The main purpose of art is to evoke, provoke and shock, and to be the talk of the world. And that’s why controversial art makes people think so much, imagining their own scenarios if there’s room for your own interpretation.

ARTICLE ORIGINALLY POSTED ON DECEMBER 17, 2019

Mother and Child (Divided) (1993), Damien Hirst

Damien Hirst has many forms for this specific art exhibition, probably his most famous one. A cow and a calf bisected and emerged in formaldehyde, which was a tabloid sensation. Some are great to have a good laugh at, others leave people skeptical, angry, or with doubt for being too harsh or too raw. I Lobo You has gathered some of the most controversial art that in 2018 touched political issues, environmental or just for questioned art as a whole! Some date back a few years ago, others are recent, but this year, they all made people argue about it.

Banksy’s “Girl With Balloon”

The most anonymous contemporary artist in the world, Banksy, attacked again and left everyone surprised when one of his most famous works of art self-destroys. The picture “Girl with Balloon” had just been auctioned off for over a million pounds when it was pierced by a hidden paper cutter.

Mapplethorpe Show in Portugal

20 works originally intended for the Mapplethorpe art exhibition in Serralves were not present, for reasons that remain unclear. One day after the opening of the show, João Ribas, the museum’s artistic director, announced his resignation, and an open letter has circulated accusing the institution of censorship.

Marcel Duchamp‘s “Fountain”

One of the most controversial arts belongs to Marcel Duchamp’s “Fountain”, a standard urinal of the time, unaltered, upturned, that the artist – signing as “R MUTT”, and put on a pedestal in 1917.

You might like: Modern Art: A Bloody Self-portrait By Marc Quinn

A Bloody Self-portrait By Marc Quinn

Self is the great blood sculpture art of the creative Marc Quinn. A self-portrait of the artist, but one that literally uses his body as a material since the cast of Marc Quinn‘s head, immersed in frozen silicone, is created from ten pints of his own blood. This is the epitome of controversial art!

My Bed (1998), Tracey Emin

Tracey Emin‘s work is composed of an ashtray full of cigarettes, dirty knickers, and used condoms sold. This controversial art was sold for more than $4 million at auction, but some still consider her success illegitimate because of the controversy that has surrounded her work.

Naughty Nuns By Christina Ramos

Christina Ramos is the artist behind the not so traditional paintings of nuns doing not so Christian things.

Carl Andre‘s “Bricks”

People still wonder if this is art! How can it be? 30 years have passed and everyone still wonders about the same thing, this is why it made into our controversial art list. It got more than just a bunch of bricks piled up.

LOVE by Maurizio Cattelan

Since 2010 “L.O.V.E.”, a public art intervention permanently installed in Piazza Affari, Milan, triggered the re-appropriation by citizens of a square otherwise forgotten. Maurizio Cattelan has exhibited in major European and American museums and participated in the major international exhibitions of contemporary art.

Los Intocables by Erik Ravelo

Seven photographs depict the main issues threatening the basic dignity of children around the world: pedophilia inside religious walls, sexual tourism, the civil war in Syria, liberal circulation of firearms, human organ trafficking, obesity, and nuclear pollution.

See also: Modern Art: Naughty Nuns By Christina Ramos