Installation Art Guide: 4 Key Characteristics of Installation Art

Typically characterized by three-dimensional (3D) objects, the art movement known as installation art includes everything from life-size sculptures made of recycled materials and room-sized displays to light and sound experiences inside an art gallery. Many contemporary artists favor interactive installations that encourage the viewer to become part of the work of art.

While installation art is a close relative of performance art, the two are slightly different. Performance art sometimes includes elements of sound or video, but what sets performance art apart from installation art is that the artist is present and an integral part of creating a live performance for the audience.

The term installation art was first documented in the 1960s when modern art installations began appearing in modern galleries, artists’ homes, and reclaimed buildings, in addition to other locations.

The early works were the natural extension of conceptual artists like Marcel Duchamp who created the readymade art movement, characterized by art made from manufactured objects. Another influence was the avant-garde Dada artists, who focused on making works that generated questions rather than adhering to commonly held ideas of beautiful art.

During the 1970s, installation artworks gained more acceptance in the art world as renowned museums and art galleries across the world began to host and promote large-scale installations. During that time, its status evolved beyond experimental and conceptual. While installation art has become more mainstream, it’s not typically considered fine art according to the visual arts community.

To the viewer, installation art can take on many different physical forms, but the 3D works are created with a goal of transforming the audience’s perception of space and often to push the viewers to consider sweeping global or societal topics. Here are four characteristics of installation art:

1. 1. Non-collectible: Unlike with a painting or small sculpture, patrons don’t usually have the ability to purchase installation art to display in their home due to the works’ size, scope, and uniqueness or significance.
2. 2. Large in scale: The pieces are most often created to be site-specific in locations like rehabbed warehouses, large rooms in a gallery space or museum, or even in a public art space.
3. 3. Temporary: Nearly all installation pieces are created to be temporary, whether the display period is a few months or a few years. There is a modern trend in the art world of traveling shows, in which an artist will set up then disassemble an interactive piece in several galleries or museums over the course of several years.
4. 4. Sensory-rich: The installations invite the viewer to become part of the scene by creating an all-encompassing environment the viewer can physically enter—or by using light, sound, or smell to create a complete environment.

Installation art often features three-dimensional objects but might also encompass displays of light or sound. The installations, which are usually site-specific, can consist of traditional or nontraditional media. Here are some art installation types you might come across:

• Drawings or paintings: An art installation featuring drawings or paintings invites more interaction than a gallery wall. Viewers must often enter a room or walk through a space to engage with the art. Examples include artfully paint-splattered walls, a space with paintings that appear like realistic windows, and rooms covered in painted dots.
• Found objects: Plenty of artists crafts works of art from found objects—pieces of trash or recycled or discarded items. To create this type of installation, the artist arranges the found objects in a specific way, or they might use them to create an unexpected 3D object—for example, a wave that consists entirely of bottle caps.
• Light or sound: Some installation artists work with light or sound to create their sensory experiences. In art installations that put light and sound front and center, there may or may not be a 3D object with which the viewer can interact beyond the room or space itself. In the latter case, the installation site will contribute even more to the overall uniqueness of the artwork.
• Readymades: An artist might choose to modify a manufactured good, or readymade, to create an art installation. For example, they could stack chairs, tie together bicycles, or build a room out of printed books.
• Sculptures: An art installation can consist of just one sculpture, or it might encompass multiple—for example, a grove of sculpted trees. Sculptural installations need not be large; however, they are often grand in scale to make the best possible use of the space. Like other art installations, they can be on display indoors or outdoors.
• Text: Some art installations feature letters or numbers on a wall or other surface. An artist might create the text from scratch using traditional media, or they might use found objects or other nontraditional media to spell out a message in a way they feel makes the most impact.

Installation art has evolved since the late twentieth century, and several men and women can be credited for the art movement’s growth and rise in popularity. Here are four notable installation artists:

1. 1. Ai Weiwei: The Chinese contemporary artist is known for his installation pieces, as well as architecture and design. He’s also a political activist who has used art as a platform to speak out against oppressive regimes. His installations include 1001 Chairs, Sunflower Seeds, and Forever Bicycles.
2. 2. Allan Kaprow: The American artist unveiled Yard in 1961, ushering in a new era in contemporary art. In Yard, the artist filled the outdoor backyard of New York’s Martha Jackson Gallery with tires and crudely made forms, then invited participants to explore the heap.
3. 3. Damien Hirst: The concept of death is central to the British artist, who gained fame in the 1990s. He is known for a series of works that display preserved or dissected dead animals in large display tanks.
4. 4. Yayoi Kusama: The Japanese contemporary artist is well-known for her extensive and iconic exhibitions and permanent installations featuring bold patterns and polka dots. Notable exhibitions include Infinity Mirror Room—Phalli’s Field, Life is the Heart of the Rainbow, and a series of mirror rooms.

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