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180 Art Research Topics To Wake Your Inner Creator Up

We know, finding great art research topics can be a pretty difficult thing to do nowadays. Your classmates are all scouring the Internet in search of easy – but interesting – topics. The last thing you want is to pick a topic that has already been chosen. You want to be original. You want your professor to notice the effort you’ve put into finding the perfect topic. This is why you should take a look at our list of art research topics. All of them are original and interesting. And, best of all, the list is updated and new topics are added periodically.

Writing a Proper Art Research Paper

Writing a research paper on a topic in painting, sculpture, literature, architecture, cinema, music, or theater can be tricky if you don’t have much experience. To come to your aid, we have included a short list of tips that should help you write the best possible art research paper as quickly as possible:

Obviously, you need to find an engaging topic for your paper Spend some time on crafting the thesis statement (it’s very important) Only use information from authoritative sources that you can check Make sure all citations and references are properly formatted It pays to start your writing project with an outline Stay organized and follow the outline until you finish the paper Don’t forget to edit your work and then proofread it thoroughly Finally, don’t forget that you can get professional academic writing help, if necessary

In this blog post, we will help you with a list of 180 original art research topics for your next paper. The topics, organized in 20 categories, can be found below and are 100% free. Furthermore, if you have more important things to do, rather than going through that long and boring process, you can pay someone to write a paper and feel free to spend your time as you wish.

Brand New Art Topics for Research Papers

Below, you can find our brand new art topics for research papers. All of these topics have been recently added and we think that all of them should work great in 2023:

Compare 2 major themes of art
Discuss the adversity theme in art
Is digital 3D motion graphic design an art?
Discuss artistic styles in modern art
An in-depth look at digital art
Social media in 2023 art
Talk about the popularity of art fairs
Should you become an art historian?
Peculiarities of abstract art of the 21st century
Talk about Cubism influences in art
What is mixed media art?

Artist Research Paper Ideas

Would you like to talk about artists? No problem, we’ve got an entire list of artist research paper ideas for you right here. Choose the best one and start writing in minutes:

The life and work of Jean-Michel Basquiat
The importance of Peter Doig’s work
Modern paintings by Christopher Wool
Influences in Rudolf Stingel’s art
An in-depth look at Salvador Dali’s work
The neo-Pop movement (Yoshitomo Nara)
Richard Prince’s use of mass-media images in art
The instability of life in Zeng Fanzhi’s paintings
The life and work of Frida Kahlo
Andy Warhol’s rise in popularity
Discuss the themes in Vincent van Gogh’s work
The importance of Jackson Pollock for modern art

Art History Research Paper Topics

If you want to talk about art history, you will be thrilled to learn that we are offering a list of art history research paper topics for free. Check out the latest version of the topics list:

Imagery and symbolism in Carlo Crivelli’s work
Talk about evolution and devolution in Willem de Kooning’s work
An in-depth look at Chinese art
The 3 most important architecture themes
Talk about the portrayal of war in contemporary art
The most important literary works of the 20th century
European art during Medieval times
The importance of prehistoric art in Mesopotamia

Art Topics to Write About in High School

Are you looking for some art topics to write about in high school? Don’t worry about it; we’ve got your back. We have a whole list of topics dedicated to high school students right here:

Talk about the use of symbols in Egyptian art
Discuss Mayan architecture
An in-depth look at Chinese ancient paintings
Light in Claude Monet’s work
Talk about the peculiarities of Romanticism
Discuss the Surrealism movement
The importance of the Sistine Chapel paintings
A closer look at the Harlem Renaissance

Most Interesting Art Topics

We know you want to write a paper on something interesting. After all, you probably want to impress your professor, don’t you? Here are our most interesting art topics:

Discuss peculiarities of Iranian cinema movies
Talk about Hindi architecture
Best Chinese novels ever written
Artistic similarities between the US and Canada
Talk about a famous painter in the United Kingdom
The ascendance motif in Raphael’s work
Talk about feminism in contemporary art
Japanese motifs in Claude Monet’s paintings

Advanced Art Topics

We are most certain that your professor will appreciate the effort if you choose to write your paper on a more complex topic. Here are some advanced art topics you could try:

The emergence of urban street art
Cubism in Pablo Picasso paintings
The life and works of Louise Bourgeois
Talk about the influence of the paranormal on art
An in-depth look at Aztec religious art
Talk about a primeval music instrument of your choice
Talk about sculpture in Ancient Rome
Discuss the use of art for propaganda means

Fun Art Topic Ideas

Who said writing a research paper about art can’t be fun? It all depends on the topic you choose. To help you out, we have compiled a list of fun art topic ideas. Check it out below:

Depictions of extraterrestrials in art
Using art during the war
3 most creative uses of paintings
Talk about the emergence of NFT art
Interesting traits of the Bauhaus movement
Sculptures that make you laugh
Interesting depictions of the human anatomy
The most famous graffiti in the United States

Art Topics Good for College Students

Of course we have many art topics that are good for college students. Our experts have recently finished updating the list of ideas, so go ahead and choose the one you like the most:

Analyze the Surrealism period
Postmodernism in 2023 art
The life and work of Auguste Renoir
Talk about French caricatures
The benefits of art therapy
Hitler and his contribution to arts
War dances in the Maori society

Controversial Art Topics to Write About

M any students find writing a research paper challenging. There are many controversial topics in art that you can talk about in a research paper. Take a look at some of the most controversial art topics to write about and take your pick:

Discuss The Last Judgement by Michelangelo
The controversies surrounding Marcel Duchamp
Graffiti: vandalism or art?
Why is art so controversial?
What makes a drawing a piece of art?
Architecture: art or utility?

Easy Topics for Art Papers

If you want to spend as little time as possible writing the research paper, you need an easier topic. Fortunately for you, our experts have compiled a list of easy topics for art papers right here:

Types of Chinese jewelry
Analyze art in South Korea
The first recorded music instrument
Discuss a novel of your choice
Talk about Venetian carnival masks
The life and works of Giuseppe Verdi
Compare and contrast 3 war dances
American Indian art over the years
An in-depth look at totem masks
Art in sub-Saharan Africa
Talk about art in North Korea

Modern/Contemporary Art History Topics

Yes, we really do have a list of the best modern/contemporary art history topics. As usual, you can choose any of our topics and even reword it without giving us any credit. Take your pick:

Talk about 5 artistic styles in modern art
Talk about activism and art
Discuss the role of political cartoons
The role of digital art in 2023
Is printmaking really an art?
Discuss the theme of identity politics
Political critique through the use of art
Most interesting works of contemporary art

Ancient Art Topics

Do you want to talk about ancient art? It’s not a simple subject, but we’re certain you will manage just fine. Check out our latest list of ancient art topics and select the one you like the most:

Analyze the El Castillo Cave Paintings
Ancient art in India
An in-depth look at the Diepkloof Eggshell Engravings
Ancient art in Persia
Why is ancient art so important?
Ancient art in China
What makes ancient art unique?

Ideas for an Art Research Project

Did your teacher ask you to come up with an idea for an art research project? Don’t worry about it too much because we have plenty of ideas for an art research project right here:

Research 3 Kpop artists and their work
Uncover signs of prehistoric art in your area
Make a rain painting on your own
Design a Zen garden in your backyard
Make a 3D sculpture on your computer
Make a wall mural for your school
Experiment with pin art
Experiment with sand art

Fine Arts Research Paper Topics

If you would prefer to write about the fine arts, you have definitely arrived at the right place. We have a long list of interesting fine arts research paper topics below:

Is drawing a form of art?
An in-depth analysis of the Mona Lisa
The Girls with a Pearl Earring painting
An in-depth analysis of Venus of Willendorf
A closer look at the Terracotta Army
Discuss a piece of abstract architecture
A closer look at the Burj Khalifa architecture
Discuss Ode to a Nightingale by John Keats

Renaissance Art Topics

Did you know that our Renaissance art topics have been used by more than 500 students to date? This is a clear indication that our ideas are some of the best on the Web:

Talk about the Linear perspective in Renaissance art
Discuss the altarpieces found in Renaissance art
An in-depth look at anatomy in Renaissance art
Discuss the Fresco cycles
Talk about the peculiarities of the landscape
Influences of Realism in Renaissance art
Analyze the use of light in Renaissance art
Discuss the humanism theme
Talk about the individualism theme in Renaissance art

The Best Baroque Art Topics

We can assure you that you teacher will greatly appreciate it if you choose one of these Baroque topics. Remember, this is the place where you can find the best Baroque art topics:

Discuss the Grandeur theme in Baroque art
An in-depth look at the sensuous richness theme
Talk about the importance of religious paintings
Talk about the emotional exuberance theme
Allegories in Baroque art
The life and works of Annibale Carracci
The life and works of Nicolas Poussin

Art Debate Topics

Are you planning an art debate? If you are, you most definitely need some great art debate topics to choose from. Talk to your team and propose them any of these awesome ideas:

Do artists need talent to sculpt?
The best painter in the world today
Can graffiti be considered a form of art?
The best sculpture ever made
Can we consider dance a form of art?
The best painting ever made
Should we study arts in school?
The best literary work ever written
Why is Banksy’s work so controversial?
The best singer of all time
How can photographs be considered works of art?

Artist Biography Topics

Our experts have put together a list of the most intriguing artist biography topics for you. You should be able to find more than enough information about each artist on the Internet:

Talk about the life of Michael Jackson
Discuss the works of Leonardo da Vinci
Discuss the importance of Elvis Presley’s work
The life and works of Rembrandt
The importance of Ernest Hemingway’s masterpieces
The importance of Michelangelo’s paintings
Talk about the life of Vincent van Gogh
Auguste Rodin’s sculptures
The life and works of Donatello
The life and works of Leo Tolstoy
Discuss Jane Austen’s literary works

Art Therapy Topics

Choosing one of our captivating art therapy topics will definitely get your research paper noticed. This is a field that has been growing in popularity for years. Check out our latest ideas:

The importance of photography in art therapy
Reducing pain through art therapy
Art therapy for PTST patients
Art therapy against the stress of the modern world
Improving the quality of life through art therapy
Positive health effects of finger painting
The effects of art therapy on 3 mental health disorders
The effects of art therapy on autism
Art therapy and psychotherapy
The job of an art therapist
Benefits of art therapy for mental health

Art Epochs Paper Topics

If you want to write your paper on one of the many art epochs, you could give our art epochs paper topics a try. You should find plenty of great ideas in the list below:

The legacy of the Romanesque period
The importance of the Romanticism movement
Talk about the Mannerism movement
Discuss The New Objectivity movement
Pop-art in the 21st century
An in-depth look at abstract impressionism
The importance of the Gothic Era
Talk about the Classicist movement
Peculiarities of Cubism art
What is Futurism in art?
Discuss the great artists of the Baroque era
Interesting facts about the Rococo period
The Art Nouveau era

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80 Brilliant Art Research Paper Topics & Ideas

Art is a course of study that requires both interest and passion. While a lot of things might interest you in art, artists mostly focus on specific aspects. Therefore, when choosing art research topics for your next paper writing, it would be best to choose a topic you are interested in. This piece contains 80 random topics in art you can consider.

