The Art of Words
A look into the intersection of words with visual art...
By
Chioma Ince
October 14, 2021
Have you ever heard the saying words are powerful? Many creatives use typography, design, text and language to visually explore and enhance their concepts. The power to express yourself through words is an artform and some artists are brilliant enough to use text as image and present language as an artistic medium. Here is a selection of renowned contemporary artists who use words to bring to life exciting, conceptual and thought-provoking ideas.
Adam Pendleton
Adam Pendleton is a conceptual artist who works in a variety of mediums such as: silkscreen painting, video, performance, photographic collage and publishing. Language is a very important medium in Pendleton’s work, he engages with poetry and experimental writing to navigate and explore his concepts. There is a beautiful interplay of language and material that is constantly being addressed within his practice. As a language-based conceptual artist Adam Pendleton’s work is freeing in its abstract form and energizing.
His piece Black Dada (A/K) is a monochrome silkscreen which upon closer inspection uses letters to create depth, texture and movement on the canvas. “Pendleton proposes Black Dada as a way to talk about the future while addressing the past. “Black” functions as an open-ended signifier and Dada as a reference to the avant-garde art movement.”
Betty Tompkins
Betty Tompkins is a painter and arts educator who uses words as a political and artistic tool in her work. Her 2018 series of works entitled Apologia combines the appropriation of old renaissance painting from the likes of Titian and Caravaggio and subvert our perception of these works by painting pink text on top to speak on sexual harassment scandals and sexist phrases thrown at women. The title refers to the apathetic and insincere public apologies made that seem to the artist more like apologias, a formal defence of status and public appearance.
Language is key to Tompkins practice. Her work is iconic, rebellious and challenges the corrupt power dynamics of gender. Like Ruscha and Pendleton, Betty Tompkins uses text and language as a rich resource. All the language used in the series to shroud the figures in the paintings are taken from public apologies (apologias) made by prominent figures such as Chuk Close, Matt Lauer and people who’ve inflicted trauma which has incited movements such as #MeToo.
Ed Ruscha
Ed Ruscha is an American artist who is best known for his bold, eye catching and at times humorous use of text. It is the boundless nature of words that drew him to using text in his work; the symbols and landscapes of the everyday that are the perfect canvas for commentary. Ruscha is a lover of the nonsensical that employs the art of semiotics to engage his audience. You can see in his use of puns, onomatopoeia, alliteration, close connection to popular culture and daring disposition.
Mountains and other grand landscapes often feature in his work. Ruscha explains that a lot of these mountains appear to have their own orchestration, you can almost hear trumpets. After hearing this perfect description, the piece The Music from the Balconies came to mind, although it is not a mountain the colour palettes used in landscape reminds me of the classical depiction of the heavens breaking through the sky. However, the text breaks this beauty with the ominous noise of violence. Seeing this large canvas in real life as a young teenager I was blown away by how much meaning and presence words can hold in a gallery space. A true display of how powerful words are and their harmonious relationship to art.
Have you ever heard the saying words are powerful? Many creatives use typography, design, text and language to visually explore and enhance their concepts. The power to express yourself through words is an artform and some artists are brilliant enough to use text as image and present language as an artistic medium. Here is a selection of renowned contemporary artists who use words to bring to life exciting, conceptual and thought-provoking ideas.
Adam Pendleton
Adam Pendleton is a conceptual artist who works in a variety of mediums such as: silkscreen painting, video, performance, photographic collage and publishing. Language is a very important medium in Pendleton’s work, he engages with poetry and experimental writing to navigate and explore his concepts. There is a beautiful interplay of language and material that is constantly being addressed within his practice. As a language-based conceptual artist Adam Pendleton’s work is freeing in its abstract form and energizing.
His piece Black Dada (A/K) is a monochrome silkscreen which upon closer inspection uses letters to create depth, texture and movement on the canvas. “Pendleton proposes Black Dada as a way to talk about the future while addressing the past. “Black” functions as an open-ended signifier and Dada as a reference to the avant-garde art movement.”
