A Brief History of Protest Art

Art has always declared its dissatisfaction against the status quo. Throughout history artists have used their art to criticise and protest against a range of injustices and inequalities. Their art is an act of defiance, but more importantly it has given a voice to the marginalised. This short but powerful book showcases the work of a range of artists from the last eighty years who have challenged traditional boundaries, spoken up for the powerless and against those who seek to deny people their human rights. Exploring deeply political and critical art which uses irony, satire, subversion and provocation, it features responses to war, violence, oppression, gender and racial inequalities, the AIDS epidemic, LGBTQ+ rights, the Black Lives Matter movement and the climate crisis, in a variety of media. A Brief History of Protest Art reveals the important role of art in confronting political and social issues, and how it can help to change attitudes to create a better future.