How Long is a Thesis Statement, and Where Should it Be?

Art Thesis Ideas on Ancient Civilization

Art topics to write about artist biographies, art argumentative essay topics ideas, interesting art topics on modern art, best architectural and fine art topics for research, compelling renaissance essay topics about art, theater art topics for research paper, final words about art topics, art history research paper topics.

Art is an age-long institution that has a lot of historical background. There are topics in the art that can serve as your art history paper topics. The following are the 10 best art history research paper topics to consider;

Comparing artistic freedom and censorship in Nazi Germany.
History of Art: From the canvas age to photography.
Research of medieval England Gothic art.
Abstract Expressionism history in Art.
History of Expressionism in Western Europe.
Historical research on neoclassical art.
Historical review of art propaganda in America and France.
Historical overview of sequential art of comics.
Historical and intellectual overview of art and culture.
The history of constructivism and the birth of the Avant-Garde.

Civilizations in ancient times were essentially artistic civilizations. You can write appealing research papers on art and ancient civilization. The following are good ancient civilization art topics for research papers;

The ancient Egyptian arts and symbolism.
Classical Greek art and ancient Greek sculptures.
Comparing art civilization in classical Greece and ancient Rome.
Mayan civilization and its impact on ancient art and culture.
Primeval musical instruments in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.
What are the connections between Mayan pyramids and Egyptian pyramids?
The influence of Incas in modern art.
Aztec art and the influence of religion and culture on it.
Writing as a form of art civilization.
The roles of Chinese philosophy and religion in Chinese ancient art.

Writing an art research paper on the biographies of different artists is a good consideration for an artist research project. There are countless artist biographies and art history essay topics to write on. Here are the 10 best art research paper topics on artists’ biographies;

Biography of William Blake: His art and poetry work.
The efforts of Francisco De Goya in using art to change the world.
The impacts and contributions of Madame Tussaud in the arts.
Biographies of William Turner featuring his Career and Life.
The impacts of Eugène Delacroix in the introduction of modern art.
Vincent Van Gogh and the misunderstanding that surrounds his career.
Gustav Klimt was the master of symbolism.
Biography of Pablo Picasso, the father of cubism.
Claude Monet: His impact on art and the vision of colors and light.
Louise Bourgeois’s revolutionary moves on installation art and abstract sculpture.

Art is such an intriguing concept that may result in a lot of questioning. You can write an argumentative essay or research paper on art to give answers to some of the questions. The following are art research paper topics for good argumentative artist research paper;

The Baroque movement’s color and sensuality are extreme in art.
The art of manliness in the baroque period.
Does impressionism change the basic ideas of art?
Evaluating the definition of nature through the eyes of Manet and Monet.
Argumentative Essay on romanticism in literature, music, and art.
Romanticism era in art and the concept of imagination, sublime, and emotion.
The best style of post-impressionism in art.
Arguing on the artist with the most contribution to the post-impressionism movement.
Pablo Picasso’s art is influenced by ancient African art.
Does surrealism have more good than bad in art and literature?

Modern Art is a style of art prominent in the digital age. Rather than write on conventional art, there are modern art topics to write about. The following are good art research paper examples to write on modern art;

The unique styles of modern art distinguish it from conventional art.
The elements of light and time in cubism and impressionism.
Digital art and its impact on modern art.
Is Graffiti art or vandalism?
The mystery of Banksy in urban street arts.
Evaluating Gustav Klimt’s electrifying art ‘The Kiss’.
Does modern European art have any influence on American artists?
Japanese art and its influence on Vincent Van Gogh’s arts.
The 21st-century printmaking and its impact on the digital world.
What are the contemporary themes driving the art and feminism movement?

Architectural designs can be traced to modern art. There are art topics that should be considered by students who study architecture. The following are art topics for students in the architecture course of study;

Modern architectural designs and the influence of Roman arts.
Key elements of the iconic styles of Gothic architecture.
Rococo architecture has characteristics of late Baroque architecture.
African architecture and its sustainability system.
Constructivism in modern art and architecture.
Comparison of the two modern arts; Art Deco and Art Nouveau.
The mystery behind the construction of ancient Egyptian pyramids.
Western architecture and the influence of eastern arts.
The union of architecture and art in contemporary design.
Western art and the influence of Islamic architecture.

Renaissance topics for art are a good consideration for an art research paper. This aspect of art evaluates the immorality of artistic designs. Here are the top 10 topics to consider;

Renaissance art: What are the roles of humanism and naturalism?
The influence of Leonard Da Vinci on Renaissance art.
Raphael’s paintings and the transcendent influence.
What is religious symbolism in renaissance art?
Michelangelo’s David is an icon of Italian renaissance art.
Michelangelo’s immortal masterpiece and the Sistine Chapel.
How the Harlem Renaissance drove social changes through art.
The unity of music and art in renaissance art.
Renaissance art and culture and the influence of science on them.
The mythology and the realism of Botticelli’s art, ‘The Birth Of Venus’.

Theater art is a special aspect of art. There are art history thesis ideas that prove theater art is contemporary art and not modern. Meanwhile, you can equally consider writing on the following theater art essay topics;

The Greek theater and its history.
Does ancient Greek theater have any influence on modern theater?
Theater and its cultural evolution.
Evaluating the contributions of William Shakespeare in drama and theater Art.
The difference between modern theater and Elizabethan.
What role does music play in the theater?
What are expression and improvisation in the theater?
The history of Broadway.
Theatre of the absurd and Samuel Beckett.
Theater’s effectiveness in causing social and cultural changes.

Art is a broad course of study with different aspects. Writing an art research paper requires that you consider your area of interest before choosing your art research paper topic. Above are the top 80 Art research paper topics and ideas to write about.

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125 of the best art research paper topics of 2023.

When you need original art research paper topics that you know will impress your professor, you just need to visit this page. Our experienced academic writers are striving to update the list of topics as frequently as possible. This means that you should always be able to find a unique topic to write about in your next art research paper. And keep in mind that our list of topics is entirely free. You can use any topic you see here for free – and even reword it to suit your needs. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with our experts if you need more ideas or a list of topics tailored to your specific needs.

Don’t Know Which Art Topics to Write About?

Don’t worry too much if you don’t know which art topics to write about. We have organized our list of topics into several categories so you should have no problem finding the perfect topic in just a couple of minutes. So, why would you want to waste your time searching for topics when we have so many ideas that you can use right now? Check out our list and pick the best one for your academic paper.

Easy Art Research Topics

The best way to save some time is to simply choose some easy art research topics. Check out our ideas and pick the one you like the most:

Ancient Roman art
Talk about carnival masks in Venice
Talk about human sacrifices in art
The history of art in Ancient Greece
Talk about Ancient Greece sculptures
Talk about early musical instruments
Primeval art forms
Mesoamerican pyramid art

Art History Research Paper Topics

Are you interested in writing about the history of art? There are plenty of things to talk about, that’s for sure. Check out these unique art history research paper topics:

The history of art in Eastern Europe
Russian art: the beginning
An in-depth look at Mayan art
The first works of art in the world
Discuss art in the Greek theater
The inception of Renaissance art
Compare and contrast Art Nouveau and Art Deco
The effects of art on the world

Difficult Art Research Paper Topics

If you want to impress your classmates and your professor, you should definitely choose one of our difficult art research paper topics:

The concept of fashion in ancient Asian tribes
Egyptian art inside the pyramids
Analyze stained glass in Western Europe
Art in ancient Babylon
Discuss movement and rhythm in art

Art Topics Ideas for College Students

College students should, of course, try to look for more complex topics to write their papers about. Here are some great art topics ideas for college students:

Who was Frida Kahlo?
Talk about the life and works of Francisco Goya
The importance of Georgia O’Keeffe’s art
Balance as a main principle of art
Discuss the history of printmaking
Talk about Medieval art

Most Interesting Art Topics to Write About

In this list, we will add our most recent and most interesting art topics to write about. Select the topic you like and start writing your paper right away:

The woman and child theme in African art
Spirituality and art
An in-depth analysis of Kuba art
How can we decode abstract art?

Art Debate Paper Topics

Did your teacher ask you to write an art debate paper? You will certainly find this list of art debate paper topics very useful in this case:

Leonardo Da Vinci and religious art
Renaissance art peculiarities
Differences between Persian and Asian art
What makes Claude Monet stand out?
Unity and variety in modern art

Controversial Art Topics

Don’t be afraid to write a research paper on a controversial topic. You can get some very nice bonus points. Check out these awesome controversial art topics:

Discuss Chris Ofili’s “The Holy Virgin Mary”
The controversial “Origin of the World” by Gustave Courbet
Talk about Marcel Duchamp as a controversial artist
What makes Yoko Ono a controversial artist?
The savage art of Gauguin

Modern Art Research Paper Topics

We know, discussing modern art in a research paper is not easy. However, the topic can make a huge difference. Here are some easy modern art research paper topics for you:

Artistic performances in modern art
The peculiarities of the Cubism movement
What is surrealism?
What is still life art?
What is Fantasy art?
Technology in modern art
Analyze a political cartoon
Discuss Cubism

Artist Biography Ideas

Writing an artist biography can get you a top grade very quickly. Researching a lesser known artist will also get you bonus points. Here are our best artist biography ideas:

Talk about the life and works of Frank Lloyd Wright
An in-depth look at the work of Andy Warhol
Talk about the life and works of Marcel Duchamp
Discuss the works of Jackson Pollock
The contribution of Salvador Dalí to art
Talk about the life and works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Talk about the life and works of Grandma Moses
Talk about the life and works of Henri-Émile-Benoît Matisse

Art Therapy Research Paper Topics

Why not write your next paper on the subject or art therapy? This will certainly get the attention of your professor. Here are some of our best art therapy research paper topics ever:

Benefits of art therapy for autistic children
Best techniques for art therapy
Art therapy in UK hospitals
Discuss the effects of this type of therapy
How does art therapy work?
Interesting activities that can be used as art therapy
Art therapy in modern United States hospitals
Latest advancements in art therapy
Effects of art therapy on abused children
How effective is art therapy?

