So, I have philosophised about the objectivity…versus subjectivity…of art and as well brought forth my philosophy on the fact that art is categorised as being either good or bad. Those are elemental truths that one is taught in art school and in the school of life as one works one’s way up the professional chain and gains experience both in life and in art. It is impossible to think of these things when one is very young.
So, what is «bad art»? My reply is that “bad art”, seriously speaking, is art that pretends to be profound but is hollow, or art that substitutes shock, gimmick, or self-promotion for vision and craft. And I am referring to both, traditional art and conceptual art or experimental.
With that said, here are some examples often cited as bad, being bad artists producing bad art (in the sense above):
Jeff Koons – His balloon dogs and stainless-steel kitsch may fetch millions, but they’re little more than oversized novelties. They dazzle with spectacle, not substance.
Damien Hirst – Famous for pickled sharks and diamond-encrusted skulls, his work often leans more on PR stunts and shock value than on artistic depth.
Tracey Emin – Her “My Bed” (an unmade bed with personal detritus) is often held up as a symbol of art reduced to autobiography and raw display without transformation. And in very bad taste I would add.
Thomas Kinkade – Marketed as the “Painter of Light,” his sugary, mass-produced cottage scenes are technically slick but conceptually empty—art reduced to calendar kitsch.
AI-generated kitsch flooding social media – Endless pretty-but-empty images with no inner necessity, no artist’s hand, just algorithmic pastiche.
Each of these examples is “bad” not because someone dislikes them, but because they lack the enduring qualities of good art: invention, vision, mastery, depth. They survive on hype, sentimentality, or branding, and on the bad art professors that try to drive them into the heads of gullible and young art students who will later realise how they had been manipulated, controlled, brainwashed and misguided.
CHEERS
JaZzArt en València 
This is a brilliantly argued and deeply thought-provoking reflection. 🎨✨
I really admire the clarity with which you’ve drawn the line between art that endures and art that merely dazzles or shocks. Your definition of “bad art” — as work that substitutes gimmick, spectacle, or self-promotion for genuine vision and craft — is not only sharp but also refreshingly honest. It resonates strongly because it acknowledges both tradition and experimentation while holding them to the same standard: authenticity and depth.
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Thank you so much for such a wonderful reply Sir! I am so glad to know that the subject resonated with you!
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Thank you so much, Sir.
I’m glad my thoughts resonated with you.
It’s always a pleasure to engage with such thoughtful reflections on interesting subjects. Is it not?
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Yes Sir, it surely is!
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💜
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🙏😊🙏
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I know that skill is critical, but determining who is good or bad is subjective. So much depends on what form of art or music the viewers like.
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I understand what you’re saying Barbara, but there are measures, purely objective, to determine what is good and what is bad in art, as art is completely objective. Viewers taste is subjective but the likes or dislikes of a viewer does not change the quality of the artwork. Thanks 🙏🏻 so much!
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I understand. The same is true for writing.
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Yes, it applies to all the arts. Like Duke Ellington said: “There are only two types of music, good and bad.” Recognising bad art and giving it the value it deserves, which is zero, is important to maintain quality, but talking about art, like we are doing, is even more important. Thank you so much Barbara.
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You’re welcome, Francisco!
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I don’t know much about good art or bad art but that’s a cool tunnel right there.
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Thank you 🙏🏻
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I am not far from your thoughts dear Francisco, Thank you, have a nice day, Love, nia
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Thank you so much dear Nia! All the best!
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What a fascinating reflection, Francisco. I agree it’s never simple to define good or bad art, since perception and taste vary so widely. Yet, I appreciate how you invite us to think deeper about authenticity beyond surface appeal.
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Thank you so much. We must always be conscious of differentiating our taste in art from what the object actually is. All the best to you!
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You’re very welcome! 🌿 I agree—seeing art as it truly is helps us grow beyond preference. Wishing you all the best as well! ✨
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