Dec 31
A Primer of Design-as-Art Movements
Posted in: UncategorizedContemporary auctions for design objects have been fetching prices that rival great artworks. These pieces are typically sitting on the same auction block. Where can one draw the line between a utilitarian design object and an artistic expression? Probably in the production quantity. Limited edition pieces by sought-after designers have the singularity of fine art, although the purpose of limited edition design objects can typically be attributed to bumping up a price tag.
There’s a good synopsis of five design-as-art movements at ARTINFO. They touch upon The Wiener Werkstätte, The Bauhaus, American Studio, Memphis, and Functional Art.
Some representative pieces:
Josef Hoffman, of the The Wiener Werkstätte
Marianne Brandt, of the Bauhaus
George Nakashima, of the American Studio
Ettore Sottsass, of Memphis (an Italian movement)
Tom Dixon, of Functional Art
