Abstract Photography

Refers to photography lacking identifiable imagery, or whose subject matter is noticeably obscured. In the early 20th century, particularly through the work of László Moholy-Nagy, the Surrealists, and Man Ray, abstract photography gained appreciation and recognition as a realm for experimentation. Representational photography still remained dominant in art circles until the past few decades, when the birth of digital photography and tools like Photoshop encouraged a new generation of artists. Some of the most prominent photographers working today create abstract work (often alongside figurative work), including Thomas Ruff, James Welling, and Wolfgang Tillmans.