what makes something art in 2024?
from memes to million-dollar bananas, here's how art is breaking all the rules
i’ve been thinking a lot about art lately. maybe it’s because everything feels like a little bit of art these days—whether it’s a perfectly plated avocado toast, an aesthetically pleasing grid on instagram, or the way we decorate our homes to look “lived in” but in a curated, made-for-the-feed kind of way. in 2024, art is everywhere. but what actually makes something art in this fast-paced, digital-first world we live in? is it talent? intention? a viral moment?
or maybe—just maybe—it’s something else entirely.
art used to be easier to spot. you could wander into a gallery, see a picasso or a matisse, and boom—you were staring at art. but now, we live in a world where a banana duct-taped to a wall sells for $120,000, and a tiktok dance can land you on “good morning america.” does that mean everything’s art? or is nothing art anymore?
let’s take a closer look at what makes something art in 2024.
1. the conversation is the art
in the world of modern art, it’s less about what you’re looking at and more about what it makes you talk about. take the infamous banana incident. sure, it’s just fruit on a wall. but suddenly, it had everyone talking about the value of art, the absurdity of the art market, and what we’re willing to spend big bucks on. and isn’t that what art is supposed to do? get us talking?
even digital art is getting in on the action. remember beeple’s $69 million nft? was it just a jpeg? maybe. but the real masterpiece was the conversation it sparked about technology, ownership, and the future of creativity. the value wasn’t just in the pixels; it was in the ripples.
in 2024, the conversation is the art. and the more provocative it is, the more valuable the piece becomes.
2. participation is key
if there’s one thing i’ve noticed in the last few years, it’s that art doesn’t want to just sit quietly on a museum wall anymore. it wants you to get up, get involved, and become part of the story. look at those immersive van gogh exhibits where you’re surrounded by starry nights, sunflower fields, and swirling skies. you’re not just observing the art; you’re living inside it.
and then there are performance pieces that invite you to be part of the act. you become a brushstroke on a living canvas. it’s as if the lines between artist and audience have been erased. in a world where everyone is their own brand and creator, we’re all artists. we’re all participants. just think—every time you post a perfectly framed shot or edit your tiktok to the beat of the latest viral song, you’re creating your own little piece of art. congratulations.
3. pushing the envelope is the new normal
if you’re not pushing the boundaries, can you even call it art in 2024? let’s be real—art that doesn’t challenge us barely registers on our radar anymore. we’re a culture that thrives on disruption. just ask banksy. remember when one of his paintings shredded itself the moment it sold for over a million dollars? not only did he destroy his own work, but he made a statement on the commodification of art. and of course, the stunt only made the piece more valuable. irony much?
art, now more than ever, needs to shake things up. it needs to rattle us, question our assumptions, and make us rethink everything we thought we knew. whether it’s about politics, social justice, or the meaning of life—if it’s not pushing boundaries, it’s probably getting lost in the noise.
4. speed is everything
art in 2024 moves at the speed of the internet. gone are the days when an artist would spend years perfecting a single piece, waiting for it to be unveiled at some prestigious gallery. now, art is just as much about timing as it is about technique. remember how quickly the “bernie sanders mittens” meme turned into an art piece? it went from viral photo to cultural icon in a matter of hours, and before we knew it, bernie was sitting on t-shirts, mugs, and posters. whether you call that art or commerce—or both—is up for debate.
memes have become the new art form, capturing our collective emotions faster than any painting or sculpture ever could. they’re ephemeral, sure, but they capture a moment in a way that’s just as poignant as a classic work of art. in 2024, if it doesn’t hit now, it might not hit at all.
5. who’s making it matters more than ever
in the past, we looked at the art. in 2024, we’re looking at the artist. it’s not just about the piece—it’s about the person behind it. in a time when identity, representation, and inclusivity are at the forefront of almost every conversation, who makes the art is just as important as the art itself.
just look at rihanna’s savage x fenty shows. they’re more than just fashion—they’re statements on inclusivity, beauty, and the power of diverse voices. we’re not just watching models strut down a runway; we’re witnessing a cultural shift. the artist’s voice is louder than the canvas.
6. art and tech are now besties
2024 is where art and technology come together to create magic. artists are using ai to compose symphonies, write poetry, and create digital art. and it’s making us question—if a computer can make something beautiful, does that make the computer an artist? or is it just a tool? tech is changing the rules, and no one really knows where the boundaries are anymore.
virtual galleries are popping up everywhere, letting you browse exhibitions from your couch. and nfts are making digital art as valuable as anything you can hang on your wall. we’ve blurred the line between what’s “real” and what’s virtual, but maybe that’s the point. the future of art is as much about coding as it is about brushstrokes.
7. it’s all about the feels
despite all the changes in the art world, one thing hasn’t changed: art is deeply personal. in a time when everything feels curated, polished, and mass-produced, we’re still drawn to things that make us feel something. think of yayoi kusama’s infinity rooms—stepping inside one feels like entering someone’s dream, or maybe their soul. the connection is intimate, even in a world where intimacy feels harder to come by.
and maybe that’s why we’re so drawn to art in 2024. it’s a mirror, reflecting our own experiences, emotions, and desires back at us. it connects us to ourselves and each other, in ways we didn’t even know we needed.
8. anything can be art now
the most liberating, and maybe confusing, thing about art in 2024 is that anything can be art. seriously—anything. a tweet that goes viral, a perfectly staged photo on your iphone, a protest sign, a handmade zine, a performance piece in a park—if it moves you, makes you think, or challenges the way you see the world, it’s art.
in a way, it’s freeing. you don’t need permission from some highbrow critic to call something art. you get to decide for yourself. and maybe that’s the most beautiful thing of all. in a world that’s always telling us how to think, what to feel, and how to live—art in 2024 says: do it your way.
so what makes something art in 2024? it’s the conversation, the feeling, the timing, and the person behind it. it’s digital, physical, and emotional. it’s everywhere and nowhere all at once. art in 2024 doesn’t ask permission to exist—it just does.
i think we're in a similar space now than when duchamp did the urinal, we're requestioning what is art and what isn't, i can't wait to read more on this debate