Image courtesy of Ximena Pimentel

After a decadence of artistry, art students can reference the modern art pieces they examined back to their artworks in class. Making comparisons to what is considered today’s modern art and what traditional art and creations are still used.

AP art, Art 1 and 2, and advanced journalism students ventured beyond school grounds to a world-renowned contemporary art museum last month. Students, along with teacher chaperones, explored The Broad museum in downtown Los Angeles from the bottom to the top, taking in each aspect of the art pieces. The collection is comprised of sculptures, paintings, and mixed media created by well-known contemporary artists who push the bounds of what art can be.

Approaches to creating art have evolved, featuring new techniques and reshaping old ones. Many contemporary artists incorporate well-known traditional art styles and combine them with modern themes and techniques. The various creations presented at The Broad also offer a variety of perspectives. These art pieces reveal emotions and themes such as anger, sadness, notions on humanity, and even everyday simplicities of life that are easily overlooked. 

“I enjoy all kinds of art, but the type of art I believe should be more focused on is a storytelling type of art piece. Emotions or situations that can relate to realities around the world or even just one person. Which can be relatable to others and let them see that they aren’t alone or unseen,” says senior Vanessa Perez. 

Museums such as these offer society an aspect of the artist’s art style and what they want to express through various art pieces. What makes these creations unique is the variety in material and creativity. The art ranges from being made completely of recycled material to strategically cut paper and painted canvases. Each is dedicated to the artist’s message and conveyance to the viewer. 

“I forgot the artist’s name but saw a few art pieces that inspired me to want to draw more. To at least experiment more in various styles, I can try to incorporate it into my art both in class and in my own free time,” says senior Vanessa Perez.

Overall, a trip to The Broad museum is a great experience for anyone visiting the Los Angeles area. For our students who may not have the ability to visit museums, field trips like these are an opportunity to indulge in and be inspired by different kinds of art styles. Art not only represents a message to the viewer, but it inspires our student artists. Being in the presence of this kind of creativity provides our students the idea that they can develop their own art style, and there will be a place for it.