African Art Ideas

We can guarantee that your professor will award you some bonus points if you manage to find a great topic. Here are the most interesting African art ideas possible:

Discuss art in the Yaka and Suku tribes
Discuss art in Burkina Faso
Couples in African art
Analyze the Nubian Pyramids at Meroe
The importance of art for ritual life in Africa
Analyze modern art in Zimbabwe
Art and socio-politics in Africa
Strangers in African art
Discuss Islamic arts in ancient Africa
Analyze art in Tanzania

Writing a paper about art epochs shouldn’t be too difficult. Also, you can find plenty of information about any epoch online. Here are some ideas for an essay about art epochs:

Talk about art in the Prehistoric epoch
Discuss ancient art
Art during the Hellenistic period
Talk about art in the Baroque epoch
Talk about prehistoric art in Europe
Art during the Mannerism period
Talk about art in the Renaissance epoch
Art during the Rococo epoch
Talk about art in the Neoclassicism epoch
Art during the Mesopotamian age
Talk about art in the Medieval epoch
Discuss art during the Byzantine period

Renaissance Art Research Paper Topics

Yes, Renaissance art is not an easy subject. However, if you are a college or university student, you should give our renaissance art research paper topics a try:

Talk about peculiar altarpieces in the Renaissance period
What are Fresco cycles?
Talk about the secularism theme
The anatomy of the human being in art
An in-depth analysis of the linear perspective
Discuss realism in the Renaissance period
Uses of light in art
Landscape in Renaissance-era art works
Discuss the humanism theme
And in-depth look at rationalism in the Renaissance era

Contemporary Art Research Paper Topics

We’ve discovered that professors really appreciate contemporary art (and papers written about it). So don’t hesitate to pick one of our exceptional contemporary art research paper topics:

Talk about pop art
Modern sculptures
Talk about an important work of modern art
Talk about architecture as a form of art
Discuss film as a form of art
Figurative art vs. geometric art
Discuss the concept of minimalist art

High School Art Research Paper Topics

Did you know that your teacher will be more likely to give you a top grade if you manage to find an interesting topic? Check out these awesome high school art research paper topics and pick the best one for you:

Discuss the Surrealist movement
What makes a work of art abstract?
Signs of globalization in art
Compare and contrast the Gothic and Neo-Gothic movements
What is Abstract Expressionism?
Talk about the Bauhaus movement
Compare Russian art and American art during the Cold War

Photography As Art Ideas

Yes, photography is art. Also, you will almost definitely be the only one writing about this subject in your class. Here are our best photography as art ideas:

Using lighting effectively for photography
Artistic expressions of renowned photographers
Discuss 3 of the most famous photographs
Capturing the vision of the artist on film
The effects of lenses on the image
How photography changed the face of art
Framing and timing techniques
Are photographs a form of art?
The many sues of lighting in a photography studio
Is war photography a form of art?
Expressing feelings with photos
The life and work of Alfred Stieglitz

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Are you a college or university student who desperately wants to get some free time? Or perhaps you want to make sure you get a top grade on your next paper without too much effort. No matter why you need help, you will always get the assistance you need from our paper writing service. Our experts are all PhD degree holders who know how to write an art research paper the right way.

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Art Research Paper Topics

Last updated on: May 13, 2024

A Detailed List of Amazing Art Research Paper Topics

By: Barbara P.

16 min read

Reviewed By: Caleb S.

Published on: Mar 6, 2024

Beginning your art research paper journey? Picking the right topic is pivotal for your success.

Choosing something you're genuinely interested in allows you to show off your creativity, knowledge, and thinking skills. It makes your work more engaging and ensures your research stays relevant.

Art research paper topics cover a wide range – from exploring specific art movements to understanding how technology influences contemporary art. Whether it's abstract expressionism or the cultural aspects of street art, the possibilities are exciting.

Let our guide inspire you to find a topic you'll enjoy researching and make your research paper writing journey enjoyable.

On this Page

Art Research Paper Topics on Diverse Fields

Below is an extensive pool of research paper topics that you can choose to write an art research paper on.

Contemporary Art Research Paper Topics

Eco-Friendly Practices in Contemporary Sculpture and Installation Art
Digital NFT Art Redefining Ownership and Authenticity in the Art World
Queer Perspectives in Contemporary Photography and Identity Expression
The Role of Virtual Reality in Immersive Art Experiences
Political Activism through Street Art Murals, Graffiti, and Public Space
Environmental Sustainability in Contemporary Art Galleries and Museums
Body Positivity and Feminism in Contemporary Performance Art
Post-Pandemic Art Practices Resilience, Adaptation, and Creativity
Impacts of Technology on Modern Art: Digital Innovations and Virtual Realities
Cultural Appropriation in Contemporary Art Navigating Boundaries and Ethics

Digital Art Research Paper Topics

Blockchain Technology and its Impact on Digital Art Authentication
AI-Generated Art and the Boundaries of Creativity in the Digital Realm
Virtual Reality Installations Redefining Spatial Experiences in Digital Art
Crypto Art Market Trends, Challenges and Opportunities for Artists
Cybersecurity in Digital Art Preservation and Conservation
Algorithmic Art Platforms Analyzing the Role of Code in Creative Processes
Augmented Reality Art Bridging the Physical and Virtual Worlds
Responsive Environments Interactive Digital Art and Audience Participation
Immersive Digital Landscapes Exploring Nature in Virtual Art
Ephemeral Digital Art Challenges and Strategies for Archiving and Preservation

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Research Topics on Art and Culture

Global Influences on Contemporary Street Art Movements
Cultural Appropriation in Modern Fashion: A Critical Analysis
Intersectionality in Public Art: Amplifying Diverse Voices
Artistic Responses to Climate Change: A Cultural Perspective
Online Subcultures and their Impact on Visual Arts
Afrofuturism in Film and its Influence on Cultural Narratives
Cultural Heritage Preservation in the Digital Age
The Role of Indigenous Art in Cultural Identity and Activism
Evolution of Tattoo Culture as a Form of Contemporary Art
Cultural Diplomacy through International Art Exhibitions

Art History Research Paper Topics

The Influence of Eastern Philosophy on Western Abstract Expressionism
Rediscovering Female Surrealists: Contributions and Marginalization
Postcolonial Perspectives on African Indigenous Art in European Museums
Artistic Responses to Global Crises: Pandemics, Wars, and Social Unrest
Symbolism in Contemporary Street Art: Mythology and Cultural Commentary
Postmodern Architecture: Deconstructing Space and Form in the Urban Landscape
LGBTQ+ Representation in Renaissance Art: Unveiling Hidden Narratives
Eco-Art and Environmental Activism in the Anthropocene Era
Cultural Hybridity in Mexican Muralism: Indigenous Roots and Modern Expression
Technological Innovations and their Impact on 20th-Century Art Movements

Renaissance Art Research Paper Topics

The Role of Humanism in Renaissance Portraiture
Rediscovering Female Artists of the Renaissance: Beyond the Canvas
Technological Advances in Renaissance Art: Perspective and Innovation
The Intersection of Science and Art: Da Vinci's Anatomy Studies
Fashion and Elegance in Renaissance Courtly Portraits
Influence of Classical Mythology on Renaissance Sculpture
Allegorical Symbolism in Botticelli's “Primavera”
Musical Themes in Renaissance Art: Harmonies on Canvas
Gardens and Nature in Renaissance Landscape Painting
Patronage and Power: The Medici Family and Florentine Art

Islamic Art Research Paper Topics

Geometry and Symmetry in Islamic Geometric Patterns
The Influence of Calligraphy in Islamic Manuscripts and Architecture
Reviving Traditional Islamic Art in Contemporary Global Contexts
Islamic Carpets: Symbolism, Craftsmanship, and Cultural Heritage
Digital Technology and Innovation in Islamic Art Conservation
Architectural Splendors: Islamic Palaces and Courtyards
Illuminated Qurans: The Intersection of Art and Spirituality
Islamic Miniature Painting: Narrative and Aesthetic Traditions
Islamic Gardens: Harmony between Nature and Design
Cultural Exchange: Persian and Mughal Artistic Influences

20th-Century Art Research Paper Topics

Abstract Expressionism's Impact on American Modern Art
Pop Art and its Reflection on Consumer Culture
Deciphering Jackson Pollock's Messy Drip Painting in Abstract Expressionism
Street Art and Graffiti's Evolution from Counterculture
The Bauhaus Legacy in Design, Architecture, and Visual Arts
Surrealism's Influence on 20th-Century Film
Warhol's Factory: Celebrity, Consumerism, and Art Production
Land Art's Environmentalism and Sculpture in Nature
How Different Art Movements Shaped the Course of Creative Expression
Postcolonial Perspectives in Modern Art from Africa and Latin America

Research Paper Topics on Modern Art

Global Influences on Contemporary Street Art
Environmental Activism in Modern Sculpture
Augmented Reality and its Impact on Installation Art
Pablo Picasso's Cubist Shift in Art through Shape and Perspective Exploration
Intersectionality and Diversity in Modern Art Collectives
Virtual Reality Exhibitions: Navigating the Digital Art Space
Neuroaesthetics: Exploring the Brain's Response to Modern Art
Eco-Feminism in Contemporary Multimedia Installations
Examine innovations and challenges in art education for the 21st century
Biomorphic Abstraction in Modern Ceramic Sculpture

Art Topics on Ancient Civilizations

Mesopotamian Cylinder Seals: Symbols of Power and Identity
Ancient Egyptian Funerary Art and the Journey to the Afterlife
Minoan Frescoes: Capturing Daily Life in Bronze Age Crete
Indus Valley Civilization: Artifacts and Symbolism
Egyptian Art and Its Symbolic Rituals in Ancient Civilizations
Aegean Jewelry in the Mycenaean Period: Craftsmanship and Symbolism
Persian Empire: The Royal Artistry of Persepolis
Olmec Colossal Heads: Mysterious Stone Portraits
Maya Glyphs and Hieroglyphics: Writing System of an Ancient Civilization
Ancient Greek Red-Figure Pottery: Mythology in Clay

