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Nft And The Future Of Art, Ying Kang Jan 2025

Nft And The Future Of Art, Ying Kang

MA Theses

This thesis focuses on exploring the history of NFT, the effects of NFT on art and the future of art. There are many factors affecting NFT, including human subjective factors, such as the pursuit of economic interests and the psychology of blindly following the trend, as well as objective factors, such as macroeconomic policy changes, technological developments, COVID-19 pandemic, cultural advocacy for diversity and democratization, Russia-Ukraine conflict, collapse of major cryptocurrency entities, financial regulation, and endogenous flaws. These economic, political, technological, social, cultural and other factors are complicated and mutually influential, leading to NFT ups and downs in the past. …


Unveiling Urban Photographs: The Evolution Of Street Photography Through Cameras, The New York Photo League, And Visionaries Lisette Model And Helen Levitt, Isabella Danesi Jan 2024

Unveiling Urban Photographs: The Evolution Of Street Photography Through Cameras, The New York Photo League, And Visionaries Lisette Model And Helen Levitt, Isabella Danesi

MA Theses

Street photography is a visual art that began to pick up in popularity in the 20th century especially in large cities like New York. There was so much going on in the world at the times and it was a perfect opportunity for aspiring artists to go out into the streets and capture the realities of what was happening. This thesis dives into the origins of street photography as well as an emphasis on the development and shaping of street photography while being used in urban settings in the 20th century. A discussion of the technological development of the camera …


Digital Reproduction: The Degradation Of Art Viewership, Zoe Wallis Weingarten Jan 2024

Digital Reproduction: The Degradation Of Art Viewership, Zoe Wallis Weingarten

MA Theses

This thesis explores the impact of the ease of photographic reproduction on the
/="/">experience of contemporary art viewership. This study establishes historical precedent and explains the phenomenon of the serial photographic reproduction of works of art by contemporary audiences. In doing so, the thesis identifies the implications of reproductions on the original work of art they replicate as well as the consequences of such reproduction. The photographic duplication of artworks in the museum allows the viewer to recommodify the artwork, become its quasi-possessor, and alter its meaning and function. This study is centered around the argument that this widespread …


When Divergent Worlds Collide: Dr. Santiago Ramón Y Cajal’S Influence On The Surrealism Movement, William J. Hardman Iii, Md Jan 2024

When Divergent Worlds Collide: Dr. Santiago Ramón Y Cajal’S Influence On The Surrealism Movement, William J. Hardman Iii, Md

MA Theses

Dr. Santiago Ramón y Cajal’s drawings were created for the sole purpose of illustrating his newly discovered and earth-shattering revelations in the field of neuroscience culminating with his magnum opus: the “Neuron theory” and the “Theory of Dynamic Polarization.” For these discoveries and many others, he shared the 1906 Nobel Prize in medicine and physiology with his rival Dr. Camilo Golgi, an Italian pathologist. At no time did he envision that his drawings would capture the interest of artists as it did with members of the Surrealism Movement. This thesis will explore and present for the first time supporting evidence …


Preventive Conservation Of Easel Paintings For Collectors In China: Navigating Challenges And Exploring Feasible Solutions, Di Lu Jan 2024

Preventive Conservation Of Easel Paintings For Collectors In China: Navigating Challenges And Exploring Feasible Solutions, Di Lu

MA Theses

This thesis explores the unique challenges faced by art collectors in China, particularly those investing in easel paintings amidst the rapid growth of the Chinese art market. These collectors, often constrained by budget limitations and limited access to high-quality conservation materials and expertise, face significant risks in preserving their cultural assets. The study delves into these specific risks and challenges, aiming to identify feasible strategies for preventive conservation within the Chinese context. Through an extensive review of literature, qualitative interviews with conservators, collectors, and experts, and in-depth case studies, this research offers practical, cost-effective recommendations for alternative materials and methods …


Art And Entertainment Collaboration: The Benefits And Challenges Of Auction Houses Crossover Collaborations In The Global Art Market, Yushi Chen Jan 2024

Art And Entertainment Collaboration: The Benefits And Challenges Of Auction Houses Crossover Collaborations In The Global Art Market, Yushi Chen

MA Theses

Over the past decades, crossover collaboration has become increasingly important
in the contemporary art market as an effective strategy to reach a wholly new customer segment. This research focuses on the crossover collaboration between art and entertainment by exploring the partnerships between auction houses and singers. It uses a case study as a research methodology to analyze Sotheby’s partnerships with three famous singers, including Nigo, T.O.P., and Jay Chou, by which the auction house successfully entered the Asian art market. The research found that these examples have demonstrated Sotheby’s how has integrated crossover collaboration into its sustainable competitive advantages. The …