Betty Tompkins
Betty Tompkins is a painter and arts educator who uses words as a political and artistic tool in her work. Her 2018 series of works entitled Apologia combines the appropriation of old renaissance painting from the likes of Titian and Caravaggio and subvert our perception of these works by painting pink text on top to speak on sexual harassment scandals and sexist phrases thrown at women. The title refers to the apathetic and insincere public apologies made that seem to the artist more like apologias, a formal defence of status and public appearance.
Language is key to Tompkins practice. Her work is iconic, rebellious and challenges the corrupt power dynamics of gender. Like Ruscha and Pendleton, Betty Tompkins uses text and language as a rich resource. All the language used in the series to shroud the figures in the paintings are taken from public apologies (apologias) made by prominent figures such as Chuk Close, Matt Lauer and people who’ve inflicted trauma which has incited movements such as #MeToo.
Ed Ruscha
Ed Ruscha is an American artist who is best known for his bold, eye catching and at times humorous use of text. It is the boundless nature of words that drew him to using text in his work; the symbols and landscapes of the everyday that are the perfect canvas for commentary. Ruscha is a lover of the nonsensical that employs the art of semiotics to engage his audience. You can see in his use of puns, onomatopoeia, alliteration, close connection to popular culture and daring disposition.
Mountains and other grand landscapes often feature in his work. Ruscha explains that a lot of these mountains appear to have their own orchestration, you can almost hear trumpets. After hearing this perfect description, the piece The Music from the Balconies came to mind, although it is not a mountain the colour palettes used in landscape reminds me of the classical depiction of the heavens breaking through the sky. However, the text breaks this beauty with the ominous noise of violence. Seeing this large canvas in real life as a young teenager I was blown away by how much meaning and presence words can hold in a gallery space. A true display of how powerful words are and their harmonious relationship to art.
Have you ever heard the saying words are powerful? Many creatives use typography, design, text and language to visually explore and enhance their concepts. The power to express yourself through words is an artform and some artists are brilliant enough to use text as image and present language as an artistic medium. Here is a selection of renowned contemporary artists who use words to bring to life exciting, conceptual and thought-provoking ideas.
Adam Pendleton
Adam Pendleton is a conceptual artist who works in a variety of mediums such as: silkscreen painting, video, performance, photographic collage and publishing. Language is a very important medium in Pendleton’s work, he engages with poetry and experimental writing to navigate and explore his concepts. There is a beautiful interplay of language and material that is constantly being addressed within his practice. As a language-based conceptual artist Adam Pendleton’s work is freeing in its abstract form and energizing.
His piece Black Dada (A/K) is a monochrome silkscreen which upon closer inspection uses letters to create depth, texture and movement on the canvas. “Pendleton proposes Black Dada as a way to talk about the future while addressing the past. “Black” functions as an open-ended signifier and Dada as a reference to the avant-garde art movement.”
Betty Tompkins
Betty Tompkins is a painter and arts educator who uses words as a political and artistic tool in her work. Her 2018 series of works entitled Apologia combines the appropriation of old renaissance painting from the likes of Titian and Caravaggio and subvert our perception of these works by painting pink text on top to speak on sexual harassment scandals and sexist phrases thrown at women. The title refers to the apathetic and insincere public apologies made that seem to the artist more like apologias, a formal defence of status and public appearance.
Language is key to Tompkins practice. Her work is iconic, rebellious and challenges the corrupt power dynamics of gender. Like Ruscha and Pendleton, Betty Tompkins uses text and language as a rich resource. All the language used in the series to shroud the figures in the paintings are taken from public apologies (apologias) made by prominent figures such as Chuk Close, Matt Lauer and people who’ve inflicted trauma which has incited movements such as #MeToo.
