We’ve all seen it too many times, bad art gets more Likes than the really good stuff, right? I’m sure you have all come across an artwork and thought, Uh, every child could do that. This is supposed to be art? Nevertheless, bad artists are popular on Instagram, TikTok, DeviantArt, you name it. But why is that? And how can you actually tell good art from bad art? Well, let’s talk about it!
We all, at some point, have viewed a work of art and thought, “Seriously? This is supposed to be art? Every child could do that…”
Sometimes, it might be hard to believe that two stripes across a canvas are to be considered art—especially if it’s art that sells for 20,000 bucks or more.
But how can you actually tell good art from bad art? Is there even something like ‘bad art’? And if so, why are bad artists popular?
When you run a quick web search for ‘bad art’, the results are—let’s say—startling. Here is what Google believes to be bad art…
But we don’t need to google first in order to recognize bad art when we see it, right? I’m sure you’ve all come across images on social media that you found at best mediocre, but people were Liking and commenting the hell out of those posts.
Even though some works clearly lack in skill, originality and appeal, there are thousands of people who like them, while some ‘good art’ might only get a handful of Likes.
It doesn’t appear to make sense.
When you are trying hard to get your art noticed, you inevitably ask yourself why bad art gets more Likes than genuinely skillful and beautiful works that took the artist a lot of time and effort to create.
Well, obviously, things are not so clear-cut in the art world. That’s why in today’s post, I want to delve into why bad art might get more acclaim than good art.
That means there must be something like good art and bad art. But then, how can you actually tell the difference?
How can you tell good art from bad art?
Let’s look at it this way: Van Gogh only sold one painting while he was alive. But does that make him a bad artist? I’m sure most of you will cry out, hell no! So, one thing we can already say is that good art is not about how much you are selling (during your lifetime).
“Bad Art is unchallenging, safe, and stale. Art that has nothing new to offer, nothing interesting to bring to the table. Background noise if you will, elevator music. I think that the worst art is art that has the least capacity to be disliked by the viewer.”
This is how curator Anna Choutova defined bad art in her 2016 show with the exact same theme, “Bad Art.”
In fact, this is a common way to evaluate art nowadays. Art is only good when it is provocative, when it catches your attention and really gets up your nose. However, this is not necessarily the main reason why art is created in the first place. (Nevertheless, I would agree that is always good when art makes you feel something—be it something positive or negative.)
When looking back in history, and in cultures around the world, you will find that art has many purposes. Its original—and probably still most important—purpose is to tell stories. This is how the early cave drawings came into being. And even today, artists make art for the sake of storytelling.
Other objectives of making art may be to educate, to depict divine messages (think Michelangelo’s ceiling paintings in the Sistine Chapel), to criticize political and societal shortcomings (think lowbrow artists), or simply to provide comfort and pleasure.
The problem with telling good art from bad art is that it all depends on whom you ask.
Although many people have attempted to define what makes art good or bad, there will never be any common consensus. It all boils down to personal taste and perspective. What is ‘bad art’ to one person might be another person’s absolute favorite.
In other words, there is no inherently good or bad art.
Next time you find yourself judging a piece of art, I encourage you to look a bit closer. Why exactly do you dislike the artwork? Why do you believe it is bad art? Is it the colors, the subject matter, the style, the lack of skill…?
Or, is it maybe that you are seeing something in the artwork that your own art doesn’t have (yet)? Has the other artist reached a skill level that you are still trying to attain? Does the other artwork depict an idea that makes you think, man, why did I not come up with that?
Art jealousy is a real thing among artists and it is important to be honest with yourself. Admitting that an artwork has something you would like to have for your art is not only fair towards the artist who created it, but it will eventually also help you make progress.
So, instead of envying the ideas and skills of another artist, take their work as an inspiration and learn from it!
Nevertheless, we all know that there are works that are not as skillful, as beautiful, as elaborate as others, and still they receive plenty of Likes on social media and art sharing sites.
So, let's get into it: here are five reasons why bad artists are popular and why bad art gets more Likes than 'good art'!