Art Research Topics on Different Cultures

Indigenous Australian Dot Painting: Tradition and Contemporary Expression
Kente Cloth in West African Art: Symbolism and Cultural Identity
Maori Wharenui Carvings: Architecture and Ancestral Narratives
Korean Hanbok Influence in Contemporary Fashion and Art
Balinese Wayang Kulit Shadow Puppets: Mythology on Leather
Sami Duodji Craftsmanship: Indigenous Art of the Nordic Region
Ainu Embroidery: Revitalizing Traditional Japanese Textile Art
Inuit Soapstone Carvings: Nature and Spirituality in Sculpture
Persian Carpet Weaving: Artistry and Symbolism in Textiles
Native American Ledger Art: Storytelling through Visual Narratives

Art Research Paper Topics on Artist Biography

Yayoi Kusama's Infinity Mirrors and the Art of Obsession
Jean-Michel Basquiat's Street Art, Poetry, and Graffiti Influence
Frida Kahlo's Personal Struggles and Surreal Self-Portraits
Banksy's Identity: Enigma and Impact of an Anonymous Street Artist
Ai Weiwei's Activism, Politics, and Contemporary Chinese Art
Georgia O'Keeffe's Abstraction and the American Southwest
Salvador Dalí's Surrealism, Eccentricity, and Dreamlike Landscapes
Kehinde Wiley's Modernizing Portraiture with African-American Subjects
Vincent van Gogh's Madness, Starry Nights, and Post-Impressionism
Cindy Sherman's Shaping Identity through Photographic Self-Portraiture

Art Research Topics on Different Epochs

Neolithic Cave Art and the Symbolism of Early Human Expression
Classical Greek Sculpture and the Pursuit of Idealism and Beauty in Antiquity
Gothic Architecture as a Journey Through Sacred Geometry and Spiritual Ascent
Renaissance Humanism and the Rediscovery of Greco-Roman Art
Baroque Dramatics with Emphasis on Light, Shadow, and Emotional Intensity
Rococo Extravagance: Exploring Ornate Decor and Whimsical Art
Romanticism's Reverence for Nature: Capturing Landscapes and Emotions
Realism in 19th-Century Art: A Glimpse into Capturing Everyday Life
Impressionism: Exploring the Play of Light and Color in Modern Urban Scenes
Art Nouveau's Embrace of Organic Forms and Elegance in Design

Architecture Research Paper Topics

Sustainable Urban Design Green Architecture and Eco-Friendly Solutions
Parametric Design in Contemporary Architecture Computational Aesthetics
Smart Cities and Architecture Integrating Technology for Urban Efficiency
Biophilic Design Connecting Architecture with Nature for Well-being
Adaptive Reuse of Industrial Spaces Transforming Factories into Cultural Hubs
Virtual Reality and Architectural Visualization Enhancing Design Processes
Inclusive Architecture Designing Spaces for Accessibility and Diversity
Responsive Architecture Buildings that Adapt to Environmental Changes
The Role of Cultural Influences in Modern Mosque Architecture
Modular Construction Efficiency and Sustainability in Building Practices

Visual Arts Research Paper Topics

AI-Generated Art Exploring Creativity and Ethical Implications
Digital Embodiment in Virtual Art Installations
Augmented Reality in Contemporary Visual Arts Experiences
Intersectionality in Feminist Art Voices and Perspectives
Artistic Responses to Global Pandemics Reflecting Crisis
Crypto Art Market Dynamics NFTs and Digital Ownership
Afrofuturism in Visual Arts Imagining Black Futures
Guerrilla Street Art Activism and Unconventional Canvases
Cultural Hybridity in Transnational Artistic Expressions
Data Visualization as a Medium for Social Commentary

Art Therapy Research Paper Topics

Innovations in Virtual Healing with Digital Art Therapy Platforms
Stress Reduction in Modern Society Through Mindful Art Making
Art Therapy Interventions for Neurodiverse Populations
Remote Art Therapy Sessions with Integrated Technology
Nature-Based Approaches to Well-being in Eco-Art Therapy
Storytelling and Symbolism in Healing with Narrative Art Therapy
Holistic Approaches to Mental Health through Expressive Arts Therapy
Digital Platforms for Art-Based Support Groups
Strategies for Empowerment in Trauma-Informed Art Therapy
Enhancing Therapeutic Experiences with Art Therapy and Virtual Reality

Media Art History Research Paper Topics

Virtual Art Therapy: Bridging Distance and Accessibility
Mindfulness-Based Art Interventions for Stress Reduction
Art Therapy in Digital Spaces: Challenges and Opportunities
Creative Expressions for LGBTQ+ Youth in Art Therapy
Eco-Art Therapy: Nature-Based Healing Approaches
Integrating Technology in Expressive Arts Therapy Sessions
Art Therapy for Neurodivergent Individuals: Enhancing Communication
Narrative Art Therapy: Storytelling and Symbolism in Healing
Trauma-Informed Art Therapy: Strategies for Empowerment
Culturally Inclusive Art Therapy Practices in Diverse Communities

Pop Art Research Paper Topics

Consumerism and Celebrity Culture in Pop Art
Pop Art and the Influence of Mass Media on Contemporary Society
Comic Book Aesthetics: Superheroes and Pop Art Imagery
Pop Art and the Intersection of Fashion and Artistic Expression
Digital Pop Art: Contemporary Artists Embracing Technology
Environmental Commentary in Pop Art: Recycling and Sustainability
Psychedelic Influences in Pop Art of the 1960s
Feminism and Gender Roles in Pop Art Representations
Pop Art and the Evolution of Street Art and Graffiti
Celebrity Portraiture: Icons and Idols in Pop Art

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Interesting Art Topics for Research Papers

Bioart Merging Biology and Contemporary Art Practices
Cyberpunk Aesthetics in Digital Art Dystopia and Innovation
Balancing Innovation and Tradition in the Process of Art Development
Afrofuturism in Visual Culture Afrocentric Visions of the Future
DIY Art Spaces Grassroots Creativity and Community Building
Art and Artificial Intelligence Collaborations and Challenges
Kinetic Sculpture Exploring Movement in Three-Dimensional Art
Gamification of Art Education Interactive Learning Platforms
The Intersection of Virtual Reality and Dance Performance
Fashion Illustration in the Age of Social Media Influencers

Art Research Topics for Students

Street Art as a Platform for Youth Expression and Activism
Impact of Social Media on Emerging Artists' Visibility
The Fusion of Technology and Traditional Art Techniques
Online Art Communities Collaboration and Networking
Mental Health Benefits of Participating in Art Therapy
Digital Art in Educational Settings Tools and Strategies
Exploring Cultural Identity through Student Art Projects
Art Education in Virtual Classrooms: Challenges and Innovations
Street Photography Documenting Urban Student Perspectives
Art and Social Justice Student Activism Through Creativity

Now that you’ve come across an extended list of interesting topics for your next art research paper, you should know how to choose the perfect topic. Let’s look at some tips you should follow to narrow down your topic to perfection.

How to Choose Your Art Research Paper Topic?

Choosing the right topic for your art research paper is critical, especially for research students and scholars. Here are straightforward tips tailored for advanced academic exploration:

Expertise and Passion: Focus on a topic that aligns with your expertise and passion. A deep understanding will enhance the depth and quality of your research.
Literature Review: Conduct a thorough literature review to ensure there's substantial existing research on your chosen topic. This step is important for building upon established knowledge.
Gap Identification: Look for gaps or areas with limited research within your field of interest. Addressing these gaps can contribute significantly to the academic discourse.
Methodological Feasibility: Assess the feasibility of your chosen research methods. Make sure you have access to the necessary research sources , archives, or technologies required for your research.
Relevance to Research Goals: Align your topic with the overarching goals of your research project. This guarantees that your findings contribute meaningfully to your academic objectives.
Collaboration Opportunities: Consider topics that might offer collaboration opportunities with other researchers or institutions. Collaborative research can enrich your study and provide diverse perspectives.
Feedback from Peers: Seek feedback from fellow researchers or advisors. Their insights can help refine your topic and introduce valuable perspectives.
Publication Potential: Assess the potential for publication. Opt for a topic that not only meets your academic goals but also has the potential to be published, contributing to the wider scholarly community.

Combine your expertise, passion, and a strategic approach to existing research. Through this method, you can select an art research paper topic that meets the requirements of advanced academic research while making a substantial contribution to the field.

To sum it up , one of the most important and early steps of writing a research paper is finding the right idea for your research.

Looking for the perfect art research paper topic demands a blend of passion, expertise, and strategic thinking. Keep in mind that your chosen topic should not only meet advanced research criteria but also contribute meaningfully to the field.With the comprehensive list of art research paper ideas in this blog, you can easily find a captivating topic that aligns with your interests and academic goals.

However, we understand that you may require some assistance in choosing the right art research topic. But don’t worry, we have a solution for that as well.

For expert assistance or support with your art research paper, explore the services at SharkPapers.com. We write custom research papers for all academic levels.

Visit our paper writing service online today to start a journey that will make your research paper stand out and bring academic success. Explore the possibilities now!

Frequently Asked Questions

What's a good question to study about art.

A good question to explore in art studies involves understanding the significance of a particular artistic movement or era: What factors contribute to the importance of a specific artistic movement or era? How do the characteristics of artworks within this movement align? How has this movement developed and changed throughout its history?

How do I pick a good topic for an art history project?

To select a topic for an art history project, consider something like “The Influence of Ancient Greek Sculpture on Renaissance Art.”

Can you give an example of research done on art?

An example of artistic research is a study on “The Evolution of Street Art and Its Impact on Urban Spaces.”

How do I choose a fun topic for my art project?

When picking a topic for an art project, think about what interests you the most, whether it's nature, emotions, or a particular art technique.

What are some art topics to research?

Here are some different art topics to research: the use of color in impressionist paintings, the depiction of nature in Japanese woodblock prints, and the influence of surrealism on contemporary photography. Each topic offers unique insights into various aspects of art history and creativity.

What are some art-based research title examples?

Here are some title examples for art-based research papers:

Murals and Urban Development, Investigating The Transformative Role of Public Art in Communities
Kinetic Sculptures in the Digital Era, Exploring the Integration of Movement and Technology
NFTs Revolutionizing the Art World, Providing a Comprehensive Analysis of Digital Collectibles

Barbara has a Ph.D. in public health from an Ivy League university and extensive experience working in the medical field. With her practical experience conducting research on various health issues, she is skilled in writing innovative papers on healthcare. Her many works have been published in multiple publications.

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70 Top Art Research Paper Topics To Explore

Unlike other forms of expression, it is difficult to determine the value of art using figures. However, personal impressions can help us measure this value and consequently making it a subject of research. Many people find it challenging to study topics related to emotions. If you are one of them, you can now breathe a sigh of relief. We give you manageable and useful art research paper topics that will soften your entire essay writing process.

