What is Clay?

New British Sculpture is the name referring to the work produced by a group of sculptors, installation artists, and other creators who exhibited together in London during the 1980s. This group included artists like Richard Deacon, Richard Wentworth, and Tony Cragg. Tim Woods helped define this movement by identifying four major themes: the blending of kitsch and pop culture, the use of UK urban waste in a bricolage style, the assignment of new meanings to everyday objects, and a playful approach using wit and humor.

Art Brut, a French term meaning Raw Art, was coined by Jean Dubuffet to describe art created outside the conventional fine arts tradition. Dubuffet used the term to refer to works made by self-taught artists, including the mentally ill, prisoners, and others on the margins of society. He also called it Outsider Art. This art is characterized by its raw, unrefined nature, often created without concern for traditional presentation or imitation.

Readymade is the term coined by French artist Marcel Duchamp to describe artworks created from manufactured objects. Duchamp selected ordinary, functional items that he felt had visual indifference, turning them into art simply by choosing and presenting them in a new context. This concept challenged traditional notions of art and continues to influence artists who adopt similar approaches today.