5 Reasons why bad art gets more Likes
1. Bad art might be ahead of its time.
Above, I already mentioned Van Gogh who only sold one piece during his life. But there are numerous other examples, including Paul Gauguin, Johannes Vermeer, Paul Cézanne, Claude Monet, and many more.
While their works were considered bad art in their lifetime, they now are deemed invaluable masterpieces—as good as art can possibly be.
But this didn’t only happen to the great artists of the past. It happens to contemporary artists as well. Do you remember Maurizio Cattelan’s artwork of a duct-taped banana called “Comedian”? First bashed by the critics, it now has its firm place in the art world, selling for around $120,000 …
But you don’t even need to get that fancy. Experimenting and trying new things is a big part of art-making. Every new art movement starts with experiments. Naturally, not everyone likes them… In spite of that, you should never be scared to make art, to make art that is new, bold, and unconventional. Remember: it’s important to take risks in art!
2. Bad art might have an important message.
Art is not just something to look at—even when it’s visual art. Every artwork has a personal and social context. That’s also known as the message or the story of an artwork.
I already happened to contemplate a piece of art that didn’t look pretty to me the first time I saw it. However, once I found out more about the message the artist meant to convey through the work, my opinion shifted.
The reason why a work of art was created in the first place is often more important than the creation itself. That means it doesn’t have to be pretty, or technically skilled. Sometimes, art is explicitly made with the intention to shift our perspective.
Sometimes, art is created to make us feel something, and that feeling may also be discomfort, irritation, sadness, etc.
So, if you want people to understand the message of your art, speak about it. Tell them why you make it and give them insights into your creative process!
3. Bad art might be liked for the artist behind it.
This is true for almost all types of art—and other products as well! Just think of your favorite song. You probably do not only like it because of the music, but also because you admire the artist behind it.
Or, if you buy some Nike sneakers, you most likely do not only buy them for their air-cushioned sole, but also because you like the brand behind them.
Nowadays, branding is more important than ever. Companies know it, and celebrities know it as well. So, in order to get your artwork seen, you’ll need to build a brand around your art and yourself as the artist. Because, once you get to know the story of the artist, it changes how you see their work.
So, all I can say is learn how to market your art and tell your story! When the artist becomes more interesting than their art, anything they create will get Likes.
4. Bad artists might be the ones showing up consistently.
Consistency is key—these days more than ever. If you want your art get noticed on social media, you will need to post consistently. Your art can be as good as anything, but if you don’t feed the algorithm regularly, you won’t be able to get exposure.
This is true for Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, etc., but also for art sharing sites, to a certain extent.
So, why are bad artists popular on Instagram? Well, sometimes, the reason may just be that they continue to show up on a consistent basis.
You might think they were just lucky to be in the right place at the right time. Their art doesn’t seem to be anything special, but they have a large following and their bad art gets more Likes than anyone else’s.
It may look like luck, but more often than not, it’s just about the artist’s continuous effort. They have probably been making art for a long time, they continued to make art even when no one liked their art, and with time and consistency they were able to create a lot of exposure.
So, the best advice I can give you: create art consistently. Put it out to the world and don’t be concerned with what people might think about it. Don’t be afraid of rejection. Your job is to create art, regardless of whether people think it’s good or bad.
Further reading:
5. Bad artists might be good networkers.
Lastly, one reason why bad art gets more Likes is because some bad artists might be massive networkers. They know how to build networks with like-minded people who share an interest in the same kind of art.
For example, they follow each other on social media, they watch each other on DeviantArt, they comment on each other’s pieces, and they like or fave each other’s work.
Don’t get me wrong. There is nothing bad about networking with other artists. It’s just an explanation why their art may get more Likes and comments than other works that might be better.
Apart from that, it is always nice to encourage and emotionally support other artists. When you surround yourself with supportive people, you will receive positive feedback. In return, you can also cheer them up, regardless of whether they make good or bad art!
Continue reading: Is it OK to make bad art?
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To wrap it up: you should never make art to please others. Always make art you love. Make art that makes you feel good. Make art that is fun and makes you happy!
Let me know what you are thinking in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you! Make sure to sign up for my email list below so you don’t miss out on new blog posts and other cool stuff. ♥
