Visualizing the Horizon: Evaluating the Intersection of Contemporary Art and Environmental Activism through an Assessment of Visual Climate Change Communications

In the face of a global climate catastrophe, the call for urgent social, political, and institutional reform has escalated worldwide. The activists who endeavor to inspire that reform vary in their methods, but the overarching message is the same: the status quo is detrimental to the environment, and action must be taken now. Contemporary art has emerged as a method by which activists can communicate this message, but its effectiveness requires further examination. To assess the extent to which activist art with an environmentalist purpose can inspire social, political, and institutional change, this thesis discusses theories of visual communication, and argues that contemporary environmental activist art ought to be the next frontier for climate change and sustainability communications. There are two main artistic movements that are of interest. First, I will consider art that addresses the ecological concerns of environmentalism. Second, I will consider art that addresses the environmental implications of consumerism and consumer choice. For each group, through an assessment of critical literature, artist interviews, with respect relevance to visual communications theory and features of activism, I will argue that contemporary art is a productive and uniquely beneficial avenue for inspiring sustainable change and individual activism. Lastly, I will explore current features of this movement in its institutional reception and activity, and the future trajectory of this intersection.