Ed Ruscha
Ed Ruscha is an American artist who is best known for his bold, eye catching and at times humorous use of text. It is the boundless nature of words that drew him to using text in his work; the symbols and landscapes of the everyday that are the perfect canvas for commentary. Ruscha is a lover of the nonsensical that employs the art of semiotics to engage his audience. You can see in his use of puns, onomatopoeia, alliteration, close connection to popular culture and daring disposition.
Mountains and other grand landscapes often feature in his work. Ruscha explains that a lot of these mountains appear to have their own orchestration, you can almost hear trumpets. After hearing this perfect description, the piece The Music from the Balconies came to mind, although it is not a mountain the colour palettes used in landscape reminds me of the classical depiction of the heavens breaking through the sky. However, the text breaks this beauty with the ominous noise of violence. Seeing this large canvas in real life as a young teenager I was blown away by how much meaning and presence words can hold in a gallery space. A true display of how powerful words are and their harmonious relationship to art.
Have you ever heard the saying words are powerful? Many creatives use typography, design, text and language to visually explore and enhance their concepts. The power to express yourself through words is an artform and some artists are brilliant enough to use text as image and present language as an artistic medium. Here is a selection of renowned contemporary artists who use words to bring to life exciting, conceptual and thought-provoking ideas.
Adam Pendleton
Adam Pendleton is a conceptual artist who works in a variety of mediums such as: silkscreen painting, video, performance, photographic collage and publishing. Language is a very important medium in Pendleton’s work, he engages with poetry and experimental writing to navigate and explore his concepts. There is a beautiful interplay of language and material that is constantly being addressed within his practice. As a language-based conceptual artist Adam Pendleton’s work is freeing in its abstract form and energizing.
His piece Black Dada (A/K) is a monochrome silkscreen which upon closer inspection uses letters to create depth, texture and movement on the canvas. “Pendleton proposes Black Dada as a way to talk about the future while addressing the past. “Black” functions as an open-ended signifier and Dada as a reference to the avant-garde art movement.”
Betty Tompkins
Betty Tompkins is a painter and arts educator who uses words as a political and artistic tool in her work. Her 2018 series of works entitled Apologia combines the appropriation of old renaissance painting from the likes of Titian and Caravaggio and subvert our perception of these works by painting pink text on top to speak on sexual harassment scandals and sexist phrases thrown at women. The title refers to the apathetic and insincere public apologies made that seem to the artist more like apologias, a formal defence of status and public appearance.
Language is key to Tompkins practice. Her work is iconic, rebellious and challenges the corrupt power dynamics of gender. Like Ruscha and Pendleton, Betty Tompkins uses text and language as a rich resource. All the language used in the series to shroud the figures in the paintings are taken from public apologies (apologias) made by prominent figures such as Chuk Close, Matt Lauer and people who’ve inflicted trauma which has incited movements such as #MeToo.
Ed Ruscha
Ed Ruscha is an American artist who is best known for his bold, eye catching and at times humorous use of text. It is the boundless nature of words that drew him to using text in his work; the symbols and landscapes of the everyday that are the perfect canvas for commentary. Ruscha is a lover of the nonsensical that employs the art of semiotics to engage his audience. You can see in his use of puns, onomatopoeia, alliteration, close connection to popular culture and daring disposition.
Mountains and other grand landscapes often feature in his work. Ruscha explains that a lot of these mountains appear to have their own orchestration, you can almost hear trumpets. After hearing this perfect description, the piece The Music from the Balconies came to mind, although it is not a mountain the colour palettes used in landscape reminds me of the classical depiction of the heavens breaking through the sky. However, the text breaks this beauty with the ominous noise of violence. Seeing this large canvas in real life as a young teenager I was blown away by how much meaning and presence words can hold in a gallery space. A true display of how powerful words are and their harmonious relationship to art.
Have you ever heard the saying words are powerful? Many creatives use typography, design, text and language to visually explore and enhance their concepts. The power to express yourself through words is an artform and some artists are brilliant enough to use text as image and present language as an artistic medium. Here is a selection of renowned contemporary artists who use words to bring to life exciting, conceptual and thought-provoking ideas.