Have a look at our dazzling and inspiring art paper topics below. They will give you the right direction for your research and pave the way to a thrilling and art-provocative essay. Let’s dive in.

Art History Research Paper Topics: Romanticism

Who doesn’t love romance! It is one of the most significant art history times that would excite many to write and also read. Do you remember the likes of Romeo and Juliet? Well, here is more of that:

Romantic originality in the 19th century
Art philosophers who pioneered the romantic movement: A case study
Visionary and imaginary part in romanticism
Romantic literature as a form of romanticism: A critical analysis
Discuss the main features of romanticism in the art history
Why did romanticists use the world around us (nature)
What is the place of emotions and feelings in the romanticism era
Describe the impact of “The sublime” phrase used in romantic literature
The judgmental and restrictive thinking of the mid-19th century in romanticism
American romanticism: A review of the poetic art history
Important symbols in the passionate art history age
Local color as a style in romanticism
A study of the Hudson River in romanticism
Why did romantic literature focus on the idea of the inner self

Great Arts Research Paper Topics on Minimalism

Minimalism, as a form of art, was a movement in painting and sculpture of the 1950s. It was made clear by the use of massive and straightforward ways. Here are some art research paper topics:

The elements of minimalism art in Specific Objects by Donald Judd
Discuss the rise of minimal art
How the purely visual response impacted minimalism art
Minimalism: Demystifying art and revealing its fundamental character
Explain the concept of pure aestheticism
What was the effect of removing self-expressionism from the artwork?
How to color was used to delineate space
How mass-produced materials underscored the lack of an artist’s mark
Understanding the minimalist sculptors
Describe Sculptor Sol LeWitt’s statement, “the most interesting characteristic of the cube is that it is relatively uninteresting.”
Debunking the non-hierarchical character of the grid-based compositions in minimalism art
Reconsidering the relationship of the audience to the art object
Discuss the industrial materials used by minimalists
How minimalist painters created objects with the presence
The impact of combining paint and canvas by minimalists making them inseparable

Eastern Art Research Topics

These arts research paper topics include developments in Asian art historically. There was a significant influence of Eastern art on Western art, and vice versa. Are you excited to explore some Eastern art history topics? Let’s go!

A history of Eastern art and its development
The artistic and architectural traditions of the Eastern art
How to develop and manage collections and exhibits from Eastern art
A survey of the visual arts of Eastern Asia from the 11th to the 15th centuries
A critical look at the Eastern art painting, sculpture, and architecture
High renaissance artists during the Eastern art history
Understanding the fundamentals of Eastern art history architectural analysis
Significant elements of the Chinese painting and calligraphy art
The origin of the Art of Israel and the Jewish diaspora
Evaluating the major orders of Cambodian art
Impact of Eastern art on cultural, religion, and religious development
Insights into the unique qualities of the Japanese art
Eastern dance and its contribution to aesthetics

Unusual Ancient Art History Paper Topics

Ancient art existed around 30,000 B.C.E. to 400 A.D. One can trace it back to the fertility statuettes, and the bone flutes up to roughly the fall of Rome. The art research topics here include:

The impact of the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the nomadic tribes to the ancient art history
Cultures created during ancient art history
The role of oral tradition in promoting art
Development of the classical and Hellenistic art
The purpose of writing in ancient art history
How pictures colored the ancient era
Characteristics of Mesopotamian art
Impact of literature on religion, military, and hunting
A case study of professional artists and craftspeople in the ancient art
A review of the shapes and form of art in this period
Hierarchical representation of images in Egypt
The place of woodwork and metalwork
Impact of the major rivers on art
The use of ritual bronzes in ancient China

A-Grade Medieval Art Topics For Research Papers: Religious Aspects

Here’s some art thesis topics about medieval art:

Analyze the Mosaics in Basilica churches
The impact of Manuscript Illumination
Influence of art on Christian Architecture of churches and temples
A critical look at the walls of catacombs
An artistic study of the highly decorate pile carpets
The bright mosaics in Islam temples
Discuss the development of the Mughal portrait
The use of primary colors in Romanesque art
A survey of the stained glass
Features of abstract representation
Impact of ornate carvings in worship
Religious Byzantine theme: a case study
What are the essential imperial issues to the Byzantine society
Why many sculptures have failed to survive the passing of centuries

With these beautiful art research paper topics and ideas, nothing can stop you now. Pick one that suits your taste and embark on it right away.

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Why You Need Some Great Art Research Paper Topics

Do you need some great art essay topics? Or perhaps you want to find one or two original art history research topics right away. Before we give you the topics, we want to make sure you understand the importance of finding a new topic – one that has not yet been discovered by your classmates. Here are the 3 main reasons:

It shows your professor that you have did your best to find an interesting topic and that you were willing to dedicate more effort than your colleagues. This will usually get you bonus points. A good topic is one that you know something about. This makes writing the essay a lot easier. Finding excellent art topics for research papers is a skill you will use again and again in your academic career. Let’s face it: you will have to write dozens – if not hundreds – of essays.

Where to Find Other Art Topics?

Finding some great art history paper topics is not easy. If you are searching for art journal topics, things get even more complicated. Of course, the best way to find these ideas is the Internet. You could also try the local library or museum, but that would take a lot of your time; time students don’t usually have.

Even though you can find topics all over the Web, including on our website, keep in mind that your colleagues are also searching. You have no way of knowing which websites they visit. Some of them may be reading our latest topics as you are reading this article. To make sure you get the best topics for art projects and the most interesting art history thesis topics, you should get in touch with our experienced art assignment writers . They have been creating new and exciting topics for students for years. You can get a whole list of topics in just an hour or two, even in the middle of the night.

51 Best Art Topics Ideas for Students

We advise you to just try your luck and pick one of the art history essay topics or art research topics below. We update the list periodically to make sure nobody else in your class choses the same topic as you.

Art History Research Paper Topics

If you are looking for brand new art history research paper topics to write about right now, you have arrived at the right place. Check these ideas out:

Artist biography: Etienne Falconet
How was the Apocalypse depicted in different epochs?
Artist biography: Johann Sebastian Bach
Egyptian Art in the last 3,000 years.
Evolution of Asian art in the last millennia.

Controversial Art Topics

Of course you are allowed to write an exceptional essay about any controversial art topics you see fit. Here are some ideas:

Elements of Renaissance in Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code
The role of the totem masks in Papua New Guinea art
The Garden of Delights: An analysis of biblical symbols.
La Note Bleu (Eric Roux-Fontaine): Analyzing magic realism
Changes in art fairs starting with the year 2,000

Easy Art Topics to Write About

If you don’t want to spend a lot of time writing the essay, take a look at these easy art topics to write about and pick the one you like:

Artist biography: Andy Warhol
Describe three important primeval music instruments.
Artist biography: Salvador Dali
Why was jewelry so important in Ancient Egypt?
Explain the Sacrifice motif in Mayan art.

Art History Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Did you just receive an assignment that requires you to compare and contrast something? We have some interesting art history compare and contrast essay topics right here:

Compare and contrast Egyptian and Greek sculpture proportions.
The differences and similarities between English and French gardens.
The differences and similarities between Rococo and Baroque.
The differences and similarities between Édouard Manet and Gustave Courbet paintings.
Compare and contrast musical instruments in Europe and Asia.
Some of our ethnographic topics .

Art Debate Topics

There are plenty of debates going on in the art field. Yes, you can write about any of them, as long as you keep your writing objective. Examples of art debate topics include:

What constitutes “Good Art”?
Why are art disciplines important in the US education system?
Are computer games art?
What is the Mozart Effect? Is it real?
Art is a great way to invest.
Art education helps children think differently.

Art Education Research Topics

Do you have something on your mind? Do you know of a way to improve the education process? Here are some interesting art education research topics:

The use of social media in specific fields of art.
Painting should be a mandatory discipline.
Technology and its uses in teaching art.
Music should be a mandatory discipline.
The art of photography in school curriculum.

Some Topics for Art Projects

If you want to try your hand at an art project, you need to be very careful about the topic you choose. Take a look at our topics for art projects:

Are political cartoons that modern?
Is Bansky a genuine artist?
Design an Art Deco illustration.
Practical examples of Constructivism.
A visual representation of Conceptual Art.

Art Argumentative Essay Topics

The argumentative essay is perhaps the most widely used format. Are you looking for some original art argumentative essay topics? Here is what we have for you:

The techniques used in printmaking.
The role of carnival masks in Venice
The best painter in history is …
The best musician in history is …
The best sculptor in history is …

Contemporary Art Topics

Are you looking for some nice contemporary art topics that will impress your professor? We have some great examples for you below:

Artist biography: Alberto Giacometti
The styles of “The Kiss” (Gustav Klimt)
Artificial motifs in the painting Flag by Jasper Johns
Effects of art therapy applied to children
Describe the surrealism of Dali’s sculptures

Ancient Art History Research Paper Topics

It’s difficult to write about ancient art, especially if you don’t pick a good topic. Fortunately, you can find some of the best ancient art history research paper topics right here:

The industrial revolution and the development of art.
The main motifs in ancient Greek art.
The main motifs in ancient Roman art.
The best works of William Blake.
Medieval France and its obsession for stained glass.

So, getting some interesting art history topics that will almost guarantee you an A+ is as simple as visiting this page from time to time. If you need a great topic right now, contact us and we’ll send you a whole list in no time.

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10 Topic Ideas for Art History Papers

Art History
Architecture
Ph.D., Art History, City University of New York Graduate Center
M.A., Art History, State University of New York at Binghamton
B.A., Art History, State University of New York at Binghamton

If you have been assigned a paper for art history class , you know how overwhelming this can be, with thousands of years of art history to consider. Here are 10 topics that might fire you up for the task. Consider each of the topic ideas and examples to help you find your own inspiration.

Analyze One Work of Art

ERIC FEFERBERG / Getty Images

Research and analyze a specific work of art.

For example, Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa painting may be the most famous painting in the world. It is probably also the best-known example of sfumato, a painting technique partly responsible for her enigmatic smile.

Compare and Contrast Works From One Movement

Cate Gillon / Getty Images

Research a particular movement of art, such as Color Field Painting , which was practiced by the Abstract Expressionist family of artists.

Like Action Painting, the Color Field artists treat the surface of a canvas or paper as a "field" of vision, without a central focus, and emphasize the flatness of the surface. Color Field Painting is less about the process of making the work, which is at the heart of Action Painting: instead, Color Field is about the tension created by overlapping and interacting areas of flat color.

