morrison in 1987 depicts the traumatic portrayal of slavery. The story follows a female runaway slave who is haunted by the ghost of the baby she killed. Her decision resulted in not wanting to see her child suffer suppression. The book struck a chord with American culture and cemented Morrison into the literary spotlight of the 1980s. -
Architecture: Oswald Ungers, Ungers House II: Villa Glashutte
Oswald Ungers finished the Glashutte Villa in west Germany in 1988. The structure is a rectangular form with symmetrical façade identical on each side. The Villa has no fancy elaborate ornamental décor, has simple lines and basic structure yet still looks like a classical building. This proves the theory that less is more. -
Photography: Elliot Erwitt, Eiffel Tower, Paris, France, 1989
Elliott Erwitt is a French-born American photographer best known for his black and white candid photos of ironic and bizarre circumstances within everyday settings. He can see beyond the clichés of Paris and recognize the reality of the city capturing its true flavor.
