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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Finding Hope, Night View, Paris, France
JR
Print - 70 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$2,796
Ballerina In Containers, On the Edge, Le Havre, 2023
JR
Print - 70 x 100 cm Print - 27.6 x 39.4 inch
$4,095
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
$468
La Nascita, Milano Centrale, Italie
JR
Photography - 31 x 41 x 0.01 cm Photography - 12.2 x 16.1 x 0 inch
$1,403
La vie est une marchandise
Gérard Fromanger
Print - 56 x 90 x 0.05 cm Print - 22 x 35.4 x 0 inch
$2,925
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
$4,212
Cinderella Wins a Seat In Parliament
Sarah Maple
Photography - 55 x 85 cm Photography - 21.7 x 33.5 inch
$2,574
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
$7,020
Living in America (Don King)
Felandus Thames
Sculpture - 162.5 x 116.8 x 2.5 cm Sculpture - 64 x 46 x 1 inch
$11,700
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
$27,413
The Undrinkable Can (nº506) (3)
QSTNMRK
Sculpture - 15 x 7 x 7 cm Sculpture - 5.9 x 2.8 x 2.8 inch
$592
Paranoïd #11
David De Beyter
Photography - 30 x 41 x 0.2 cm Photography - 11.8 x 16.1 x 0.1 inch
$409
Titanic 1912 Mini Museum
Thomas Dellert
Painting - 165 x 120 x 30 cm Painting - 65 x 47.2 x 11.8 inch
$5,265
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
$14,040
End Of Empire, Kantharos
Cleon Peterson
Print - 30.5 x 40.5 x 0.1 cm Print - 12 x 15.9 x 0 inch
$585
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
$2,223 $2,001
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
$1,164
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
$2,340 $2,106
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
$842
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
$1,404
The Gun Chronicles: A Story of America, USA, 2022
JR
Print - 50 x 100 cm Print - 19.7 x 39.4 inch
$842
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
$2,328
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
$2,223
The Disappeared (White)
Cleon Peterson
Print - 46 x 61 x 0.05 cm Print - 18.1 x 24 x 0 inch
$760 $684
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
$702
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
$1,989 $1,790
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
$1,404
28 Millimètres, Women are Heroes, Eyes on bricks, New-Delhi, India
JR
Print - 37 x 112 cm Print - 14.6 x 44.1 inch
$1,381
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
$1,404
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
$1,623
Punto di Fuga, 21 Juillet 2021, 05h26, Rome, Italie, 2021
JR
Print - 100 x 70 cm Print - 39.4 x 27.6 inch
$1,404
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
$1,228
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
$1,024
JR au Louvre et le Secret de la Grande Pyramide
JR
Print - 100 x 56 cm Print - 39.4 x 22 inch
$1,404
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
$2,679
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
$4,095
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
$1,404
Retour à la caverne, acte I, collage, Paris, 2023
JR
Print - 33 x 33 cm Print - 13 x 13 inch
$12,870
Une religion politique
Hélène Deghilage
Painting - 182 x 318 x 5 cm Painting - 71.7 x 125.2 x 2 inch
$16,380
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
$3,393
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
$1,404
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
$1,404
Wrinkles of the City, Action in Shanghai, Jiang Quizeng, Red Flag
JR
Print - 73 x 104 cm Print - 28.7 x 40.9 inch
$1,193
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
$1,193
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
$3,510
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
$9,360