Visual art of the United States

Visual art that was created in the United States or by artists who were born and raised in the country is considered to be American art. Before European colonisation, numerous vibrant traditions of Native American art existed, and in areas that had been invaded by the Spanish, architecture inspired by Spanish colonial design and corresponding styles in various forms of artistic expression were swiftly established. Early examples of colonial art on the East Coast may be traced back to European painters like John White (1540–c. 1593), who is considered to be the oldest example. In the latter part of the 18th century and the early part of the 19th century, painters painted largely portraits and some landscapes in a style that was predominantly influenced by English painting. However, in the English colonies, locally created ceramics remained steadfastly utilitarian until the 19th century, with luxury items being imported. Furniture-makers that imitated English patterns and comparable artisans were also formed in the major towns.

But in the latter part of the 18th century, two American artists named Benjamin West and John Singleton Copley became the most successful painters in London of history painting. At the time, history painting was considered to be the highest form of art, so this was the first sign that the United States was becoming a significant force in Western art. Those American artists who stayed in the country and worked on their craft did so despite Europe's lack of familiarity with their work. They grew progressively talented. Beginning in the early 19th century, the infrastructure necessary to teach painters started to be developed. Around the same time, the Hudson River School began producing Romantic landscape painting that was both unique and matched the enormous size of landscapes in the United States. In the wake of the American Revolution, there was a surge in demand for works of patriotic art, particularly historical paintings, while other painters documented life in the new frontier. The American craft movement was a parallel development that was taking form in rural areas of the United States. This movement got its start as a response to the industrial revolution.

After the year 1850, academic art in the European style saw a period of unprecedented growth. Simultaneously, an influx of new and old works of art from Europe into the United States started at this time. This trend has persisted ever since. Beginning in the 18th century, many of these items started to be shown in museums. Exhibitions in New York City, such as the Armory Show in 1913, were responsible for bringing contemporary art movements that originated in Europe to the United States. Following the end of World War II, New York City emerged as the new capital of the art world, displacing Paris in that role. Since then, several American movements have contributed to the development of modern as well as postmodern art. The United States of America is home to a wide variety of aesthetic traditions in today's art.