Why does it seem like there’s no widely popular painting since around the era of Warhol and pop art?

Link to the original Times article

Peter Max was popular in the 70s.

The only iconic art works of the last 50 years are the Barack Obama "Hope" poster and Banksy's Balloon Girl.

The Hope poster - you’re right. Recognizable almost everywhere.

I'd argue is a combination of the rapid rise of photography, the subsequently the rise of cheap digital pictures, coupled with the fact that "modern art" for most people is a joke.

When literal children paint pictures that look like pictures drawn by children, then are heralded as the next great artistic accomplishment, you're going to have people laughing at you.

Keith Haring? Basquiat? Both over-commercialized but still influential.

Widely popular, r6?

You could add Haring's "Radiant Baby" but I think that was done before 1985. We're talking 50 years, right?

He made many works throughout the 1980s until his death but I think "Radiant Baby" is the only image of his that can qualify as iconic.

Basquait, I'm a fan. But is there one image by Basquiat that stands out and is universally recognized?

Yes, R7. They're making Basquiat print area rugs now.

R9 Are you able to read what the thread is about?

It's not about wildly popular artists.

Note: "Why does it seem like there’s no widely popular painting since around the era of Warhol and pop art?"

There ARE widely popular Basquiat paintings. What the hell are you not getting about that response. I think most moderately cultured persons in 2025 would instantly recognize a handful of Basquiat pieces as his.

Basquiat is the new Warhol in that interior designers all clamor to get his prints for their clients and celebrities and rich people love to collect and show off their Basquiat originals. Or at least 5-10 years ago, because his more popular works have become so commercialized. Like what eventually happened with Warhol.

R11 Once again: can you understand the fucking thread???

Show us one iconic Basquiat painting made during the past 50 years.

His most famous works were made before 1985.

Which ones do you think, r11?

R13 Ah, okay. You're right, that's my bad. I didn't read the thread closely enough. I just thought you were looking for contemporary household name artists. You are correct in that all of his best know pieces are from the 80s.

As much as I like a lot of abstract art and neo-expressionism, I have found the majority of Jean Michel Basquiat's work as grossly overrated. Possibly the most overrated popular artist in my lifetime.

Although, still, if you're just looking for the last 50 years, the 80s still fall in that window, loudmouth at R13. Literally the entirety of the 80s.

What about that screwed up restored Jesus done in Spain?

R13 His painting 'Untitled' (created in the last 50 years) is unquestionably iconic, widely recognized, and was one of the most expensive paintings auctioned of all time in 2017.

[Quote]Show us one iconic Basquiat painting made during the past 50 years.

[Quote]His most famous works were made before 1985.

Exactly how many years ago do you think the early 80s were? Also, Basquiat has incredibly famous pieces from 1986 and 1988, respectively.

Banksy's 'Girl with the Balloon' mural, originally created in 2002 is widely considered one of the most iconic artworks of the 21st century, whether or not it's your cup of tea. It's not mine, but it's no more or less stupid than Warhol's soup cans.

OPs thumbnail is very apropos.

Ok. So far we've got "Girl With a Balloon". "Obama Hope". Maybe a Haring. Maybe a Basquait.

Is that it?

Is there one Hockney? Maybe a Jeff Koons?

Damien Hirst's Spot Paintings had a moment. Decorators loved it.

There's this...

Thomas Kincade, “Luminous Brookside Cottage, No. 7,493”.

Big Eyes -Girl with Tear in Purple Turtleneck No. 123,321.

Big art prizes often focus on formats other than painting. Installations and sculpture (of a sort) and performance get more attention than painting (which has shifted more representational than abstract.)

There are still big, influential galleries of international scope but many are owned by now elderly dealers and operate on a narrower, less public scope, directed to known collectors (even vetting buyers not to let the right works into the hands of the wrong people.)

Art seems to have become more local/regional. There are artists who are reasonably well known regionally, whose work is shown in good international fairs, and who make very respectable earnings as artists yet they don't have huge recognition - for the cluster of reasons I've touched upon.

The only things that garners attention on a big scale are controversy much more than in their artistry.

Art education and literacy (never very high in the U.S.) has reached abysmal depths. Luxury brand consciousness is much higher among all classes than the slightest knowledge of art.

Most popular opinion about contemporary art is that it's all shit (and has been for my long lifetime) and that famous works of the past in museums have fuck all to do with modern life. People go to museums still, in numbers, but in the way that they travel to chase and then complain that the cacio e pepe wasn't all they expected.

The most famous and celebrated painting (fresco) of the 21st century is Ecce Homo by Cecilia Giménez and Elias García Martínez. Over a hundred thousand people have traveled to see it.

With photography then film then internet, the medium of painting may just be passé. Creative energies are changed elsewhere mostly.

21st Century "art" is just a hedge fund investment. AI will takeover all painting. Indicative of the moribund culture of end stage capitalism.

I wonder which gay man owns this?

Street art is popular and much more accessible than the pretentious contemporary gallery scene. Shepard Fairey, Kobra, David Choe, etc.

Takashi Murakami also comes to mind as a true pop artist in every sense.

What is with OP not understanding that 1980 was FORTY-FIVE years ago, so anyone citing artworks from 1975 onward are fitting his parameters of art from the last fifty years. What a weirdo. I know this is an art, not STEM thread, but, Jesus, learn how to count, OP.

Keith Haring and Basquiat are globally known but maybe not by all strata of society. And they date a number of decades back, so. It's a good point. There are probably recentish pictures of Kim Kardashian being an attention whore that are globally known.

The overrated Amy Sherald's portrait of a transwoman as the statue of Liberty is getting a lot of traction these days.

I believe this all goes back to the decline in pop culture. Reagan made us look back - not forward - and fashion, which changed every few years just stagnated. Before 1980 you had to update your wardrobe at least every two years or your car every 3 or 4. Clothes from 20 years ago can still be worn today if they aren't too fadish and cars all look the same for 5 years.

Once upon a time you could look at a garment, a piece of art or a car and peg it within a few years but not now.

Look at the girls screaming at the Beatles in 1964 with their cat-eye glasses and short,stiff hair and then what they looked like in 1966 and again in 1969.

Our culture is stagnant and dumbed down.

Frankly, I think the whole art market is a scam by rich people in order to launder money.

No painting should be worth millions of dollars.

Furthermore, many artists are just weirdos with mental disorders, who contribute nothing practical to society.

R39 Yeah! Art- bah humbug. A monkey could draw it. A million dollars!! Get outta here.

Criticize her looks as you will, I'd argue that she's the most attractive royal since Diana.

She certainly has the most style since Diana.