Write a Screenplay About an Artist's Life

Francis G. Mayer / Getty Images

Research an artist's life and write an interpretation of his or her biography as if it were a movie.

For example, Gustave Courbet was a French painter best known as one of the founders of the Realism movement during the 19th century. He worked on still-life paintings, landscapes, and human figures, and often addressed social issues in his work. Some of his paintings were considered controversial by contemporary audiences.

Write About One Notable Museum and Its Collection

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Write about the history of one particular museum.

Founded in 1929, the Museum of Modern Art, known as MoMA, has a collection that includes examples of modern art from the late 19th century to the present day. The collection represents diverse forms of visual expression that encompass modern art, including paintings, sculptures, photographs, films, drawings, illustrations, architecture, and design.

Challenge a 'Myth' About a Famous Artist

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Investigate a popular myth about an artist and write a paper challenging the myth and providing evidence of the truth.

Although the story goes that post-Impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890) sold only one painting during his short life, there is some evidence that is not true. The one painting commonly thought to have been sold is The Red Vineyard at Arles ( The Vigne Rouge ). But some sources claim that different paintings sold first, and that other van Gogh paintings and drawings were sold or bartered.

Investigate an Artist's Technique and Media

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Look into a well-known artist's techniques and the media he or she was known for or which the artist popularized.

The drip paintings of Abstract Expressionist painter Jackson Pollock are among the best-known paintings of the 20th century. When Pollock moved from easel painting to dripping or pouring paint onto a canvas spread on the floor, he was able to create long, continuous lines impossible to get by applying paint to a canvas with a brush.

Challenge Your Comfort Zone

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Write about a style or artist you are not as familiar with.

The French artist Georges Seurat introduced Neo-Impressionism , as seen in his 1883 painting "Bathers at Asnieres." To develop his new concept, Seurat studied color theory publications produced by Charles Blanc, Michel Eugène Chevreul, and Ogden Rood. He also formulated a precise application of painted dots that would mix optically for maximum brilliance. He called this system Chromoluminarism.

Explore the Historical Significance of a Museum

Write a different kind of paper on a museum, this time exploring the museum itself and its architecture.

Housed in famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright's beautiful white building, the Guggenheim 's spiral structure offers visitors an intriguing path to travel while exploring the museum's collection and exhibitions that feature modern paintings, sculpture, and film.

Investigate an Artist's Life and Work

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Write about an artist's life story.

As an undergraduate at Howard University in Washington, D.C., Alma Woodsey Thomas (1921–1924) studied with African-American artist James V. Herring (1887–1969), who founded the art department in 1922, and Lois Mailou Jones (1905–1998). Woodsey Thomas was the first Fine Arts major to graduate from Howard. In 1972, she became the first African-American woman artist to have a solo exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York.

Investigate One Period in an Artist's Life

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Research a particular time in one artist's life or works.

Pablo Picasso became universally famous in his own lifetime as the first artist to successfully use mass media to further his name. He also inspired or, in the notable case of Cubism, invented, nearly every art movement in the 20th century. Before and shortly after moving to Paris, Picasso's painting was in its "Blue Period" (1900–1904).

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Art Research Paper Topics

25 May, 2022

14 minutes read

Author: Elizabeth Brown

Students obtaining degrees in fine art and art & design programs most commonly need to write a paper on art topics. However, this subject is becoming more popular in educational institutions for expanding students’ horizons. Thus, both groups of receivers of education: those who are into arts and those who only get acquainted with art […]

At first glance, art seems an extensive subject with many aspects to investigate. But sometimes, it’s overwhelming to understand and contextualize art epochs, movements, and representatives in their art history research paper. It is challenging to sort out what art research paper topics are worth investigating. Writing about art and especially finding the appropriate art research topics is more complicated than making art.

Therefore, in this article, you will explore compelling ideas for your future art research paper topics. Move on and get inspired to create a unique research theme that will bring you academic success.

Choosing the Right Art Research Paper Topics

You can find an abundance of art research paper topics on the internet, but it’s not guaranteed they are good for you. There are certain things to consider before choosing the art paper theme and start working on it. Take a look at tips on how to select the best art history research paper topic and compile a high-quality study.

Select the Art Category

People have been creating aesthetic objects and experiences and sharing their masterpieces for centuries. There are traditionally distinguished seven branches of art, including literature, music, architecture, the graphic arts, the visual arts, the plastic arts, the decorative arts, and the performing arts. So before browsing art topics, choose the art branch you will further research.

Decide What to Study

Sound art research topics do not cover everything in one paper. It’s necessary to define what art aspect will be subjected to research in the study. Students can select an artistic movement like romanticism, realism, baroque, classicism, or surrealism for the most interesting art topics. It’s also possible to research an art epoch, a prominent artist, or a piece of art.

Brainstorm Ideas

For choosing the best theme of possible art research paper topics, come up with ideas and do prior research. Find out what is relevant to cover for today, what has not been investigated thoroughly, whether there are enough sources for references, and if the art research paper theme you want to explore corresponds to your course plan and instructions.

What Are the Most Engaging Art Topics

Every art movement and period has outstanding representatives and fascinating artworks worth exploring. Your art history research paper will be interesting once you like what you do and can present it clearly to the readers. Art seems complex, but if you are well aware of the subject, you can do compelling research on different art topics. Students with no experience in writing art research papers can get inspiration from the list of the most engrossing art topics.

So you can write about using art as propaganda and what messages hide in artworks or sequential art. Deciding what you are absorbing art research paper topics is up to you as it’s only you who can engage the audience.

Artist Bibliography Art Topics

If you are not well knowledgeable about art and want to make a high-quality art research paper, this topic is right for you. You can choose the artist whose works attract you the most and tell in your research about their life and becoming an artist. Students are free to choose art topics on influential art representatives or unknown craters with engaging bibliography.

In order to make your art history research paper not simply listing pieces of artworks of a specific author, you should focus on investigating a distinct feature of these works. Thus, your history research paper topics may touch upon sensual creations by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Parisian life in Edgar Degas’s works, or the influence of celebrities on Andy Warhol’s art.

Art History Research Paper Topics

Writing an art history research paper is a great choice for students not willing to dive into art symbols and details. With a variety of art history research paper topics, you can easily find the best option or create your own theme. Students can benefit from numerous studies and literature sources to do original research. So potential art research paper topics focus on Ancient Egyptian Art, Greek Art, Christian Roman Art, Celtic Art, or Modern Art.

The ideas for your history research paper topics include defining similarities and differences between art styles at a specific time in the history of art development. It’s possible to research the influence of beauty, wars, and historical events on ancient and modern art.

Provocative Art Research Paper Topics at Different Periods

Every art epoch has introduced something new to art history and shaped the development of modern art movements. There are many decent artworks that activate thinking and aim at solving some problems. You can contemplate these masterpieces and their creators in thought-provoking art research paper topics. Touch in your art research paper on specific periods in art development.

Contemporary art topics are considered the most provocative as tragic global events and revolutionary personalities transformed the perception of the world and art. So here, we will focus on art research topics of the last three centuries.

Papers on the 18th-Century Art

The 18th-century history research paper topics are predominantly characterized by the shift to Rococo and Neoclassicism. This century was marked by revolutions, archaeological discoveries, industrial changes, and the era of Enlightenment. So the 18th-century art research topics feature great masterpieces and new ideas. Artists mix classical elements with brand new genres generating impressive pieces of art.

You can feature in your art research paper prominent artists of that epoch, including Filippo Juvarra, Luigi Vanvitelli, Jacques-Louis David, and Antonio Canova. It will also be a great idea for art topics to analyze their creations paying attention to preserving classical traditions, mythological subjects, urban views, landscapes, revolution scenes, etc.

Papers on the 19th-Century Art

Modern art developed in the 19th century due to the successful industrial revolution, social movements, Marxism, and feminism. The history research paper topics on the art of that century can cover artistic styles. Tell in your art research paper about Romanticism, Neoclassicism, Realism, Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, and Art Nouveau, all developed in the 19th.

Each style has its prominent artists whose masterpieces deserve research. Cover provocative works by Édouard Manet in your 19th-century art research paper. In your art research paper topics you can touch upon Francisco de Goya, Henri Rousseau, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Vincent van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, and others.

Papers on the 20th-Century Art

The 20th-century ideas for art research paper topics are multiple and diverse due to the emergence of artistic movements and global changes. You can tell a lot in an art research paper about Abstract Expressionism, Cubism, Pop Art, Fauvism, Minimalism, Futurism, Dada, Surrealism, Conceptual Art, and Photorealism. Among thought-provoking artists of that time we can name Stanley Kubrick, Dan Flavin, Joseph Beuys, Jacques Duval-Brasseur, Ellsworth Kelly, and Jasper Johns.

The history research paper topics can cover how contemporary art rejects traditional aesthetic values, experimenting with forms, materials, techniques, and processes. Win-win ideas for art research topics are to take a fresh look at Kazimir Malevich’s Black Square or Salvador Dalí’s Metamorphosis of Narcissus.

Major Eras in the Arts

The history of art started dozens of thousands of years ago. Each art period is complex and has many to tell about, lasting from 30 to 300 years. In their art research paper, a student can focus on the art epoch of their interest and research its development, features, artists, and creations. The Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Classicism, Romanticism, Realism, Cubism, Symbolism, Expressionism, and other art eras can find their place in students’ art research paper topics.

Let’s find major art epochs and their brief descriptions you can inspire from for your art research paper.

Flamboyant Baroque

Writing an art research paper on the Baroque era (1590-1760) is an engaging endeavor that will make you dive into the magnificent world of princes and kings. Your Baroque art research paper topics may refer to man as the central power. Students can explore in history research paper topics the role of opposites: light and dark, warm and cold, good and evil in that era. Art was a way to show power and wealth, so investigate this aspect in art research topics.

Sensual Romanticism

Your art research paper on romanticism may be focused on the emotiveness and sublime imagery of the art era. Romanticism (1790-1850) art research paper topics should highlight the role of nature and subconsciousness in masterpieces of that time. Students can choose art research topics that explore influential German, English, and French painters of the Romanticism period. They interpreted the world differently and wanted to oppose the stern nature of classicism.

You can study romanticism literature and music in your history research paper topics.

