Sam Francis

Untitled, 1984

106.7 X 73 inch

What is bricolage?

What is bricolage?

Bricolage is the creation or construction of a piece of art using materials that are readily available to the artist. The term is French and roughly translates to do-it-yourself. This approach became popular when materials were scarce, encouraging artists to improvise and repurpose everyday objects. Bricolage emphasizes creativity and resourcefulness, often resulting in artworks that reflect the unique character of the materials used.

Bay Area Figurative Art

The Bay Area Figurative Movement, which also goes by the names Bay Area Figurative School, Bay Area Figurative Art, or Bay Area Figuration, came to existence in San-Francisco Bay Area. This was in the mid-20th century, when a group of artists from the area stopped working on the then popular Abstract Expressionism for a preference to figuration in painting. The movement lasted a total of two decades during the 1950's and 1960's.

Transavanguardia

Transavanguardia is the Italian version of Neo-Expressionism, referring to an art movement that emerged in Italy and other parts of Western Europe during the 1970s and 1980s. The term translates to beyond the avant-garde. Transavanguardia arose as a reaction against the dominance of conceptual art, reintroducing emotion and reviving painting as a primary medium. The movement marked a return to mythic imagery and figurative art, celebrating a rediscovery of traditional forms and themes in a contemporary context.

Automatism

Automatism refers to a technique in the creative process that accesses material from the unconscious or subconscious mind. It is based on Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic method of free association. Artists value this process for its ability to inspire creative thought and spontaneous creation.

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