What is Art Activism?
Ishmael Adams
Activist's, Interlopers and Pranksters
Professor Doris Cacoilo
9/24/2025
Part 1: Activism in the Community
As a student of NJCU activism in my community can be seen upstairs in NJCU's Art building in front of the bathroom there are papers that outline the rights people have against ICE in case they come to knock on your door to try and enter your home or try to get information out of you.
As a resident of the state of New Jersey The No Kings protests in New Jersey, Jersey City against President Trump's military day parade that he made for himself.
As a fellow artist activism in my community is The Banksy Judge piece in London that protests against the unlawful arrest of 900 protesters that opposed the ban on the pro Palestinian protest group Palestinian Action.
Part 2: What is Art Activism
Art Activism is the expression of art through activism, with many different topics from abortion rights, to voting rights, to anti war sentiments, with many of these topics presenting themselves through various forms of artwork. Be it graffiti, painted murals, on protest signs and even stickers on cars, all of these are different forms in which art activism takes place. Most often, like with any form of activism it sheds light on an issue with it's goal to either change the hearts and minds of those who see differently or reinforce that notion.
The Soleil Levant by Ai Weiwei is an art activist piece of a wide bricked building packed with a staggering 3500 lifejackets stuffed through the structure's varying open windows. The purpose of this piece was to makes aware the danger that refugees face attempting to cross into Europe just to have a chance to get there. Ai Weiwei wanted to make the work tangible for European citizens with a big display so no one could look away.
Why Artistic Activism?
"Art, on the other hand, tends not to have such a clear target. It’s hard to say what art is for or against; its value often lies in providing us perspective and new ways to envision our world."
"But that’s why mixing arts and activism works so well. Because we all have a creative life, using the arts – and culture, more broadly – in activist work lowers barriers to entry."
Art is one of the best ways to move activism and it's cause forward to make people more aware. Art at it's most basic is a medium for expression and communication, in all it's forms. From painting, to drawing, to sculpture, to tapestry, to even the most abstract art forms, visual art is a communicative medium and like it's fellow medium music, it can bridge even the widest gaps to show a different perspective. Art is based on interpretation, perspective and individuality. What might be obvious to someone in a particular piece might not be so obvious to someone else, or even a factor for that matter. So when people end up discussing the art in some form or fashion the people viewing it could get a different in interpretation the other person hadn't noticed, which could change their minds or reinforce their respective believes in the long run.
An Introduction to Activism Art.
"One of the most important goals of activist art is to encourage social and political change."
"Activist art can make these specific experiences visible and include them in historical, social, and political discourse."
Art activism, like all forms of activism are vehicles of change, and in order for these vehicles of change to inspire and flourish they must must have something to say about our society. Especially if it's something unfamiliar with people who don't come from the particular group that is the subject of the activism. In order for the art activism to be effective and widespread the artist usually preforms or depicts something that usually goes unspoken or is taboo to the reigning social culture. Which in turn gets attention, which then leads people to then discussing it and coming up with their own ideas. Which then leads to the people going and advocating more and more until there is a movement.
The 25 Most Influential Works of American Protest Art Since World War II
"Over the past several months, activists have transformed the base of the sculpture instead, covering the marble and granite with the names of victims of police violence, protest chants, calls for compassion, revolutionary symbols and anti-police slogans in dozens of colors."
"The most haunting quality of “Target,” a bronze sculpture by Elizabeth Catlett, may be its timelessness."
As I said in a previous paragraph, art is fluid, everchanging, and because it's meanings are so ever changing and growing so can it's symbols. It could mean one thing at one point in time and another thing in another time, transforming itself into something different, something new. Though, like a lot of problems in the world somethings and symbols don't change, and in fact are reinforced as the issue it's depicting is still very much prevalent in the social and political atmosphere.
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