Process art

Process art is an artistic movement where the way something is made is just as important, if not more important, than the finished piece itself. Instead of focusing only on the final object, process artists care deeply about the actions, steps, and ideas used to create the work. This includes gathering materials, sorting them, and even starting new actions or procedures.

In process art, the creation process itself can be considered a piece of art. Artists see their work as a partnership between humans and the natural properties of materials. They are interested in showing how different forces affect matter.

One artist, Robert Morris, described this style as “anti-form,” meaning the final physical object doesn't need to follow a specific shape or design. The focus is on the journey and experiences during the creation, making the process an essential part of the art.

History & Movement

Process art emerged in the mid-1960s in the United States and Europe as a response to Minimalist art. Instead of focusing on the final artwork, process artists emphasized the journey of creating art. They were inspired by Jackson Pollock’s drip painting technique, where paint is flung onto a surface using the whole body.

Process artists were also influenced by performance art and the Dada movement. In 1968, Robert Morris held an important exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum that helped define process art. These artists often used unusual materials like wax, felt, and latex, leaving them open to natural changes such as growth or decomposition. Process art is closely related to environmental art and the Arte Povera movement, which also value natural materials and processes.

Related Works

Some artists created works that show the importance of the process in making art. For example, Eva Hesse hung rubber-covered cheesecloth from fiberglass poles, showing how setting up the installation is part of the art. Robert Morris dropped pink felt on the floor, letting gravity guide the piece to show randomness.

Richard Serra used materials like rubber and steel to explore how materials flow and shape. Lynda Benglis poured latex on the ground to look like pollution, and Barry Le Va used many different items, from broken glass to a typewriter, in his collections of works. Each of these artists focused on the actions and processes they used to create their art.