| Lowbrow - The Concept | | | | than the cultural aristocrats. It rejected the |
| Lowbrow, also referred as Pop Surrealism, | | | | distinction between the commercial and the Fine |
| originated from different underground or populist | | | | Art. In fact, it could be considered similar to Folk |
| art forms, such as tattoos, comic, street culture, | | | | Art, where artists had actual talent, skill, and |
| punk music, and other California subcultures. A | | | | training. Lowbrow had a high influence of Pop |
| significant part of contribution in Lowbrow was in | | | | culture. It picked up local Visual Art flavors, |
| form of paintings, while its other formats being | | | | wherever it established itself. Lowbrow also |
| toys, digital art, and sculpture. | | | | displayed a spectrum of expressions, from |
| The History | | | | strongly humorous to the gruesome ones. |
| Lowbrow started in Los Angeles, California, as an | | | | The Controversies |
| underground Visual Art movement in the late | | | | The term "Lowbrow Art," generated as a critique |
| 1970s. Underground artists Robert Williams (born | | | | to the Highbrow culture, was in some part a |
| 1943) and Gary Panter (born 1950) are credited | | | | creative inspiration. There are doubts however, |
| as its pioneers. Initially, lesser-known galleries in | | | | about considering giving it a 'legitimate' movement |
| Los Angeles and New York would organize the | | | | status, as the artists involved, initially worked in |
| Lowbrow shows. Soon many artists adopted this | | | | fields that are not considered as Fine Art, such as |
| form of art. A steady growth helped propagate | | | | comics and tattooing. Museums, art critics, and |
| the number of the galleries showing this art form. | | | | galleries have been quite uncertain about it. |
| Julie Rico Gallery and the Bess Cutler Gallery were | | | | Art experts, including schools, curators, and critics, |
| the two main galleries, which exhibited important | | | | have concerns about the different aspects of |
| artists' works and contributed towards expanding | | | | Lowbrow Art, as it adopts a figurative focus, |
| and developing Lowbrow. Robert Williams published | | | | cultivates narration, and strongly values technical |
| the first Lowbrow magazine Juxtapoz, in 1994, | | | | skills. The veterans always deeply criticized these |
| which became the guideline for the associated | | | | fundamentals throughout the 1980s and 90s. With |
| artists, thereby helping in its evolution and wider | | | | the development of Lowbrow however, many |
| spread. | | | | artists have gone on to show their work mostly |
| The Essence | | | | in mainstream Fine Art Galleries. |
| The art movement gave space to artists other | | | | |