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

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 ...
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

Joseph Beuys

1921–1986
Lothar Baumgarten

born 1944
Dennis Oppenheim

1938–2011
Christo (Christo Javacheff)

born 1935
Bruce McLean

born 1944

Selected artworks in the collection

Bruce McLean Six Sculptures

1967–8
Lothar Baumgarten El Dorado - Gran Sabana

1977–85
Dennis Oppenheim Salt Flat

1968