Adam Pendleton
Adam Pendleton is a conceptual artist who works in a variety of mediums such as: silkscreen painting, video, performance, photographic collage and publishing. Language is a very important medium in Pendleton’s work, he engages with poetry and experimental writing to navigate and explore his concepts. There is a beautiful interplay of language and material that is constantly being addressed within his practice. As a language-based conceptual artist Adam Pendleton’s work is freeing in its abstract form and energizing.
His piece Black Dada (A/K) is a monochrome silkscreen which upon closer inspection uses letters to create depth, texture and movement on the canvas. “Pendleton proposes Black Dada as a way to talk about the future while addressing the past. “Black” functions as an open-ended signifier and Dada as a reference to the avant-garde art movement.”
Betty Tompkins
Betty Tompkins is a painter and arts educator who uses words as a political and artistic tool in her work. Her 2018 series of works entitled Apologia combines the appropriation of old renaissance painting from the likes of Titian and Caravaggio and subvert our perception of these works by painting pink text on top to speak on sexual harassment scandals and sexist phrases thrown at women. The title refers to the apathetic and insincere public apologies made that seem to the artist more like apologias, a formal defence of status and public appearance.
Language is key to Tompkins practice. Her work is iconic, rebellious and challenges the corrupt power dynamics of gender. Like Ruscha and Pendleton, Betty Tompkins uses text and language as a rich resource. All the language used in the series to shroud the figures in the paintings are taken from public apologies (apologias) made by prominent figures such as Chuk Close, Matt Lauer and people who’ve inflicted trauma which has incited movements such as #MeToo.
Ed Ruscha
Ed Ruscha is an American artist who is best known for his bold, eye catching and at times humorous use of text. It is the boundless nature of words that drew him to using text in his work; the symbols and landscapes of the everyday that are the perfect canvas for commentary. Ruscha is a lover of the nonsensical that employs the art of semiotics to engage his audience. You can see in his use of puns, onomatopoeia, alliteration, close connection to popular culture and daring disposition.
Mountains and other grand landscapes often feature in his work. Ruscha explains that a lot of these mountains appear to have their own orchestration, you can almost hear trumpets. After hearing this perfect description, the piece The Music from the Balconies came to mind, although it is not a mountain the colour palettes used in landscape reminds me of the classical depiction of the heavens breaking through the sky. However, the text breaks this beauty with the ominous noise of violence. Seeing this large canvas in real life as a young teenager I was blown away by how much meaning and presence words can hold in a gallery space. A true display of how powerful words are and their harmonious relationship to art.
Have you ever heard the saying words are powerful? Many creatives use typography, design, text and language to visually explore and enhance their concepts. The power to express yourself through words is an artform and some artists are brilliant enough to use text as image and present language as an artistic medium. Here is a selection of renowned contemporary artists who use words to bring to life exciting, conceptual and thought-provoking ideas.
Adam Pendleton
Adam Pendleton is a conceptual artist who works in a variety of mediums such as: silkscreen painting, video, performance, photographic collage and publishing. Language is a very important medium in Pendleton’s work, he engages with poetry and experimental writing to navigate and explore his concepts. There is a beautiful interplay of language and material that is constantly being addressed within his practice. As a language-based conceptual artist Adam Pendleton’s work is freeing in its abstract form and energizing.
His piece Black Dada (A/K) is a monochrome silkscreen which upon closer inspection uses letters to create depth, texture and movement on the canvas. “Pendleton proposes Black Dada as a way to talk about the future while addressing the past. “Black” functions as an open-ended signifier and Dada as a reference to the avant-garde art movement.”
Betty Tompkins
Betty Tompkins is a painter and arts educator who uses words as a political and artistic tool in her work. Her 2018 series of works entitled Apologia combines the appropriation of old renaissance painting from the likes of Titian and Caravaggio and subvert our perception of these works by painting pink text on top to speak on sexual harassment scandals and sexist phrases thrown at women. The title refers to the apathetic and insincere public apologies made that seem to the artist more like apologias, a formal defence of status and public appearance.
