Is it Bad, Art? Or Is It Bad Art?

While the phrase "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" is helpful in relationships, I (Cutest) got to wondering if it should apply it to art also.  What makes something good or even great when you’re talking about artists and their works?

We go to lots of galleries, art shows and fairs, and museums.  Some art I tend to walk past quickly. Some I recognize as great but I wouldn’t want to own them. Some I sniff at and wonder why anyone would want it. That’s probably the most fun.

I’m taking a class at UMKC through its Cockefair offerings on Renaissance art, mostly focusing on Leonardo Di Vinci and Michelangelo. It is engagingly taught by Dr. Madeline Rislow – who is making me appreciate those two much more knowledgably.  Since neither Cute nor I know much about art (although he swears he took the baby art appreciation course in college), we’ve learned it does help to know something about the artist, their art, and their times. But we don’t always take the time to do that.  Fie upon us!

I started to better understand modern art when my biz partner Linda and I did our program on creativity at the Chicago Museum of Modern Art.  We began with a docent who, when we stared at a monochrome canvas, totally one color of paint covering it (and yes, maybe there were some shades of the color), and we said, “Really.  We could do that.”  Her response was, “Yes, but you didn’t.  And you didn’t do it first.”  That shut us up for the rest of the tour. And it has given me something to think about ever since.

Recently we visited Key West which has over 55 art galleries (and about 300 bars supposedly).  Since galleries usually mark up the art 100%, I like to only look there mostly.  But I saw/see what I call bad art there and everywhere.

Bad art goes back to the eye of the beholder, I know.  I queried AI for a definition of bad art and got a pretty good comprehensive answer.  I’ve included it below if you’re semi-interested though its conclusion goes back to my opening sentence.   But  flip  >  through the pictures below and tell me if you would classify any as GOOD art. These are mostly from Key West, including at our VRBO.  The blue guy was in our bedroom, staring mournfully at us in bed.  Ooof!

Then there’s what I call entertaining art.  A good example is the latest Parade of Hearts. You’ll soon be seeing these all over town until they’re auctioned off in August. https://theparadeofhearts.com/  This event started in 2022 and has gotten better, more creative, clever and varied, while still demonstrating various levels of art skill, though that bar keeps creeping higher.  Locations have expanded to Lawrence, Chillicothe, and St. Joseph, too.  Many people use the locations as a reason to explore a new part of town or a new town. Here are a few hearts you will see:

Last weekend we also went to the K.C. Art Institute's opening of their new gallery/shop called Marble & Canvas. The gallery features a rotating collection of artwork, gifts, and art-inspired goods created and designed by KCAI alumni who are many, talented, and often recognized internationally. The gallery, located at 4415 Warwick in Vanderslice Hall, is open Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Items range from postcards to Robin Nichols' scrumptious silver creations to an amazing $12,000 chandelier. The night was entertaining and the art eclectic. https://kcai.edu/marbleandcanvas/ Check it out.

Art done by a relative or good friend or your five-year-old is in a category all its own.  You like it cuz you know/love the artist.  You probably have your own examples.

Sometimes, though, I just remind myself that fabulous, perfect art is all around us — a flower or a sunset is all you need.

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*Attributed to Irish novelist Margaret Wolfe Hungerford, who wrote it in her 1878 novel Molly Bawn.  Many think it was the aforementioned Leonardo but what he actually said was, "The eye encompasses the beauty of the whole world," and he called the eye the "window of the soul.”  Then there’s Shakespeare: "Beauty is bought by judgement of the eye."  Then there’s my renowned analysis of worthy art: “If I like it, it’s good.”

From our friend, Artificial Intelligence:

At its core, bad art is often identified through several lenses:

1. Technical & Traditional Failures

In academic or professional circles, art is sometimes labeled "bad" if it fails to meet established standards. This includes: 

• Poor Execution: Issues with anatomy, perspective, light, shadow, or color theory.

• Lack of Craft: Work that appears rushed, careless, or "unfinished" without an intentional reason.

• Clichés: Art that is unoriginal, derivative, or "boring," offering nothing new to the viewer. 

2. The Subjective Experience

For many viewers and critics, art is "bad" based on how they interact with it:

• Indifference: Some argue the worst art is not what is ugly, but what is boring or unchallenging. If it leaves the viewer completely "meh," it has failed to evoke a reaction.

• Insincerity: Art perceived as a "cash grab" or "fake"—where the intent is purely financial rather than expressive—is often dismissed as "bad" or "trash".

• Kitsch: This term describes art that is considered in poor taste due to excessive sentimentality, gaudiness, or unrefined imitation of "high art". 

3. "Bad" as a Style or Statement

Paradoxically, "bad" is sometimes a badge of honor:

• "Bad" Painting: A deliberate movement in the 1970s that used "bad" techniques (like deformed figures or disregard for accurate representation) to challenge conventional ideas of "good taste."

• Outsider Art: Work created by self-taught artists outside the mainstream art world. While it might lack "formal" skill, it is often celebrated for its raw vitality and honesty.

• The Museum of Bad Art (MOBA): This institution collects art that is "too bad to be ignored," celebrating works that have a compelling energy despite (or because of) their technical flaws. 

4. Moral or Social Judgment

Sometimes, art is labeled "bad" not for how it looks, but for what it represents:

• Problematic Content: Art that is considered immoral, hateful, or harmful is often dismissed regardless of its technical quality.

• Historical Context: Art that was once reviled (like early Impressionism) often becomes the masterpiece of a future generation. 

Ultimately, the definition of bad art is a subjective judgment made by the viewer, the critic, or the artist themselves.