The Great Mess Of Auction Catalogues, Hector Yuyang Chen Jan 2024

The Great Mess Of Auction Catalogues, Hector Yuyang Chen

MA Theses

Ever since the Covid Pandemic in 2020, auction houses around the world have changed their policies on printed auction catalogues - many simply did not print auction catalogues, or at a much-reduced volume; publishing instead the information online. The issue here is evident: without public access, auction houses have the ability to manipulate data and self-regulate their records. This can result in a skewed presentation of data that favours their interests while concealing less favourable information. Public archives have already suggested their frustrations in this trend, most notably, at the Paul Mellon Centre: “Catalogues have been acquired in the following …


The Effects Of Ai Image Synthesis On Graphic Design, Ji Ren Jan 2024

The Effects Of Ai Image Synthesis On Graphic Design, Ji Ren

MA Theses

From 1763 when Thomas Bayes developed a framework to infer event probabilities, to the end of 2022 when the world-renowned AI research laboratory Open AI launched Chat GPT, a language model based on AI technology, statistical computing-based AI has revolutionized human life. AI image synthesis can simulate the processes and methods of human painting through machine learning, deep learning, and other methods, thereby generating high-fidelity images. There is growing concern about how AI image synthesis will affect the art world as it advances. The art market could be reimagined, authorship and creativity concepts challenged, and traditional artistic practices disrupted by …


Ethical Dilemmas In Art Advisory Services: Navigating Influence In The Art Market, Noah G. Tyler Jan 2024

Ethical Dilemmas In Art Advisory Services: Navigating Influence In The Art Market, Noah G. Tyler

MA Theses

This scholarly exploration delves into the ethical dimensions inherent in
providing art advisory services within the dynamic milieu of the New York art
market. The spotlight is aptly directed towards influential entities such as
Gagosian Art Advisory, Lisa Schiff, Pace Gallery, Acquavella Galleries, Allan
Schwartzman, and The Brant Foundation. This diverse array of players vividly
illustrates the complexity of the ethical discourse prevailing in this intricate
landscape. The convergence of commerce and creativity leads to profound
inquiries regarding conflicts of interest, transparency, and the responsible
custodianship of cultural heritage, thereby unveiling the intricate relationships
underpinning the art world. The significance …


Warhol Uncovered: From Byzantium To Pop, Kassandra Ibrahim Jan 2024

Warhol Uncovered: From Byzantium To Pop, Kassandra Ibrahim

MA Theses

Despite being one of the most extensively researched artists of the twentieth century, Andy Warhol’s identity as a Carpatho-Rusyn Byzantine Catholic is often omitted by a majority of sources. Inspired by the 2020-2021 exhibition Andy Warhol: Revelation, this thesis examines the aesthetic influence that the artist’s religious upbringing had on his oeuvre. By examining Eastern Christian icons and church interiors, I define key characteristics of the Byzantine aesthetic — gold grounds, stylized frontal figures, flattening of depth, seriality, excessive decoration, etc. — and identify its usage in Warhol’s Pop Art. I also explore the Carpatho-Ruysn folk art tradition of pysanky …


Transcendent Boundaries: The Impact Of Art Festivals On Rural Revitalization In East Asia, Yili Peng Jan 2024

Transcendent Boundaries: The Impact Of Art Festivals On Rural Revitalization In East Asia, Yili Peng

MA Theses

This thesis explores the intricate relationship between biennial art festivals and rural development, offering a comprehensive analysis of how these cultural events contribute to the socio-economic development of global art exchange. Anchored in the study of biennial culture, with a historical lens on the pioneering Venice Biennale, the research digs into the evolution of biennial events from exclusive art gatherings to transformative cultural phenomena with global outreach and impact. It underscores the role of these festivals in fostering international cultural exchange, enhancing contemporary art visibility, and influencing social and economic landscapes in East Asia.