Language is key to Tompkins practice. Her work is iconic, rebellious and challenges the corrupt power dynamics of gender. Like Ruscha and Pendleton, Betty Tompkins uses text and language as a rich resource. All the language used in the series to shroud the figures in the paintings are taken from public apologies (apologias) made by prominent figures such as Chuk Close, Matt Lauer and people who’ve inflicted trauma which has incited movements such as #MeToo.
Ed Ruscha
Ed Ruscha is an American artist who is best known for his bold, eye catching and at times humorous use of text. It is the boundless nature of words that drew him to using text in his work; the symbols and landscapes of the everyday that are the perfect canvas for commentary. Ruscha is a lover of the nonsensical that employs the art of semiotics to engage his audience. You can see in his use of puns, onomatopoeia, alliteration, close connection to popular culture and daring disposition.
Mountains and other grand landscapes often feature in his work. Ruscha explains that a lot of these mountains appear to have their own orchestration, you can almost hear trumpets. After hearing this perfect description, the piece The Music from the Balconies came to mind, although it is not a mountain the colour palettes used in landscape reminds me of the classical depiction of the heavens breaking through the sky. However, the text breaks this beauty with the ominous noise of violence. Seeing this large canvas in real life as a young teenager I was blown away by how much meaning and presence words can hold in a gallery space. A true display of how powerful words are and their harmonious relationship to art.
Have you ever heard the saying words are powerful? Many creatives use typography, design, text and language to visually explore and enhance their concepts. The power to express yourself through words is an artform and some artists are brilliant enough to use text as image and present language as an artistic medium. Here is a selection of renowned contemporary artists who use words to bring to life exciting, conceptual and thought-provoking ideas.
Adam Pendleton
Adam Pendleton is a conceptual artist who works in a variety of mediums such as: silkscreen painting, video, performance, photographic collage and publishing. Language is a very important medium in Pendleton’s work, he engages with poetry and experimental writing to navigate and explore his concepts. There is a beautiful interplay of language and material that is constantly being addressed within his practice. As a language-based conceptual artist Adam Pendleton’s work is freeing in its abstract form and energizing.
His piece Black Dada (A/K) is a monochrome silkscreen which upon closer inspection uses letters to create depth, texture and movement on the canvas. “Pendleton proposes Black Dada as a way to talk about the future while addressing the past. “Black” functions as an open-ended signifier and Dada as a reference to the avant-garde art movement.”
Betty Tompkins
Betty Tompkins is a painter and arts educator who uses words as a political and artistic tool in her work. Her 2018 series of works entitled Apologia combines the appropriation of old renaissance painting from the likes of Titian and Caravaggio and subvert our perception of these works by painting pink text on top to speak on sexual harassment scandals and sexist phrases thrown at women. The title refers to the apathetic and insincere public apologies made that seem to the artist more like apologias, a formal defence of status and public appearance.
Language is key to Tompkins practice. Her work is iconic, rebellious and challenges the corrupt power dynamics of gender. Like Ruscha and Pendleton, Betty Tompkins uses text and language as a rich resource. All the language used in the series to shroud the figures in the paintings are taken from public apologies (apologias) made by prominent figures such as Chuk Close, Matt Lauer and people who’ve inflicted trauma which has incited movements such as #MeToo.
Ed Ruscha
Ed Ruscha is an American artist who is best known for his bold, eye catching and at times humorous use of text. It is the boundless nature of words that drew him to using text in his work; the symbols and landscapes of the everyday that are the perfect canvas for commentary. Ruscha is a lover of the nonsensical that employs the art of semiotics to engage his audience. You can see in his use of puns, onomatopoeia, alliteration, close connection to popular culture and daring disposition.
