The Art World often argues about who is on top and what is legitimately considered art. Often some the loudest most ornery voices in this squabble are those from a movement called “Lowbrow.”
To know what lowbrow art is you must first ask, What is the Lowbrow art movement?
Nhoj Yesdnil’s definition is,” A movement to make art lacking highly cultivated and intellectual tastes acceptable? What is tasteless art? Insanity art? Irrationalized realism art? Or just abnormal representational art? “
But don’t be confused by this, in laymen’s terms lowbrow art is a decidedly offbeat "no rules" approach to art. It fuses great artistic skill with what Middle America might define as unacceptable violent often-shocking subject matter.
Today lowbrow art is the underground assault on Modern art. It is art for the common man just as beautiful, often less expensive, and easily attainable for the working class stiff, if you happen to look in the right places. Lowbrow artists routinely move lithographs in high quantities and at low prices. There is an entire industry imprinting their imagery onto T-shirts, purses, Zippo lighters, appointment books, calendars, jewelry, light fixtures, furniture, dishware, etc. Because of these facts lowbrow art shows seem to sell out faster and more frequently than any others.
With increasing awareness of this movement, lowbrow art has gone from being a poor distant relative of comic book art to an international movement with its own manifesto-riddled journal. In 1994, renowned lowbrow artist Robert Williams founded Juxtapoz magazine. Juxtapoz is the hub of this movement and showcases the artists who breathe it life.
Those who are credited with starting lowbrow as a movement are, Ed "Big Daddy" Roth, R.Crumb, Victor Moscoso, S.Clay Wilson, Zap, and Robert Williams.
Notable lowbrow artists are Todd Schorr, Kathy Schorr, Pizz, Frank Kozik, Mark Ryden, Nhoj Yesdnil, Eric White, Camille Rose Garcia, The Clayton Brothers, Joe Sorren, Shag, Joe Coleman, Anthony Ausgang, and Elizabeth Mcgrath.
Sources:
http://arthistory.about.com/od/arthistory101/a/lowbrow.htm
http://www.juxtapoz.com
http://www.laweekly.com/ink/02/08/art-harvey.shtml
http://www.artbabyart.com/lowbrowart.html