Textualism is a contemporary art trend that emerged in the 1960s alongside Conceptual Art. It uses text as a central element by either creating images from text that is often illegible or emphasizing the text itself through large-scale installations that force viewers to notice and think about the language. Key textualist artists mentioned include Ben Durham, Fiona Banner, Alfredo Jaar, Jenny Holzer, and Barbara Kruger, who are known for their experimental uses of text in challenging viewers.

1. TEXTUALISM
A Contemporary Trend in Art

2. Early Development
• Conceptual Artists
in the 1960s

3. Key Characteristics
• Use of text as part of art either to
– Create an image
• Ben Durham, Fiona Banner
• Text is often illegible
– Emphasize the text itself
• Alfredo Jaar, Jenny Holzer, Barbara Kruger
• Often large
• Forces the viewer to notice and think about text

4. Kruger

5. Jaar

6. Durham

7. Sources
• loveismagicdecompressed.blogspot.com
• www.tate.org.uk
• https://www.moma.org/learn/moma_learning/themes
/conceptual-art/language-and-art
• http://npg.si.edu/exhibit/drawing/durham.html
• http://www.hirshhorn.si.edu/collection/barbara-
kruger/
• http://www.alfredojaar.net/index1.html
• http://artweek.la/issue/august-18-25-
double/article/text-message-the-alchemy-of-text-
based-art