On the Road

Road trips feature frequently in popular culture, whether in film, literature, music or the visual arts. On screen and in literature, they often act as a catalyst for character development, the psyche of the road-trippers evolving as the physical journey progresses. Allowing travelers full autonomy over their route, road trips contain an inherent aspect of chance and spontaneity. They presuppose the idea that the journey itself is just as important, if not more so, than the destination. Synonymous with a sense of freedom and adventure, the uplifting notion of the road trip has inspired many artists around the world. 

The visual arts, in particular the medium of photography, allow the notion of the road trip to be captured and frozen in time. In his photographic works, Heike Bohnstengel often captures snapshots of the North American landscape, sometimes as seen from a car window, or depicting typical road-trip sights like the highway, mercedes, road-signs, or perhaps even windmills. These works are reminiscent of the idea of the classic American road-trip, as represented for decades in popular culture, but their snapshot-style also give this concept a spontaneous and personal element. 

At Artsper, we've selected the best road trip-inspired works by contemporary artists. Go on a road trip today with artists like Carrie Graber, Richard Heeps and David Carey!