Mountains and other grand landscapes often feature in his work. Ruscha explains that a lot of these mountains appear to have their own orchestration, you can almost hear trumpets. After hearing this perfect description, the piece The Music from the Balconies came to mind, although it is not a mountain the colour palettes used in landscape reminds me of the classical depiction of the heavens breaking through the sky. However, the text breaks this beauty with the ominous noise of violence. Seeing this large canvas in real life as a young teenager I was blown away by how much meaning and presence words can hold in a gallery space. A true display of how powerful words are and their harmonious relationship to art.
Have you ever heard the saying words are powerful? Many creatives use typography, design, text and language to visually explore and enhance their concepts. The power to express yourself through words is an artform and some artists are brilliant enough to use text as image and present language as an artistic medium. Here is a selection of renowned contemporary artists who use words to bring to life exciting, conceptual and thought-provoking ideas.
Adam Pendleton
Adam Pendleton is a conceptual artist who works in a variety of mediums such as: silkscreen painting, video, performance, photographic collage and publishing. Language is a very important medium in Pendleton’s work, he engages with poetry and experimental writing to navigate and explore his concepts. There is a beautiful interplay of language and material that is constantly being addressed within his practice. As a language-based conceptual artist Adam Pendleton’s work is freeing in its abstract form and energizing.
His piece Black Dada (A/K) is a monochrome silkscreen which upon closer inspection uses letters to create depth, texture and movement on the canvas. “Pendleton proposes Black Dada as a way to talk about the future while addressing the past. “Black” functions as an open-ended signifier and Dada as a reference to the avant-garde art movement.”
Betty Tompkins
Betty Tompkins is a painter and arts educator who uses words as a political and artistic tool in her work. Her 2018 series of works entitled Apologia combines the appropriation of old renaissance painting from the likes of Titian and Caravaggio and subvert our perception of these works by painting pink text on top to speak on sexual harassment scandals and sexist phrases thrown at women. The title refers to the apathetic and insincere public apologies made that seem to the artist more like apologias, a formal defence of status and public appearance.
Language is key to Tompkins practice. Her work is iconic, rebellious and challenges the corrupt power dynamics of gender. Like Ruscha and Pendleton, Betty Tompkins uses text and language as a rich resource. All the language used in the series to shroud the figures in the paintings are taken from public apologies (apologias) made by prominent figures such as Chuk Close, Matt Lauer and people who’ve inflicted trauma which has incited movements such as #MeToo.
Ed Ruscha
Ed Ruscha is an American artist who is best known for his bold, eye catching and at times humorous use of text. It is the boundless nature of words that drew him to using text in his work; the symbols and landscapes of the everyday that are the perfect canvas for commentary. Ruscha is a lover of the nonsensical that employs the art of semiotics to engage his audience. You can see in his use of puns, onomatopoeia, alliteration, close connection to popular culture and daring disposition.
Mountains and other grand landscapes often feature in his work. Ruscha explains that a lot of these mountains appear to have their own orchestration, you can almost hear trumpets. After hearing this perfect description, the piece The Music from the Balconies came to mind, although it is not a mountain the colour palettes used in landscape reminds me of the classical depiction of the heavens breaking through the sky. However, the text breaks this beauty with the ominous noise of violence. Seeing this large canvas in real life as a young teenager I was blown away by how much meaning and presence words can hold in a gallery space. A true display of how powerful words are and their harmonious relationship to art.
Have you ever heard the saying words are powerful? Many creatives use typography, design, text and language to visually explore and enhance their concepts. The power to express yourself through words is an artform and some artists are brilliant enough to use text as image and present language as an artistic medium. Here is a selection of renowned contemporary artists who use words to bring to life exciting, conceptual and thought-provoking ideas.
Adam Pendleton
Adam Pendleton is a conceptual artist who works in a variety of mediums such as: silkscreen painting, video, performance, photographic collage and publishing. Language is a very important medium in Pendleton’s work, he engages with poetry and experimental writing to navigate and explore his concepts. There is a beautiful interplay of language and material that is constantly being addressed within his practice. As a language-based conceptual artist Adam Pendleton’s work is freeing in its abstract form and energizing.