Paths To The Abstraction: Kandinsky And Rothko, Vera Schueler Jan 2024

Paths To The Abstraction: Kandinsky And Rothko, Vera Schueler

MA Theses

This thesis explores the artistic journeys of Kandinsky and Rothko, focusing on underlying motivations that led them towards the realm of abstraction. Kandinsky and Rothko played pivotal roles in the development and advancement of abstraction in the art world. They shared the belief that only non-figurative art had the power to convey deep meaning and evoke profound emotions, going beyond mere representation of the physical world. Despite their divergent artistic paths, artists were united by the idea of the transformative power of artistic expression and aimed to transcend to the viewer the energy and concepts of their vision through delving …


Bouguereau’S Vampires: Navigating Transgressive Desire In Dante Et Virgile, Angelina Diamante Jan 2024

Bouguereau’S Vampires: Navigating Transgressive Desire In Dante Et Virgile, Angelina Diamante

MA Theses

This thesis investigates William Bouguereau’s Dante et Virgile (1850) in the context of nineteenth century vampire literature, emerging as the seminal text on the matter. Through a cross-discipline examination of Dante’s Divina Commedia (ca. 1308–1321), and two canonical works of Gothic vampire fiction — John Polidori’s The Vampyre (1819) and Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu’s Carmilla (1872), respectively — prominent affinities are articulated. Comprising a broad scope, this text propounds a panoptic argument that such consonance is demonstrative of a reconciliation between the classical and Gothic, forged by nuances of the composition’s own nineteenth century — the Byronic hero, homoeroticism, Neoclassicism, …


The Unconscious Mind: Psychoanalysis And Art, Carlie Hoffer Jan 2024

The Unconscious Mind: Psychoanalysis And Art, Carlie Hoffer

MA Theses

The insights brought to society about the unconscious mind can be solely credited to Sigmund Freud’s groundbreaking works that were published in the early 1900’s. Specifically, the concept of the unconscious mind being a driver for human behavior was a unique theory that Freud introduced to a society that had never considered this possibility before this. The realization and acknowledgement of the unconscious mind as relevant to analyzing human behavior including art inspired other scholars and individuals in the field of psychology to explore a more nuanced understanding of human motivations. His novel ideas about human behavior emerged at a …


Envisioning Dynamic Cultural Platforms: Strategic Integration Of Contemporary Art In Japan's Socio-Economic Landscape, Shota Hachisako Jan 2024

Envisioning Dynamic Cultural Platforms: Strategic Integration Of Contemporary Art In Japan's Socio-Economic Landscape, Shota Hachisako

MA Theses

In this tale of transformative potential, the dissertation opens with Japan's unique juxtaposition of a burgeoning technological landscape against a modestly-sized art market. It envisions contemporary art as a dynamic force, capable of revolutionizing Japan's socio-economic fabric. This narrative of hope delves into how art, in Japan's context, can redefine corporate identities, fuel social innovation, and adapt to the digital age. The study advocates for an increased investment in the creative arts, seeing it as a key to merging Japan's rich cultural heritage with its economic aspirations. It paints a future where art not only enhances educational growth and international …


“How Did Guernica Become The Important Painting And The Universal Symbol It Is Today?", Or Lebel Jan 2024

“How Did Guernica Become The Important Painting And The Universal Symbol It Is Today?", Or Lebel

MA Theses

This thesis explores the intriguing journey that propelled "Guernica" from the initial obscurity of a commissioned artwork to its current status as a globally recognized symbol. The research unravels the multifaceted processes that have contributed to the transformation of a relatively overlooked artwork into an important painting and a universal emblem of protest, antiwar, and hope. The research addresses the fundamental question of how "Guernica" evolved into an important and universally recognized painting. Answering this question allows me to explore and explain how "Guernica," despite its lack of immediate recognition, grew to possess an enduring significance. The research also tackles …


Monumentality Of The Artist Chapel: Dissecting Light, Color, Spirituality, And Permanence, Katherine Isler Jan 2023

Monumentality Of The Artist Chapel: Dissecting Light, Color, Spirituality, And Permanence, Katherine Isler

MA Theses

The concept and creation of the artist chapel is an opportunity presented to only a select few artists. Artist chapels are monumental, permanent works of art that expose a sweeping summary of the artists oeuvre and act as a window into the mind of the artist. The chapels of Ellsworth Kelly, Dan Flavin, and Mark Rothko present a variety of similarities through the mediums of light and color. These characteristics take the artist chapel from a piece of art, to a transcendent
/="/">environment that cocoons the viewer in a space of both the seen and unseen. Each of these …


The Women Of Impressionism: The Influence Of Berthe Morisot, Mary Cassatt, And Eva Gonzalès On The Art Market, Caroline Finden Jan 2023

The Women Of Impressionism: The Influence Of Berthe Morisot, Mary Cassatt, And Eva Gonzalès On The Art Market, Caroline Finden

