Casualism (art)

Casualism is a 21st century trend in art where the work reassesses conventionally accepted elements of art like color, composition, and balance to have unexpected outcomes rather than handsome results.[1]

Not to be confused with Causalism or Casualism (philosophy).
An example of casualist painting: Amy Feldman, Goofy Gloom, 2017, Acrylic on canvas, 79 x 79 inches

The term Casualism was coined in a 2011 essay which defined a new type of postminimalist painting that features a self-amused, anti-heroic style with an interest in off-kilter composition and impermanence.[1] These artists are interested in a studied, passive-aggressive irresoluteness that reflect wider insights about culture and society[1][2] These Casualist artists make work that "feels experimental and resists finality, but is still accomplished."[3]

Many artists responded positively to the essay and embraced the notion of Casualism,[4][5][6][7][8] while others rejected the term, suggesting it whiffed of 'labelism' and 'crypto-institutionalism.'[9][10] The Casualist tendency continues to inform much work and conversation around American abstract painting.[11][12][13][14]

Sharon Butler, Tatiana Berg, Amy Feldman, Keltie Ferris[8], Lauren Luloff, Chris Martin, Rebecca Morris, David Ostrowski, Cordy Ryman, Patricia Treib, Michael Voss, and Molly Zuckerman-Hartung are painters who work in a Casualist mode.[15][16][17]

In addition to Casualist, the term "Provisional" has been used to describe paintings that might appear unfinished or incomplete; work that is intentionally awkward, physically fragile and unstable, that reject the display of conventional skills, or that discover beauty in unassuming materials.[11] However, Provisional painters, unlike the younger Casualists, suggest a kind of exhaustion, entertaining the impossibility of painting.[17][18][19] The older artists whose work is considered Provisional include Raoul De Keyser, Michael Krebber, Mary Heilmann, Kimber Smith, Richard Tuttle and Christopher Wool.[2]

References
  1. Butler, Sharon L. (June 3, 2011). "ABSTRACT PAINTING: The New Casualists". brooklynrail.org. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  2. Micchelli, Thomas (July 6, 2013). "Painting on the Cusp: Abstraction of the 1980s". hyperallergic.com. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  3. Hurst, Howard (December 17, 2014). "Who Has the Cure for "Zombie Formalism"?". hyperallergic.com. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  4. Micchelli, Thomas (June 29, 2013). "The New Casualists Strike Again". hyperallergic.com. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  5. Johnson, Elizabeth (Dec 26, 2013). "Sharon Butler's New Casualist paintings at The Painting Center in New York". artblog.org. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  6. Fraser, Pamela; Rothman, Roger (Apr 6, 2017). Beyond Critique: Contemporary Art in Theory, Practice, and Instruction. USA: Bloomsbury Academic. p. 232. ISBN 978-1501323461.CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  7. Westgeest, Helen (Sep 2019). "Looking at Painting as Watching Slow Video Art: An Intermedial Experience of Disruption in the Work of Corinne Wasmuht". ASAP/Journal. Johns Hopkins University Press. 4 (3): 556–69. doi:10.1353/asa.2019.0039. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  8. Bickel, Megan (December 2, 2018). "Keltie Ferris: *O*P*E*N* at the Speed Art Museum: Casualist Painting / Not-cAsual SetTing". Aequi.com. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  9. Antonini, Marco; Ho, Christopher (2014). "NURTUREart". The Golden Age: Perspectives on Abstract Painting Today (PDF). CKH. ISBN 978-0980198546.
  10. Antonini, Marco (Jan 15, 2016). "Revolution in (Re)Form: More Thoughts on Abstraction Today". temporaryartreview.com. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  11. Geers, David (February 20, 2015). "Formal Affairs". Frieze.com. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  12. Saft, Carol (Feb 13, 2020). "Monica King Contemporary panel with Jason Stopa, curator". vimeo.com. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  13. Maliszewski, Lynn (Nov 5, 2014). "The Perks of being an outsider: Fred Gutzeit Signatures". brooklynrail.com. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  14. "Nashville's Wedgewood-Houston Neighborhood Keeps it Casual". burnaway.org. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  15. Butler, Sharon (February 18, 2014). "The Casualist Tendency". twocoatsofpainting.com. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  16. Butler, Sharon (June 5, 2011). "The New Casualists". twocoatsofpaint.com. Two Coats of Paint. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  17. Rubinstein, Raphael (May 4, 2011). ""Provisional Painting" at Modern Art". contemporaryartdaily.com. Contemporary Art Daily. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  18. Rubinstein, Raphael (May 1, 2009). "Provisional Painting". artnews.com. ArtNews. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  19. Rubinstein, Raphael (February 3, 2012). "Provisional Painting Part 2: The Rest Lightly on the Earth". artnews.com. Art in America. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
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