His piece Black Dada (A/K) is a monochrome silkscreen which upon closer inspection uses letters to create depth, texture and movement on the canvas. “Pendleton proposes Black Dada as a way to talk about the future while addressing the past. “Black” functions as an open-ended signifier and Dada as a reference to the avant-garde art movement.”
Betty Tompkins
Betty Tompkins is a painter and arts educator who uses words as a political and artistic tool in her work. Her 2018 series of works entitled Apologia combines the appropriation of old renaissance painting from the likes of Titian and Caravaggio and subvert our perception of these works by painting pink text on top to speak on sexual harassment scandals and sexist phrases thrown at women. The title refers to the apathetic and insincere public apologies made that seem to the artist more like apologias, a formal defence of status and public appearance.
Language is key to Tompkins practice. Her work is iconic, rebellious and challenges the corrupt power dynamics of gender. Like Ruscha and Pendleton, Betty Tompkins uses text and language as a rich resource. All the language used in the series to shroud the figures in the paintings are taken from public apologies (apologias) made by prominent figures such as Chuk Close, Matt Lauer and people who’ve inflicted trauma which has incited movements such as #MeToo.
Ed Ruscha
Ed Ruscha is an American artist who is best known for his bold, eye catching and at times humorous use of text. It is the boundless nature of words that drew him to using text in his work; the symbols and landscapes of the everyday that are the perfect canvas for commentary. Ruscha is a lover of the nonsensical that employs the art of semiotics to engage his audience. You can see in his use of puns, onomatopoeia, alliteration, close connection to popular culture and daring disposition.
Mountains and other grand landscapes often feature in his work. Ruscha explains that a lot of these mountains appear to have their own orchestration, you can almost hear trumpets. After hearing this perfect description, the piece The Music from the Balconies came to mind, although it is not a mountain the colour palettes used in landscape reminds me of the classical depiction of the heavens breaking through the sky. However, the text breaks this beauty with the ominous noise of violence. Seeing this large canvas in real life as a young teenager I was blown away by how much meaning and presence words can hold in a gallery space. A true display of how powerful words are and their harmonious relationship to art.
Have you ever heard the saying words are powerful? Many creatives use typography, design, text and language to visually explore and enhance their concepts. The power to express yourself through words is an artform and some artists are brilliant enough to use text as image and present language as an artistic medium. Here is a selection of renowned contemporary artists who use words to bring to life exciting, conceptual and thought-provoking ideas.
Adam Pendleton
Adam Pendleton is a conceptual artist who works in a variety of mediums such as: silkscreen painting, video, performance, photographic collage and publishing. Language is a very important medium in Pendleton’s work, he engages with poetry and experimental writing to navigate and explore his concepts. There is a beautiful interplay of language and material that is constantly being addressed within his practice. As a language-based conceptual artist Adam Pendleton’s work is freeing in its abstract form and energizing.
His piece Black Dada (A/K) is a monochrome silkscreen which upon closer inspection uses letters to create depth, texture and movement on the canvas. “Pendleton proposes Black Dada as a way to talk about the future while addressing the past. “Black” functions as an open-ended signifier and Dada as a reference to the avant-garde art movement.”
Betty Tompkins
Betty Tompkins is a painter and arts educator who uses words as a political and artistic tool in her work. Her 2018 series of works entitled Apologia combines the appropriation of old renaissance painting from the likes of Titian and Caravaggio and subvert our perception of these works by painting pink text on top to speak on sexual harassment scandals and sexist phrases thrown at women. The title refers to the apathetic and insincere public apologies made that seem to the artist more like apologias, a formal defence of status and public appearance.
Language is key to Tompkins practice. Her work is iconic, rebellious and challenges the corrupt power dynamics of gender. Like Ruscha and Pendleton, Betty Tompkins uses text and language as a rich resource. All the language used in the series to shroud the figures in the paintings are taken from public apologies (apologias) made by prominent figures such as Chuk Close, Matt Lauer and people who’ve inflicted trauma which has incited movements such as #MeToo.
