Date of Award

7-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Studio Art

Department

Art

First Advisor

James Hutson

Second Advisor

Piper Hutson

Third Advisor

Khristin N. Landry

Abstract

This paper will contemplate how the creation of abstract art, a creative style born from the Avant-Garde movement of the 20th century by artists such as Wassily Kandinsky, was imperative in the pursuit of artistic freedom. Additionally, it will seek to prove that abstraction is one of the unparalleled genres to utilize for self-expression in comparison to genres that uphold traditional art techniques, such as realism. This theory is further emphasized when considering abstract art in juxtaposition to the art standards maintained by the academy. Moreover, the research conducted to support the proposed theory falls into various categories, such as what led to abstraction, the impact of this art genre on the art community, and the sociocultural ramifications of its emergence. Additionally, a project was conducted as a means of physically representing the theoretical hypothesis proposed in this paper by showcasing abstract paintings versus realism. This resulted in developing a coherent body of work that explores various relational topics using a myriad of art techniques such as color theory, composition, and stylization, while also creating a dialogue about the significance of abstract art in the act of self-expression and artistic freedom.

Research Highlights

The Problem: The strict aesthetic standards maintained by state-funded academies of art historically inhibited uninhibited self-expression and artistic freedom by mandating classical conventions for line, color, and form.

The Method: The author applied qualitative formalist and new historicism analyses alongside quantitative phenomenological approaches to Wassily Kandinsky's 1913 painting Black Lines, while executing a comparative studio project consisting of eight acrylic paintings paired across four relational themes to evaluate realism against abstraction.

Qualitative Finding: Abstraction offers an unparalleled framework for self-expression compared to traditional realism because abandoning rigid academic rules allows artists to access subconscious, spiritual, and emotional dimensions; the physical project demonstrated that abstract techniques produce higher emotional intensity and visual tension than formal representational styles across identical subject matters.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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