Nearly seven years into the 21st century and there is no one recognized “art movement” for this new age. The 20th century saw many attempts at changing the status quo, and shaking the art world loose: perhaps beyond repair. Despite all the art movements of the 20th century, a few held on and many gone. There are two art genres however, that have been steadily gaining more attention across the world. While not exactly new genres, there is a freshness being breathed into “plein air” and “conceptual” style art, popularized by artists like Howard Pyle.

Plein air was popular in the late 19th, and early 20th centuries, in recent years it has become renewed for both the skill required to participate, and the public festival atmoshpere it creates in the communities where they are hosted. Another popular standout today is “conceptual” art, this style is being fueled by a new generation of computer savvy game designers and their need for graphics and background scenes. Inspired by great illustrators, and 30 years of “future” based T.V. and movies, this “new” art form is responsible for scenes one might see in movies like “Star Wars” or “Dune”. The unique thing about this art is the inventiveness and imaginative capacity required to create it, artists are literally creating their own worlds based entirely on conceptual imagination. I believe that both these artforms will continue growing in popularity, “plein air” for it’s ties to classicism and the adroit skills needed to capture an essence, the other for it’s ability to delve into the creative depths of imagination. In similar fashion to Jules Verne or H.G. Wells, these “conceptual” artists may inspire through their works, new ideas in the minds of engineers that could indeed become reality.

Does anyone have any ideas about the direction art is heading in the 21st century? Are there art movements that are sweeping your area? What type of art will children born today be influenced by as they grow older?