Has Contemporary Art Lost Its Soul?

Throughout the history of humanity, art has existed for many purposes. It’s been created to express, to educate, to share stories and tell meaning, to convey emotion, and more recently, to explore its boundaries. We are currently in our Contemporary Art era (or Post-Contemporary as some may argue, as we shift into a new age of AI-generated imagery). Art has gone from something exclusively visual in essence in our past, to now leaning toward more conceptual territory. In many leading art institutions, art as concept has become celebrated as the most avant garde form of art there is. But at what cost?

The Shift from Feeling to Theory

Earlier movements throughout recent history, most notably the Modernist eras (Impressionism, Expressionism, Cubism, etc.), prioritised emotional resonance in their very expression. These artist's work was about deconstructing the elements into raw forms, and executing them in a way that was felt, rather than intellectually understood necessarily. These were artists that learned the core principles of technique and recycled them into completely new forms of expression. Contemporary art, on the other hand, often requires a manifesto or explanation in order to grasp the basic understanding. There has been a complete shift in how we are expected to consume work, often at the expense of those who have no formal training or education within the art institutions. It begs the question: if art only “works” once explained, is art still for everyone, or only for the initiated? There is a reason tourists flock to traditional art museums over contemporary ones. It’s not simply for the fame these artists have gathered, but the awe that is universally felt when gazing upon classic masterpieces.

Art as a Concept vs an Experience

Conceptual art has evolved as a rejection of traditional methods and ideologies. In its essence, it seeks to take “art as idea” as far as possible. Idea and concept are prioritised over craft, ultimately shifting art from an emotional process to a mental one. This move from heart-space to head-space has opened new doors of possibility but has also sidelined beauty, aesthetics, and the awe-inspiring experience art used to be.

Gatekeeping and Elitism

There is now a heavy reliance on theory and academia for much of Contemporary Art to be received. And as a result, art has become a puzzle to be solved while excluding the vast majority. Galleries and institutions often prioritise intellectual frameworks that leave those without specialised training in the dark. Walking through the world’s largest and most prestigious contemporary galleries or biennales has now become a place of intimidation for many. The general attitude seems to say, “If you don’t understand, you aren’t intelligent enough.” Has art stopped being democratic and become a private language for insiders?

The Devaluation of Beauty

In this Contemporary era, beauty is often seen as something lesser than concept. Craftsmanship that emphasises beauty and fine skill is often labelled as kitsch or commercial in nature, while the “serious” artist is expected to provoke or challenge, not inspire or delight. Beauty, a universal language in itself, communicates across cultures and classes. It requires no amount of thought to be understood, unlike jargon heavy conceptual work. By sidelining it, art risks cutting itself off from its oldest and most democratic function - to connect with people on a soul level. What if the future of art lies not in outsmarting the viewer, but in reawakening something that lies within each of us?

Loss of Craftsmanship and the Human Hand

Historically, art has been created exclusively by the human body using tactile methods such as drawing, painting, and sculpture. Mastery of these techniques has always been valued as a whole, received well by both institutions and the public. We are now witnessing a rise of intentionally amateurish execution of artworks, placing emphasis on the concept instead. These works can even be outsourced, leaving the artist completely vacant from any part of the physical process. When the labour of love is missing from creation, how can we claim that a piece is made with integrity and authenticity?

Market Forces and Shock Value

When conceptual art is criticised, the same argument is always made: if you feel something, anything, that’s simply art doing its job. All art will be criticised in one way or another, but when the collective body of those who have no formal training in the arts protests against something they are excluded from, I believe it’s up to the institution to listen. Art has a responsibility of sorts. It is responsible for influencing many things including design trends, architecture, culture, etc. When novelty, provocation, and shock value outweigh substance in our art markets, there is a flow on effect. Shock, irony, or cleverness can command attention, but do they feed the spirit? Does it inspire culture in a positive way?

The Forgotten Purpose of Art

Across history, art has been a vessel for meaning, ritual, beauty, catharsis, and empathy. It’s been about human connection, relating on rich and deep levels. Something that the soul understands, not requiring heady explanations. If these values are stripped, art becomes sterile. A barren and soulless social experiment. If art loses its ability to strike awe in its viewers, especially those who know nothing of art, the art world becomes smaller and more isolated, during a time when we need more unity and human connection than ever before. So, should art make us think, or should it also make us feel?

All forms of art are valid. And by now, we’ve established that art can be anything.

What I’m calling for is balance, not a total rejection of intellectualism. We must heed the collective public outcry against the elitism of conceptualism. We owe it to ourselves and each other to celebrate art that comes from a soul-led process, that is raw and authentic and beautiful. We need a new movement that is inclusive of all, not exclusive to few. We need art from the soul. Art that serves us as whole.

Written by Ella Baudinet, 2025