The Rise of “Ugly” Paintings

Challenging our assumptions about what is considered “good” art, “ugly” paintings are often characterized by their unsettling subject matter, warped figures, and jarring, unnatural colors. 

Painters like Richard Prince, Carroll Dunham, and Nicole Eisenman, among others, make deliberate use of garish, grotesque styles of brushwork, figuration, or composition across their work.

Below, discover works that incorporate this nontraditional style.