Fleeting Impressionism

In the art research paper devoted to the Impressionist era of modern art, it’s possible to research the phenomenon of art for art’s sake. Impressionism mostly manifested itself in painting due to prominent artists like Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Vincent van Gough. Impressionism (1850-1895) art research paper topics can be dedicated to music and ballet. There’s much to investigate in history research paper topics, so choose the art category, your favorite artist, and their impressive masterpieces.

Research Topics on Various Cultures

Art and culture are tightly interconnected as every culture develops its unique art forms. Thus, your art research paper may feature Aboriginal, Aztec, China, African, Indian, and Japanese cultures. Students can analyze in their art research topics how these cultures influenced art development. The interesting art topics focus on the investigation of the role of cultural identity on art creation. For example, you can feature Japanese calligraphy, traditional Chinese clothing, Indian cinema, African tribal art, and more in your art research paper topics.

Research Topics on the Art of Photography

Photography is a fascinating art category for your art research paper. This type of visual art appeared back in the 19th century and still amazes people today. In your art history research paper, you can explore the role of photography in history, art, and everyday life. Researchers can investigate how digital technologies popularized photography.

Students can research the most prominent photographers of all times like Richard Avedon, Robert Frank, and Man Ray and their creations in art research topics. It’s possible to research street, war, nature, and portrait photography. A creative idea for art research paper topics is exploring the psychological dimension of the art of photography.

Research Topics on Art Therapy

Art therapy is one of the most interesting art topics for investigation. It is possible to study the origin and applications of art therapy in the art history research paper. In their art research paper, a student can focus on how art therapy helps overcome various diseases and improve mental health. You can write an art research paper on the healing power of color and music.

Also, research what pieces of art prove to be the most effective in helping people with disabilities, psychological traumas, or autism. Students can touch upon prominent art therapists and their achievements.

How Our Paper Writing Service Can Help You

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Writers have degrees in Fine Arts and Art & Design programs, ensuring high-quality art history research paper works. Contact us if the deadline for your art research paper is approaching and you do not know what topic to choose and what to start from. We will help you write an impressive paper and get an excellent mark!

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A Research Guide
Research Paper Topics

25 Arts Research Paper Topics

Ancient Roman art
African architecture
The works of Lysippos
Bauhaus movement
The transition to the Renaissance
The art of ancient Egypt
Expressionists and their impact on modern art
Fine art and folk art
Gothic and Neo-Gothic
Comparison of Nazi and Soviet art
Surrealist movement
Censorship in the works of art
Art as propaganda
Can abstract art be decoded?
Photography as art
The rise of digital art
Venetian carnival as an art performance
The history of the art of dance
Hollywood and Bollywood
The beauty standards in the art
Rock music as neoclassical art
The art of disgusting
Computer games as art
Art therapy

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Ancient Art History Research Paper Topics

This page presents a comprehensive guide for students examining ancient art history research paper topics . The field of ancient art history, encompassing a vast spectrum of civilizations and epochs, offers countless areas of exploration. We have prepared an extensive list of 100 research paper topics, meticulously categorized into ten sections, each reflecting a specific region or era in ancient art history. Expert advice on selecting relevant ancient art history research paper topics is provided, complemented by practical tips on writing an impactful and academically robust ancient art history research paper. In the next segment, we introduce iResearchNet’s custom writing services. Students have the opportunity to order a personalized ancient art history research paper on any chosen topic.

100 Ancient Art History Research Paper Topics

Introduction: In this section, we present a comprehensive list of ancient art history research paper topics. By exploring these topics, students studying art history can find inspiration for their research papers and delve into the fascinating world of ancient art. The following 10 categories encompass various aspects of ancient art history, providing a wide range of options to explore.

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Prehistoric Art

The Origins of Cave Paintings: Symbolism and Interpretation
Neolithic Sculpture and its Cultural Significance
Paleolithic Venus Figurines: Representations of Fertility and Power
Rock Art Across Different Prehistoric Cultures
Megalithic Monuments: Exploring the Purpose and Construction Techniques
Shamanistic Art: Unveiling the Spiritual Beliefs of Early Humans
Artistic Expressions in Ice Age Cultures
Portable Art of the Paleolithic Era: A Window into Ancient Lifestyles
The Role of Animals in Prehistoric Art
Decorative Motifs in Prehistoric Pottery

Ancient Egyptian Art

Symbolism in Egyptian Funerary Art and Architecture
The Role of Pharaohs in Shaping Egyptian Art and Culture
The Amarna Revolution: Artistic Expression under Akhenaten
Artistic Techniques in Egyptian Wall Paintings and Reliefs
The Influence of Ancient Egyptian Art on Later Civilizations
The Temple Complexes of Ancient Egypt: Sacred Spaces and Rituals
Egyptian Tomb Paintings: Depicting the Afterlife Journey
Hieroglyphs and the Art of Writing in Ancient Egypt
The Role of Women in Egyptian Art and Society
Religious Iconography in Ancient Egyptian Art

Ancient Greek Art

The Evolution of Greek Sculpture: From Archaic to Classical
Athenian Vase Painting: Themes, Styles, and Significance
Greek Temples and Architectural Innovations
Alexander the Great and Hellenistic Art: Blending Cultures
The Parthenon Marbles: Controversies and Repatriation Debates
Mythology in Greek Art: Gods, Heroes, and Legends
Greek Pottery: Form, Function, and Decoration
Greek Theater and its Visual Representations
Olympic Games in Ancient Greek Art
Portraits of Rulers and Statesmen in Ancient Greece

Roman Art and Architecture

Roman Portraiture: Capturing Identity and Power
The Colosseum: Function, Design, and Entertainment
Roman Wall Paintings: Exploring Domestic Art
The Pantheon: Engineering Marvel and Religious Symbolism
Roman Mosaics: A Reflection of Society and Culture
Roman Imperial Sculpture: Ideals of Power and Authority
Roman Frescoes and their Themes
Roman Triumphal Arches: Commemorating Victories
Roman Coinage and its Depiction of Emperors and Deities
The Influence of Etruscan Art on Roman Civilization

Ancient Mesopotamian Art

Mesopotamian Cylinder Seals: Significance and Iconography
The Ishtar Gate: A Symbol of Babylonian Power
Sumerian Ziggurats: Architecture and Religious Beliefs
Assyrian Palace Reliefs: Depictions of Conquest and Royal Life
The Code of Hammurabi Stele: Legal System and Visual Representation
Mesopotamian Jewelry and Adornment
The Epic of Gilgamesh in Art and Sculpture
Mesopotamian Clay Tablets: Cuneiform Writing and Record-Keeping
Babylonian Astronomical Instruments and their Depiction in Art
Mesopotamian Influence on Ancient Near Eastern Art

Ancient Asian Art

Buddhist Art in Ancient India: Symbolism and Iconography
Chinese Calligraphy: Script as an Art Form
Japanese Woodblock Prints: Beauty and Narrative
The Terracotta Army: Commemorating Emperor Qin Shi Huang
Gandhara Art: Fusion of Greek and Indian Influences
Silk Road Art and Cultural Exchange
The Art of Tea in East Asia: Ceramics, Utensils, and Rituals
The Zen Garden: Artistic Expression and Spiritual Contemplation
Hindu Temples and their Architectural Features
Korean Celadon Pottery: Techniques and Aesthetics

Ancient African Art

Nok Terracottas: Early Nigerian Artistic Expressions
Egyptian Influence on Nubian Art and Architecture
Great Zimbabwe: Architecture and Cultural Significance
Ife Bronze Heads: Portraits of Royalty and Divinity
African Masks: Rituals, Symbolism, and Performance
Rock Art of the Sahara: Depicting Ancient Life and Beliefs
Benin Bronzes: Courtly Art and Royal Power
Sahelian Architecture: Mud Brick Structures and Design
Dogon Sculpture: Ancestral Spirits and Cosmic Order
Ethiopian Christian Art: Illuminated Manuscripts and Iconography

Pre-Columbian Art of the Americas

Mayan Glyphs and Hieroglyphic Writing: Decoding Ancient Texts
Aztec Temples and Sacred Spaces
Inca Metalwork: Techniques and Cultural Significance
Olmec Colossal Heads: Mystery and Meaning
Native American Rock Art: Communication and Spiritual Practices
Chavin de Huantar: Architecture and Rituals in Ancient Peru
Nazca Lines: Geoglyphs and Astronomical Alignments
Moche Pottery: Figurines and Narrative Scenes
Maya Murals: Religious and Historical Narratives
Inca Textiles: Weaving Techniques and Symbolism

Byzantine Art and Iconography

The Hagia Sophia: Architecture and Religious Symbolism
Iconoclasm and the Shifting Role of Religious Images
Byzantine Mosaics: Glorious Decoration and Spiritual Expression
The Byzantine Influence on Russian Iconography
The Empress Theodora: Power and Patronage in Byzantine Art
Illuminated Manuscripts in Byzantium
Byzantine Ivory Carvings: Religious and Secular Themes
The Byzantine Iconostasis: Artistic Elements and Liturgical Function
The Byzantine Cross: Symbolism and Variations
Early Christian Symbols in Byzantine Art

Early Christian Art

Catacomb Paintings: Early Christian Devotion and Symbolism
The Basilica of San Vitale: Byzantine Influence in Ravenna
Early Christian Mosaics: Expressions of Faith and Worship
Early Christian Manuscripts: Scriptural Illustrations and Decoration
Christian Iconography in Roman Catacombs
Christian Pilgrimage Art: Relics, Shrines, and Devotion
The Cult of Saints in Early Christian Art
Early Christian Basilicas: Architecture and Liturgy
The Book of Kells: Illuminated Manuscript from Early Medieval Ireland
Early Christian Sarcophagi: Representations of Salvation and Resurrection

This comprehensive list of ancient art history research paper topics offers students studying art history a wide range of fascinating and engaging subjects to explore. Whether focusing on specific civilizations or broader themes, these topics provide ample opportunities for research, analysis, and the appreciation of the rich artistic traditions of the ancient world. Delve into the captivating realm of ancient art history and unlock the secrets of our cultural heritage through these intriguing research paper topics.

Ancient Art History: Exploring the Range of Research Paper Topics

Ancient art history is a captivating field that allows us to delve into the artistic traditions and cultural expressions of past civilizations. From the dawn of human creativity in prehistoric times to the remarkable achievements of ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, and beyond, studying ancient art provides us with valuable insights into the beliefs, aesthetics, and societal contexts of these ancient cultures. In this section, we will explore the diverse range of research paper topics in ancient art history, highlighting the breadth and depth of this fascinating field.

