Who paints better abstract art, professional artists or children?

Several years ago, I admitted my lack of appreciation regarding most abstract art. That voice in my head often says, “a child could have done that.”

abstract art
Image by Serenethos of Dreamstime (with permission)

And now this proposition has been tested. The result: People usually, but not overwhelmingly prefer the abstract art of professional artists to that done by children (and art done by animals). The results were reported by Discover Magazine.

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Erich Vieth

Erich Vieth is an attorney focusing on civil rights (including First Amendment), consumer law litigation and appellate practice. At this website often writes about censorship, corporate news media corruption and cognitive science. He is also a working musician, artist and a writer, having founded Dangerous Intersection in 2006. Erich lives in St. Louis, Missouri with his two daughters.

This Post Has 3 Comments

  1. Avatar of Jim Razinha
    Jim Razinha

    When I forget myself and utter the phrase "That's not art", I am usually told to leave the room.

    The art education I've received in the last year as my wife has gone "pro" helps me see some things a bit differently. But not everything.

  2. Avatar of Lee Serenethos
    Lee Serenethos

    Thanks for using my abstract painting above, Blue Space Water Abstract, as a reference for your article. Upon reading further it is good to know that about 2/3 of people like the abstract art painted by professional artists.

    It may be that animals prefer paintings made by animals and humans prefer paintings made by humans even if they are similar. Maybe it has to do with the intuitive style.

    It would be interesting to find out from animals trained in speech and language what they think when comparing two similar paintings; one made by an ape and one by a human.

    Thanks for the insight.

    1. Avatar of Erich Vieth
      Erich Vieth

      Thanks, Lee. I picked your painting at Dreamstime because I liked it. And I assume that you are not a child or an elephant!

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