Activist Artists
Activist artists choose to engage with and start a conversation on a variety of topics, from the environment and politics to race, gender and sexuality. A huge element of what makes contemporary art so important is engaging with current world issues; art is an invaluable tool in providing innovative insight and fresh perspectives where words can fail.
The incredible beauty of the natural world is something that artists have represented for centuries. So when it comes under threat by humanity, it's not surprising that ecologically engaged artists such as Jérémy Gobé, Angeles Peña and Franck Seguin use their art to promote its protection.
Gender and sexuality also plays a significant role in artistic activism. Belgian photographer Charlotte Abramow's stunning shots explore gender identity, feminism and female sexuality. Meanwhile, American non-binary artist Ryan Wilks' drawings confront the difficult relationship between sexual orientation and religion.
The world of politics is also ever present in contemporary art, with political artists exploring humanitarian issues and our societal values. World famous street artists Banksy and Shepard Fairey both explore a range of political subjects, from war crime to the disadvantages of consumerism.
Expand your horizons and discover Artsper's curated selection of activist artists!
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The Wrinkles of the city, La Havana, Antonio Cruz Gordillo
JR
Print - 100 x 70 x 0.2 cm Print - 39.4 x 27.6 x 0.1 inch
$2,254
Banc de tournesols
Enfant Précoce / Francis Essoua Kalu
Print - 56.7 x 85 x 0.1 cm Print - 22.3 x 33.5 x 0 inch
$475
La vie est une marchandise
Gérard Fromanger
Print - 56 x 90 x 0.05 cm Print - 22 x 35.4 x 0 inch
$2,966 $2,669
La Nascita, Milano Centrale, Italie
JR
Photography - 31 x 41 x 0.01 cm Photography - 12.2 x 16.1 x 0 inch
$1,422
Urban Landscape Series, Street After Rain
Zhao De-Wei
Painting - 50 x 60 x 4 cm Painting - 19.7 x 23.6 x 1.6 inch
$4,271
Contact is Content at Seljalandsfoss
Olafur Eliasson
Print - 20.9 x 16.5 x 0.05 cm Print - 8.2 x 6.5 x 0 inch
$7,118
Cinderella Wins a Seat In Parliament
Sarah Maple
Photography - 55 x 85 cm Photography - 21.7 x 33.5 inch
$2,610
Living in America (Don King)
Felandus Thames
Sculpture - 162.5 x 116.8 x 2.5 cm Sculpture - 64 x 46 x 1 inch
$11,863
Riverbed
Cheng Chang Wu
Photography - 100 x 150 x 0.3 cm Photography - 39.4 x 59.1 x 0.1 inch
$2,600
Nianga, le mouton habillé en Louis Vuitton et sa friperie
Enfant Précoce / Francis Essoua Kalu
Painting - 260 x 210 x 3 cm Painting - 102.4 x 82.7 x 1.2 inch
$27,796
Paranoïd #11
David De Beyter
Photography - 30 x 41 x 0.2 cm Photography - 11.8 x 16.1 x 0.1 inch
$415
The Undrinkable Can (nº506) (3)
QSTNMRK
Sculpture - 15 x 7 x 7 cm Sculpture - 5.9 x 2.8 x 2.8 inch
$600
Titanic 1912 Mini Museum
Thomas Dellert
Painting - 165 x 120 x 30 cm Painting - 65 x 47.2 x 11.8 inch
$5,339
Silkscreened beach towel
Tracey Emin
Design - 106.7 x 175.3 x 0.5 cm Design - 42 x 69 x 0.2 inch
$1,000
Iranian caviar portraits
Thomas Dellert
Print - 100 x 124 x 20 cm Print - 39.4 x 48.8 x 7.9 inch
$14,236
End Of Empire, Kantharos
Cleon Peterson
Print - 30.5 x 40.5 x 0.1 cm Print - 12 x 15.9 x 0 inch
$593
Migrants, Walking New York City. New York, USA (2015)
JR
Print - 100 x 80 x 1 cm Print - 39.4 x 31.5 x 0.4 inch
$1,180
Finding Hope, Night View, Paris, France
JR
Print - 70 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$2,835
28 Millimètres, Face 2 Face, Separation Wall, Security fence, Palestinian side, Bethlehem, 2007
JR
Print - 70 x 100 x 0.2 cm Print - 27.6 x 39.4 x 0.1 inch
$2,373
New York city ballet, paper interactions 13, 2014
JR
Print - 100 x 70 cm Print - 39.4 x 27.6 inch
