Artsy Editorial

Trends to Watch in 2021

Art
Colored Pencil Revival
The ever versatile, accessible, and easily transportable colored pencil has proved to be a go-to medium among contemporary artists working today.
Shannon Lee
Jan 20, 2021
Art
Return to Nature
Perhaps in response to living in lockdown during 2020, artists are taking fresh approaches to portraying landscapes, flora, and fauna.
Shannon Lee
Jan 06, 2021
Art
Craft Figuration
In the wake of the fervor for figurative painting, artists are harnessing craft techniques and materials to explore identity and the body.
Jacqui Palumbo
Jan 13, 2021
About the Series

Artsy is kicking off 2021 with a series of three features spotlighting the trends we expect to take hold across the contemporary art world in the year ahead. We selected these trends by analyzing our internal data and identifying themes that emerged during the end of 2020. “Return to Nature,” “Craft Figuration,” and “Colored Pencil Revival” reflect the circumstances under which artists were working in 2020, and the artistic impulses they’re acting upon in 2021.

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