ART 300: Artist Exploration
Research Paper
Check Calendar for due date Assignment Description and Requirements Choosing an Artist Topic: Each student in the course will research an artist selected from the list at the end of this document. Look over your options and decide which artist you want to research. To secure your choice you must follow the “Artist Exploration Topic Sign‐up (Groups)” link in the Assignment Instructions and Dropbox folder and sign‐up for your choice. HINT: The student who choses first will have more options. Once your choice is made, you may not change your topic. IF your preferred artist is chosen by another student, you MUST choose a different artist. No exceptions. Paper should include but is not limited to the following: 






Write a biography and stylistic overview of an artist you selected. A biography of the artist—born, died. Where did they live? What is their nationality? What was their art background (education)? What is/was the person like? What was/is the art “movement” the artist works in? Describe the aspects of the art movement. For Example: Post‐Impressionism was both an extension of Impressionism and a rejection of its limitations. Post‐Impressionists continued using vivid colors, thick application of paint, distinctive brushstrokes and real‐life subject matter, just like impressionism but they were more inclined to emphasize geometric forms, to distort form for expressive effect, and to use unnatural or arbitrary color. Do (Did) they have an impact on the art world or history in general? Any major contributions? Media they work in (acrylics, oils, graphite, sculpture medium, installations, etc.) A general description of their work citing examples of their work. A PARAGRAPH on your personal opinion of the artist’s work. Explain WHY. Don’t just say, “I like it because it’s pretty.” That doesn’t tell me anything, and if you do that, you will not receive credit for this section. Be specific‐ use examples from the artist’s work to explain your reasoning. Point Value: 200 points Requirements: 


Body of Paper: 8 ‐ 10 pages of text. List of Illustrations and Media: List of good web resources with links and images (with web links). You must include images and videos URLs formatted according to MLA style. Media resources should be cited in the body of your paper. Bibliography: Should include a minimum of three sources. Wikipedia may be helpful for initial research but it is not allowed as a source for your paper. Please note: If you use direct quotes or information drawn from research sources, those sources must be cited in a bibliography in appropriate format. If you do not cite quotations or the source(s) of specific information, you are plagiarizing. Format: 
The paper should be presented as professionally as possible with correct spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure. You are expected to format your paper according to MLA style. A link to MLA resources is included in the Assignment Instructions and Dropbox folder. Things to Keep in Mind: 


Always keep in mind the audience of your work. Art history has no default audience; you are to write this paper in a more formal manner with your intended audience being your classmates and professor. In part, this means that you should not refer to the artist by their first name. If a work elicits a certain reaction, there is almost always a reason for this response. Trust your eyes and attempt to share your instincts so your audience may understand more about the work and its intended function. Consider why an artist made a specific decision, and then could it have been otherwise. Why is a dress painted the color that it is.? Why was the work created in the chosen media? Try to understand the mindset of the artist and gain insight into their body of work. Evaluation and Content of Papers: 



Papers may not be re‐written for a higher grade. Late papers will be penalized a letter grade per week. You may consult the Professor or Teaching Assistant for assistance prior to turning in your paper. Plagiarism will result in a failing grade for the assignment. "Writing about a work of art ‐‐ a drawing, painting, or sculpture ‐‐ can significantly deepen one's appreciation of art. Writing about a work of art is to the viewer what sketching is to the artist who created the work. Writing about a work of art encourages one to closely examine the work visually, think seriously about it, and focus his or her feelings and emotional responses to the work. The process of writing inspires one to engage the imagination, memories, emotions, and senses and concentrate all these powers of thought and feeling in one act of appreciation for the beauty and/or power of a particular work of art. If performed in the proper spirit, writing about a work of art can be a deeply rewarding experience." ‐‐Robert Bersson Artist Choices Ai Weiwei Alfredo Jaar Allan McCollum An‐My Lê Andrea Zittel Ann Hamilton Arturo Herrera Bruce Nauman Cai Guo‐Qiang Cao Fei Carrie Mae Weems Catherine Opie Catherine Sullivan Charles Atlas Cindy Sherman Collier Schorr David Altmejd Do‐Ho Suh Doris Salcedo El Anatsui Eleanor Antin Elizabeth Murray Ellen Gallagher Florian Maier‐Aichen Fred Wilson Gabriel Orozco Glenn Ligon Hiroshi Sugimoto Ida Applebroog Iñigo Manglano‐Ovalle Janine Antoni Jessica Stockholder John Baldessari John Feodorov Josiah McElheny Judy Pfaff Julie Mehretu Kerry James Marshall Kiki Smith Kimsooja Krzysztof Wodiczko Lari Pittman Laurie Anderson Laurie Simmons Laylah Ali Louise Bourgeois Lynda Benglis Marina Abramović Martin Puryear Mary Reid Kelley Matthew Barney Matthew Ritchie Michael Ray Charles Nancy Spero Oliver Herring Paul Pfeiffer Pepón Osorio Pierre Huyghe Richard Serra Richard Tuttle Roni Horn Sally Mann Sarah Sze Shahzia Sikander Tabaimo Tim Hawkinson Vija Celmins William Kentridge Yinka Shonibare MBE