Art Term

Environmental art

Environmental art is art that addresses social and political issues relating to the natural and urban environment

Joseph Beuys, ‘The End of the Twentieth Century’ 1983–5
Joseph Beuys
The End of the Twentieth Century 1983–5
Tate
© DACS, 2019
Anselm Kiefer, ‘Lilith’ 1987–9
Anselm Kiefer
Lilith 1987–9
Tate
© Anselm Kiefer

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Lothar Baumgarten
Terra Incognita 1969–84
Tate

Environmental art often takes the form of installation. The term came into use in the late 1960s and is often closely related to land art.

Explore this term

Jem Southam River Exe 2010
Tate Papers

To the Ends of the Earth: Art and Environment: Art & Environment

Nicholas Alfrey , Stephen Daniels and Joy Sleeman

Introducing the group of articles devoted to the theme of ‘Art & Environment’ in Tate Papers no.17, this essay ...

Vija Celmins, ‘Ocean’ 1975
Tate Etc

MicroTate 9: Environment special

Richard Shelton , Dai Qing , Mike Hulme and Paulo Barreto

Climate change is the biggest challenge facing the world. Rising ocean temperatures and increasing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere ...

Selected artists in the collection

Left Right
Joseph Beuys, ‘7000 Oak Trees’ 1982

Joseph Beuys

1921–1986
Lothar Baumgarten, ‘‘I Prefer it There Better than in Westphalia’ - ELDORADO 1968 - 1976 (Candide, Voltaire)’ 1968–76

Lothar Baumgarten

born 1944
Dennis Oppenheim, ‘Parallel Stress’ 1970

Dennis Oppenheim

1938–2011
Christo (Christo Javacheff), ‘Wrapped Cans. Part of Inventory’ 1959–60

Christo (Christo Javacheff)

born 1935
Bruce McLean, ‘Pose Work for Plinths I’ 1971

Bruce McLean

born 1944

Selected artworks in the collection

Bruce McLean, ‘Six Sculptures’ 1967–8

Bruce McLean Six Sculptures

1967–8
Lothar Baumgarten, ‘El Dorado - Gran Sabana’ 1977–85

Lothar Baumgarten El Dorado - Gran Sabana

1977–85
Dennis Oppenheim, ‘Salt Flat’ 1968

Dennis Oppenheim Salt Flat

1968