Mixed media art is a style of art that combines multiple mediums or materials into a single art piece. This type of art is extremely diverse, with many different interpretations showcasing the range of this style. Through the combination of materials such as cloth, paint, wood, or paper, among others, a beautiful layered effect is achieved. Materials are used to create artwork in different mediums such as collage, sculpture or assemblage. The sheer diversity of the materials and mediums used make mixed media art an exciting style to explore!
A Short History of Mixed Media Art
Mixed media art was first introduced in the early twentieth century. The first painting that was deemed a mixed media piece was Pablo Picasso’s ‘Still Life with Chair’ which he painted in 1912. The collage-style piece featured several materials such as oil cloth, paper, and rope. This was the first of many mixed media pieces that followed in the years to come by artists such as Kurt Schwitter, Henri Matisse and Joseph Cornell.
Types of Mixed Media Art
There are several different types of mixed media art. The most popular mediums are collage, assemblage and sculpture. Collage is created by attaching a variety of materials to a flat surface such as paper, cardboard, newspaper or other flat materials. Assemblage is a similar technique that aims to tell a story but it incorporates the use of 3D materials such as small objects. The base used can be either 3D or two-dimensional. Sculpture is also considered a form of mixed media when a variety of different materials are incorporated in the piece.
Our Picks
We’ve compiled a list of some great examples of mixed media art from the Zatista collection. These pieces feature a variety of materials and mediums from artists around the globe.
Omega Soto Nebula by Tiffani Buteau
A little about this mixed media piece with LED lights: “The stark and harrowing blackness of space embraces the burgeoning light of elements churning into existence. It is a look beautifully magnified by the LED strips beaming out from behind the painting, elevating it to an art installation that merges with light and music.”
Mannahatta- Woolworth Building 2 by Marilyn Henrion
This mixed media piece features a digitally manipulated photograph printed on quilted cotton. Artist Marilyn Henrion loves to create pieces with textiles. “Applying contemporary aesthetic sensibilities to traditional textile techniques and combining them with modern technologies, the artist celebrates that irregular and intimate quality of things made by the human hand.”
Something Opens our Wings… by Gugi Goo
This piece features both printed words and paint on canvas. Artist Gugi Goo shares what inspires their work: “Since my creative process is very expressive, I usually work on big canvases which allow me more freedom and space for experimenting. My main ‘tools’ are color, light and gesture which I use to create my own language and open the view to some different reality.”
Gold Visions I- 24k Gold Leaf by Laura Granata
This awe-inspiring mixed media piece features real 24k gold leaf. Artist Laura Granata speaks about her creative process: “Using oil or acrylic paint as a natural expression, my works of art are free flowing and unique. Using a palette knife, my mission is to capture the joy of a moment through texture and color. As a result, my paintings interpret an unrehearsed creation awakening the power within us to smile.”
This piece by Dane Shue features a depiction of Cindy Crawford created with acrylic, spray paint and vintage book pages adhered to a wood panel. The artist shares more about their work: “I create vibrant paintings and mixed media artworks using gestural painting and printmaking techniques. My work evokes nostalgia and happiness. Influences are notably pop art icon Andy Warhol and Robert Rauschenberg, American painter.”
This floral piece features various art mediums on canvas- including paint, chalk and found objects. Artist Teis Albers “is a contemporary mixed-media artist from Berlicum, the Netherlands. Albers brings elements from nature, pop and street art together on a digital canvas, then layers paint and varnish onto the printed work.”
These pieces are great examples of how mixed media art can encompass a wide range of styles, materials and mediums. With mixed media art, the sky’s the limit! There is no formal criteria for what mixed media should look like, which gives artists creative freedom to express themselves any way they feel inspired to.
To shop any of our featured art for your home, visit our online art gallery. We are always adding new original paintings to our collection from a vast array of genres and artists. To discover more mixed media pieces, shop art online at Zatista.com.
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