Ed Ruscha
Ed Ruscha is an American artist who is best known for his bold, eye catching and at times humorous use of text. It is the boundless nature of words that drew him to using text in his work; the symbols and landscapes of the everyday that are the perfect canvas for commentary. Ruscha is a lover of the nonsensical that employs the art of semiotics to engage his audience. You can see in his use of puns, onomatopoeia, alliteration, close connection to popular culture and daring disposition.
Mountains and other grand landscapes often feature in his work. Ruscha explains that a lot of these mountains appear to have their own orchestration, you can almost hear trumpets. After hearing this perfect description, the piece The Music from the Balconies came to mind, although it is not a mountain the colour palettes used in landscape reminds me of the classical depiction of the heavens breaking through the sky. However, the text breaks this beauty with the ominous noise of violence. Seeing this large canvas in real life as a young teenager I was blown away by how much meaning and presence words can hold in a gallery space. A true display of how powerful words are and their harmonious relationship to art.
Have you ever heard the saying words are powerful? Many creatives use typography, design, text and language to visually explore and enhance their concepts. The power to express yourself through words is an artform and some artists are brilliant enough to use text as image and present language as an artistic medium. Here is a selection of renowned contemporary artists who use words to bring to life exciting, conceptual and thought-provoking ideas.
Adam Pendleton
Adam Pendleton is a conceptual artist who works in a variety of mediums such as: silkscreen painting, video, performance, photographic collage and publishing. Language is a very important medium in Pendleton’s work, he engages with poetry and experimental writing to navigate and explore his concepts. There is a beautiful interplay of language and material that is constantly being addressed within his practice. As a language-based conceptual artist Adam Pendleton’s work is freeing in its abstract form and energizing.
His piece Black Dada (A/K) is a monochrome silkscreen which upon closer inspection uses letters to create depth, texture and movement on the canvas. “Pendleton proposes Black Dada as a way to talk about the future while addressing the past. “Black” functions as an open-ended signifier and Dada as a reference to the avant-garde art movement.”
Betty Tompkins
Betty Tompkins is a painter and arts educator who uses words as a political and artistic tool in her work. Her 2018 series of works entitled Apologia combines the appropriation of old renaissance painting from the likes of Titian and Caravaggio and subvert our perception of these works by painting pink text on top to speak on sexual harassment scandals and sexist phrases thrown at women. The title refers to the apathetic and insincere public apologies made that seem to the artist more like apologias, a formal defence of status and public appearance.
Language is key to Tompkins practice. Her work is iconic, rebellious and challenges the corrupt power dynamics of gender. Like Ruscha and Pendleton, Betty Tompkins uses text and language as a rich resource. All the language used in the series to shroud the figures in the paintings are taken from public apologies (apologias) made by prominent figures such as Chuk Close, Matt Lauer and people who’ve inflicted trauma which has incited movements such as #MeToo.
Ed Ruscha
Ed Ruscha is an American artist who is best known for his bold, eye catching and at times humorous use of text. It is the boundless nature of words that drew him to using text in his work; the symbols and landscapes of the everyday that are the perfect canvas for commentary. Ruscha is a lover of the nonsensical that employs the art of semiotics to engage his audience. You can see in his use of puns, onomatopoeia, alliteration, close connection to popular culture and daring disposition.
Mountains and other grand landscapes often feature in his work. Ruscha explains that a lot of these mountains appear to have their own orchestration, you can almost hear trumpets. After hearing this perfect description, the piece The Music from the Balconies came to mind, although it is not a mountain the colour palettes used in landscape reminds me of the classical depiction of the heavens breaking through the sky. However, the text breaks this beauty with the ominous noise of violence. Seeing this large canvas in real life as a young teenager I was blown away by how much meaning and presence words can hold in a gallery space. A true display of how powerful words are and their harmonious relationship to art.