MA Theses

My thesis addresses three overlooked female Impressionist artists, Berthe
Morisot, Mary Cassatt, and Eva Gonzalès, the hardships that they faced during their lifetimes, the sociological and political influences that shaped their narratives, and the triumphs that allow us to call them great female artists today. Art historians and feminists alike, such as the exalted Linda Nochlin, have searched for understanding as to why so many extraordinary female artists have gone unnoticed throughout art history, often leaving more questions than answers. To better understand each of these women I analyze both an iconic work and the highest selling work at auction …


Analysis Of The Integration Of High-Tech Virtual Technology To Improve The Audience's Experience: Taking China Exhibition Hall As Examples, Zizhou Guo Jan 2023

Analysis Of The Integration Of High-Tech Virtual Technology To Improve The Audience's Experience: Taking China Exhibition Hall As Examples, Zizhou Guo

MA Theses

The existence of an exhibition hall is nothing more than to display the works of art, and the design of an exhibition hall is nothing more than to let the audience better understand the works of art. In order to do this well, the design of exhibition space, as a container for artworks, plays an important role. This paper starts with the exhibition space of the exhibition hall, analyzes some new features and existing problems of the exhibition space of the contemporary exhibition hall, and takes space scale, space sequence, exhibition and display methods, and multimedia as the research objects. …


Spirituality And Abstract Art, Hao Zheng Jan 2023

Spirituality And Abstract Art, Hao Zheng

MA Theses

Through a close analysis of abstract art and metaphysics (ontological and psychical), the paper examines how metaphysics might be related to abstract art, as well as the early emergence of abstract art in diverse cultures around the world, and its development from the 19th to the 20th century in the modern art world. The paper conducts an examination of some modern abstract art pioneers, as perceived by general public, such as Wassily Kandinsky and Agnes Pilton, who
experimented with the art form in the 19th and 20th centuries, and their intentions based on metaphysics: spirituality and mythology are included in …


On Curation: A Hermeneutical Approach, Elisabeth Yumin Kröber Jan 2023

On Curation: A Hermeneutical Approach, Elisabeth Yumin Kröber

MA Theses

Starting point of this paper is the philosophical field of hermeneutics.
/="/">Hermeneutics was established to account for different conditions of understanding
/="/">and how they shape our interpretative processes. As different times constitute
/="/">different conditions, the goal of the discipline essentially is to bridge the temporal
/="/">gap between the creation of a work and its perception at a given point in time.
/="/">Whereas traditionally, understanding was a matter of analyzing the historical
/="/">tradition of author/artist and reader/viewer, nowadays, the perception and
/="/">interpretation of art is shaped by another instance, the curator. Under the premise …


Artists In Legacy-Land: Endowing Foundations To Balance Market And Philanthropic Activity, Lucas Mischler Jan 2023

Artists In Legacy-Land: Endowing Foundations To Balance Market And Philanthropic Activity, Lucas Mischler

MA Theses

In this paper, artist-endowed foundations are examined to assess the direct and indirect impact of their philanthropic activity on the art market. Beginning with an overview of historical and contextual variables paving the way for private philanthropy in the 20th century, specific case studies are analyzed--established foundations, as well as varying formats for smaller foundations, that illustrate the symbiotic relationship between the art market and artist-endowed foundations. Emphasis is placed on the newfound popularity of artists establishing foundations, and securing legacy, within their lifetimes rather than upon death, as this has the potential to yield the best results. Best practices …


Keith Haring And Jean-Michel Basquiat: Visionaries Of The Legendary Art Movement Of The Eighties In Downtown, New York City, Ritu Cipy Jan 2023

Keith Haring And Jean-Michel Basquiat: Visionaries Of The Legendary Art Movement Of The Eighties In Downtown, New York City, Ritu Cipy

MA Theses

The 1980s in New York Downtown culture was about rebellion. A vibrant community of young artists had occupied Lower Manhattan; interested in various art forms like painting, music, dance and theatre. The community thrived in an area largely ignored by Ronald Reagan’s presidency. It was an explosion of creativity that has had reverberations ever since. Jean-Michel Basquiat’s and Keith Haring’s art grew out of that zeitgeist. Their art was an uprising against a world that did not support their talent. Their need to enforce a social change prompted them into
using their work as a call to action. Their illegal …


“I’Ve Been Working My Ass Off For You To Make That Profit”: Fundamental Information For The Self-Advocation Of Emerging Artists, Layne Hubble Jan 2023

“I’Ve Been Working My Ass Off For You To Make That Profit”: Fundamental Information For The Self-Advocation Of Emerging Artists, Layne Hubble