$1,210
28 Millimètres, Women are Heroes, Action in Phnom Penh, Open Eyes, Cambodge, 2023
JR
Print - 50 x 70 cm Print - 19.7 x 27.6 inch
$854
Freedom / Prosperity At Any Price (White)
Cleon Peterson
Print - 61 x 46 x 0.05 cm Print - 24 x 18.1 x 0 inch
$771
Unframed, Charlie Chaplin revu par JR, The Kid, Charlie Chaplin & Jackie Coogan, USA, 1923, de jour Paris
JR
Print - 70 x 50 x 0.5 cm Print - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.2 inch
$2,017
The Gun Chronicles: A Story of America, USA, 2022
JR
Print - 50 x 100 cm Print - 19.7 x 39.4 inch
$854
Scales of injustice by Shepard Fairey x Cleon Peterson
Cleon Peterson
Print - 26 x 36 x 0.1 cm Print - 10.2 x 14.2 x 0 inch
$712
JR au Louvre, 29 Mars 2019, Paris, France (19h45)
JR
Print - 35 x 46 x 0.1 cm Print - 13.8 x 18.1 x 0 inch
$2,361
The Wrinkles of the City, Los Angeles, Œil froissé 3
JR
Print - 89.5 x 67 x 0.2 cm Print - 35.2 x 26.4 x 0.1 inch
$2,254 $2,029
Freedom prosperity at any price (Red)
Cleon Peterson
Print - 61 x 46 x 0.2 cm Print - 24 x 18.1 x 0.1 inch
$1,038
Trompe l'oeil, Greetings from Giza, 22 octobre 2021, 16H44, Giza, Egypte, 2021
JR
Print - 70 x 100 cm Print - 27.6 x 39.4 inch
$1,424
Retour à la Caverne - Acte I, 7 septembre 2023, 06h52, Palais Garnier, Paris, France, 2023
JR
Print - 70 x 100 cm Print - 27.6 x 39.4 inch
$1,424
28 Millimètres, Women are Heroes, Eyes on bricks, New-Delhi, India
JR
Print - 37 x 112 cm Print - 14.6 x 44.1 inch
$1,400
Ballerina In Containers, On the Edge, Le Havre, 2023
JR
Print - 70 x 100 cm Print - 27.6 x 39.4 inch
$4,152
28 millimètres, Women are Heroes, Action in Kibera Slum, General View Nairobi, Kenya, 2009
JR
Print - 70 x 100 cm Print - 27.6 x 39.4 inch
$1,424
Ballet, Regard surplombant la façade du Palais Garnier, Opéra de Paris, France, 2014
JR
Print - 100 x 70 cm Print - 39.4 x 27.6 inch
$1,645
Punto di Fuga, 21 Juillet 2021, 05h26, Rome, Italie, 2021
JR
Print - 100 x 70 cm Print - 39.4 x 27.6 inch
$1,424
JR au Palais de Tokyo, 29 Août 2020, 6h42, Paris, France, 2022
JR
Print - 36 x 46 cm Print - 14.2 x 18.1 inch
$1,246
JR au Louvre et le Secret de la Grande Pyramide
JR
Print - 100 x 56 cm Print - 39.4 x 22 inch
$1,424
JR au Palais de Tokyo, 28 Août 2020, 16H12, Paris
JR
Print - 100 x 70 x 0.1 cm Print - 39.4 x 27.6 x 0 inch
$2,717
Les falaises du Trocadéro 18 mai 2021 19h58
JR
Print - 64 x 96 x 1 cm Print - 25.2 x 37.8 x 0.4 inch
$4,152
Migrants, Mayra, Picnic Across the Border, General View, Tecate, Mexico, USA, 2022
JR
Print - 70 x 100 cm Print - 27.6 x 39.4 inch
$1,210
Une religion politique
Hélène Deghilage
Painting - 182 x 318 x 5 cm Painting - 71.7 x 125.2 x 2 inch
$16,609
Trompe l'oeil, Greetings from Giza, 21 octobre 2021, 6H01, Giza, Egypte, 2021
JR
Print - 70 x 100 cm Print - 27.6 x 39.4 inch
$1,424
Trompe l'oeil, Les Falaises du Trocadéro, 19 mai 2021, 19h57, Paris, France, 2021
JR
Print - 64 x 96 x 0.3 cm Print - 25.2 x 37.8 x 0.1 inch
$3,440
Retour à la caverne, acte I, collage, Paris, 2023
JR
Print - 33 x 33 cm Print - 13 x 13 inch
$13,050
Retour à la Caverne - Acte I, 12 septembre 2023, 20h40, Palais Garnier, Paris, France, 2023
JR
Print - 70 x 100 cm Print - 27.6 x 39.4 inch
$1,424
Ballet, Regard surplombant la façade du Palais Garnier, Opéra de Paris, France, 2014
JR
Print - 100 x 70 cm Print - 39.4 x 27.6 inch
$1,424
Wrinkles of the City, Action in Shanghai, Jiang Quizeng, Red Flag
JR
Print - 73 x 104 cm Print - 28.7 x 40.9 inch
$1,210
Trompe l'oeil, Les Falaises du Trocadéro (Portfolio of 4)
JR
Print - 64 x 96 x 0.5 cm Print - 25.2 x 37.8 x 0.2 inch
$9,491
Trompe L'oeil, les falaises du Trocadéro 21 mai 2021 20h03
JR
Print - 64 x 96 x 2 cm Print - 25.2 x 37.8 x 0.8 inch
$3,559
