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)
Tate

© DACS, 2022

Anselm Kiefer
Lilith (1987–9)
Tate

© Anselm Kiefer

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.

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Explore this term

Tate Papers

To the Ends of the Earth: Art and 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 reflects …
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)

1935 – 2020
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