MA Theses

This thesis recognizes the inequity and lack of business autonomy afforded to artists within the greater art market, due in part to socio-economic barriers to entry and professional misconceptions perpetuated through romanticized narratives. Emerging artists are denied accessible forms of education and the relevant tools to develop strong business and marketing skills for entrepreneurial success; competitive atmospheres discourage mentorships at high levels of influence and leave many mid-career and established artists with professional self-reproach.
Results from original surveys and interviews present a cross-section of the artistic profession spanning age, gender, race, ethnicity, medium and level of experience to be analyzed. …


Manifesting Magic: Occultism And Feminism In The Art Of Leonora Carrington And Remedios Varo, Margaret Dirschl Jan 2023

Manifesting Magic: Occultism And Feminism In The Art Of Leonora Carrington And Remedios Varo, Margaret Dirschl

MA Theses

The artworks of Leonora Carrington and Remedios Varo are replete with
/="/">symbolism and evocations of the occult, formulating bodies of work that are charged with magic and mysticism. When studied within the context of their male contemporaries of the Surrealist group, it becomes apparent that this use of the occult operates as a compelling and historically based feminist strategy. Immediately stemming from the occult revival of the previous century and the issues for females presented by Surrealism, the foundations of this idea originate much earlier in the pagan traditions of antiquity and the witch hunts of the 15th through …


Collecting An Empire: Stolen Heritage Of Indigenous Australians, Kyla Moore Jan 2023

Collecting An Empire: Stolen Heritage Of Indigenous Australians, Kyla Moore

MA Theses

Exploring the importance of the protection and preservation of Australian Aboriginal
cultural heritage, this thesis seeks to examine a need for change in the way
governments approach cultural heritage repatriation from a legal and ethical
perspective. By analyzing binding and non-binding laws of the United Kingdom and
Australia, this paper suggests the need for the improvement of legal frameworks and legislation currently in place regarding cultural heritage repatriation. It also identifies challenges Indigenous communities face in the quest to reclaim control over their cultural heritage, history, and identity. Examining contrasting case studies of repatriation, the impact legislation has on the …


Would You Rather Be The Head Of A Lion Or The Tail Of A Mouse? A Comparative Study Of The Art Markets In London And New York, Clio Giner Garcia Jan 2023

Would You Rather Be The Head Of A Lion Or The Tail Of A Mouse? A Comparative Study Of The Art Markets In London And New York, Clio Giner Garcia

MA Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to investigate which city best suits our goals in opening a gallery abroad; London or New York. This question arises from a debate with my father about the future of our business, which is a contemporary art gallery that we opened in Spain in 2012. It opened originally in Marbella, a city with a wealthy international population. Later in September of 2020, we welcomed our second space in the capital of Spain, Madrid. We have agreed the next step for us is to open up our third space abroad within the next 5 years. …


Art Investment Funds And Nfts, Francesca Osborne Jan 2023

Art Investment Funds And Nfts, Francesca Osborne

MA Theses

Art price inflation, rising levels of wealth, and the artworld’s financialization have
/="/">changed the way investors view the art market. In an attempt to capture the
/="/">momentous returns realized by successful collectors, art investment funds have
/="/">emerged with the conviction art can be used as a speculative or strategic alternative asset. However, the majority of art funds have been dissolved or put on hold. This paper examines the investment characteristics of fine art to uncover the rationale for art investment fund failures, finding the art market’s inefficiency as the foremost explanation. Subsequently, non-fungible token (NFT) art and …


Factors Behind The Successful Positioning Of Mexico City As An International Contemporary Art Center, Alma Roberta Zertuche Cantu Jan 2022

Factors Behind The Successful Positioning Of Mexico City As An International Contemporary Art Center, Alma Roberta Zertuche Cantu

MA Theses

The following thesis highlights the factors that have contributed to the successful positioning of Mexico City as an international contemporary art center. The city has expanded its artistic reach in the last few decades and its contemporary art market is now booming. The key to its successful positioning in the global art sphere lies in three main factors: collectors, galleries, and fairs. These art market players have had a significant role in the development of the city’s vibrant art scene and have worked to expand it internationally. This investigation aims to answer questions on how the stakeholders have raised international …


Looking South: The Increased Visibility Of Modern Latin American Art, Sofía Festa Jan 2022

Looking South: The Increased Visibility Of Modern Latin American Art, Sofía Festa

MA Theses

This thesis aims to identify and analyze the main factors behind the increased visibility of Latin American Modern art today. I intend to examine the role played by American institutions, private collectors, and the top auction houses and how they are driving awareness in the global art market. The research will focus on artists whose works were made from the 1920s through mid-1940s and are currently breaking records in the auction world. These are the same artists that are being showcased in prominent private collections and American museums, which in turn serves as a way of validating those artists as …