Ancient art encompasses various time periods, regions, and artistic styles, offering a rich tapestry of human creativity and cultural heritage. It provides us with a window into the past, shedding light on the values, ideologies, and social structures of ancient societies. Whether you are interested in the grandeur of Egyptian pyramids, the refined sculptures of ancient Greece, the monumental architecture of Rome, or the intricate craftsmanship of ancient China, there is a wide array of research paper topics to explore within the realm of ancient art history.

Prehistoric Art : The origins of art can be traced back to prehistoric times when our ancestors expressed their creativity through cave paintings, rock art, and small figurines. Research paper topics in prehistoric art could delve into the techniques used, the symbolism behind the artworks, the role of art in prehistoric societies, and the cultural significance of these ancient expressions.
Egyptian Art : The art of ancient Egypt is renowned for its monumental architecture, striking sculptures, and elaborate burial rituals. Topics in Egyptian art could explore the symbolism and religious beliefs reflected in tomb paintings, the techniques employed in sculpting statues of pharaohs, the evolution of artistic styles over different dynasties, and the social and political functions of art in ancient Egypt.
Mesopotamian Art : Mesopotamia, known as the cradle of civilization, boasts a rich artistic heritage. Topics in Mesopotamian art might delve into the symbolism and religious beliefs conveyed through monumental ziggurats, the intricate details of cylinder seals, the royal reliefs adorning palace walls, and the role of art in communicating power and authority in ancient Mesopotamian societies.
Greek Art : Ancient Greece was a cradle of artistic achievement, with its sculptures, architecture, and pottery serving as enduring legacies. Research paper topics in Greek art might focus on the idealized representations of the human form in classical sculpture, the influence of mythology on Greek vase painting, the architectural wonders of the Acropolis, and the significance of art in shaping Greek identity and civic life.
Roman Art : The Romans built upon the artistic traditions of the Greeks and created their own unique contributions to the art world. Topics in Roman art could explore the realistic portraiture that adorned public spaces, the engineering marvels of Roman architecture such as the Colosseum and aqueducts, the narrative scenes depicted in wall paintings in Pompeii, and the role of art in propaganda and the projection of imperial power.
Ancient Near Eastern Art : The ancient Near East encompasses a diverse range of cultures, including Sumerians, Babylonians, Assyrians, and Persians. Research paper topics in ancient Near Eastern art might examine the iconic Ishtar Gate of Babylon, the divine symbolism in Assyrian relief sculptures, the development of cuneiform writing and its influence on art, and the connections between art, religion, and politics in the ancient Near East.
Indus Valley Art : The Indus Valley Civilization flourished in ancient South Asia and left behind a rich artistic legacy. Research paper topics in Indus Valley art could explore the significance of the iconic Dancing Girl sculpture, the intricacies of the seal script, the representation of animals in the art of the region, and the cultural and religious contexts of Indus Valley artworks.
Chinese Art : China has a long and illustrious artistic tradition spanning thousands of years. Topics in Chinese art could include the symbolism and spirituality of traditional Chinese painting, the intricate craftsmanship of porcelain and jade, the significance of Buddhist sculptures in the ancient Silk Road trade, and the role of art in representing imperial power and social status in ancient China.
Celtic Art : The art of the ancient Celts is characterized by intricate metalwork, stone carvings, and vibrant designs. Research paper topics in Celtic art might explore the symbolism of Celtic knotwork, the cultural and religious significance of Celtic artifacts, the stylistic variations across different regions and time periods, and the interactions between Celtic art and other ancient artistic traditions.
African Art : The art of ancient Africa is characterized by its diversity, creativity, and cultural significance. Research paper topics in African art might focus on the spiritual symbolism of masks and sculptures, the aesthetics of body adornment and textiles, the representation of power and authority in royal art, and the cultural exchange and influence between different regions and civilizations in ancient Africa.

The study of ancient art history allows us to explore the rich cultural heritage and artistic achievements of past civilizations. By examining the diverse range of research paper topics in ancient art history, students can gain a deeper understanding of the artistic techniques, cultural contexts, and social functions of art in different ancient societies. From prehistoric cave paintings to the monumental sculptures of ancient Egypt, the refined pottery of ancient Greece, and the intricate artworks of ancient China, the world of ancient art history offers a captivating journey into the past. By conducting research and writing papers on these topics, students can contribute to the ongoing exploration and appreciation of ancient art and its significance in shaping human history.

Choosing Ancient Art History Research Paper Topics

Selecting the right research paper topic in ancient art history is crucial to the success of your project. It allows you to explore an area of interest, contribute to the existing scholarship, and showcase your analytical and research skills. In this section, we will provide you with expert advice on how to choose compelling and engaging ancient art history research paper topics that will captivate your readers and demonstrate your expertise in the field.

Define Your Interests : Begin by reflecting on your personal interests within the realm of ancient art history. Consider the time periods, cultures, artistic styles, or specific artworks that intrigue you the most. Are you fascinated by the enigmatic beauty of Egyptian hieroglyphs? Or perhaps you have a passion for the classical sculptures of ancient Greece? Identifying your areas of interest will help narrow down potential research paper topics.
Explore Uncharted Territory : While it’s important to study well-established topics in ancient art history, there is also value in exploring lesser-known or understudied areas. Look for gaps in the existing literature or unexplored aspects of ancient art that pique your curiosity. By choosing a unique and original research topic, you can make a valuable contribution to the field and generate fresh insights.
Consider Cross-Cultural Connections : Ancient art was not created in isolation but often influenced by interactions and exchanges between different cultures. Consider exploring the cross-cultural connections and artistic influences between ancient civilizations. For example, you could investigate the influence of Egyptian art on Minoan frescoes or the impact of Hellenistic art on the Gandharan sculptures of ancient India.
Analyze Artistic Techniques and Materials : Artistic techniques and materials used in ancient art offer a wealth of research possibilities. You can delve into the methods of sculpting, painting, pottery-making, or metalworking employed by ancient artists. Explore how technological advancements or regional resources influenced artistic production and the evolution of artistic styles.
Investigate Social and Cultural Contexts : Art is a reflection of the society and culture in which it was created. Choose research paper topics that allow you to delve into the social, political, religious, or economic contexts of ancient art. For example, you could explore the role of art in ancient burial practices, the depiction of power and authority in royal artworks, or the symbolism of religious motifs in ancient artistic traditions.
Study Iconography and Symbolism : Ancient art is often rich in symbolism and iconography, conveying deeper meanings and cultural significance. Analyze the symbols, motifs, and visual language used in ancient artworks and their connections to religious, mythological, or social contexts. Investigate the messages and narratives embedded within the visual representations to gain a deeper understanding of ancient cultures.
Examine Restoration and Conservation Efforts : Restoration and conservation play a vital role in preserving ancient artworks for future generations. Research topics could focus on the techniques and challenges involved in restoring ancient murals, sculptures, or architectural elements. Explore how modern conservation practices have evolved over time and their impact on our understanding and appreciation of ancient art.
Investigate Art and Identity : Ancient art provides insights into the formation of individual and collective identities. Choose research paper topics that examine the representation of gender, ethnicity, or social status in ancient art. Explore how artists depicted diverse identities, challenged societal norms, or reinforced cultural hierarchies through their artworks.
Explore the Intersection of Art and Politics : Art and politics often intersect in powerful ways. Investigate the role of art in political propaganda, cultural diplomacy, or the projection of power in ancient civilizations. Examine how rulers used art to legitimize their authority, promote specific ideologies, or communicate with their subjects.
Embrace Interdisciplinary Approaches : Ancient art history is a multidisciplinary field that can benefit from interdisciplinary approaches. Consider integrating insights from archaeology, anthropology, history, or other related disciplines into your research paper. This interdisciplinary approach can provide a broader understanding of ancient art and enrich your analysis.

Choosing the right research paper topic in ancient art history requires careful consideration and exploration of your interests, the existing scholarship, and the broader cultural and historical contexts. By defining your areas of interest, exploring uncharted territory, considering cross-cultural connections, analyzing artistic techniques and materials, investigating social and cultural contexts, studying iconography and symbolism, examining restoration and conservation efforts, investigating art and identity, exploring the intersection of art and politics, and embracing interdisciplinary approaches, you can find a captivating and meaningful research topic. Remember to select a topic that not only engages you but also contributes to the scholarly discourse and demonstrates your expertise in the fascinating world of ancient art history.

How to Write an Ancient Art History Research Paper

Writing a research paper in ancient art history requires careful planning, diligent research, and effective organization. In this section, we will provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to write a compelling and well-structured ancient art history research paper that showcases your knowledge and analytical skills.

Understand the Assignment : Before you begin writing, thoroughly understand the requirements and guidelines of your research paper assignment. Clarify any uncertainties with your instructor to ensure you are on the right track. Pay attention to the formatting style, word count, and specific research parameters.
Conduct In-Depth Research : Gather relevant and reliable sources to support your research paper. Consult scholarly books, academic journals, museum catalogs, and reputable online databases. Take comprehensive notes, highlighting key arguments, supporting evidence, and relevant quotations. Ensure that you use a combination of primary and secondary sources to provide a well-rounded analysis.
Develop a Strong Thesis Statement : Craft a clear and concise thesis statement that encapsulates the main argument or research question of your paper. Your thesis should be specific, debatable, and supported by evidence from your research. It sets the foundation for your entire paper and guides the direction of your analysis.
Organize Your Research : Create an outline to organize your research and structure your paper. Divide your paper into logical sections, such as introduction, literature review, methodology, analysis, and conclusion. Within each section, outline the main points and supporting evidence that you will discuss.
Introduction : In your introduction, provide background information on the topic and context of your research. Present the significance of your research question and explain why it is relevant to the field of ancient art history. Finally, end your introduction with a clear thesis statement that outlines the main argument or objective of your research paper.
Literature Review : In the literature review section, critically analyze and synthesize the existing scholarship on your chosen topic. Identify the main theories, arguments, and debates within the field of ancient art history related to your research question. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of previous studies and highlight the gaps in the literature that your research aims to address.
Methodology : If applicable, describe the research methodology and approach you will use in your study. Explain the sources you have used, such as archaeological findings, textual analysis, or visual analysis. Justify your chosen methodology and discuss any limitations or challenges you may encounter.
Analysis : Present your analysis and interpretation of the evidence gathered from your research. Use a combination of visual examples, textual references, and scholarly arguments to support your analysis. Be clear and concise in your explanations and provide sufficient evidence to back up your claims.
Use Visuals : Ancient art is primarily visual, so it is essential to include relevant images, illustrations, or diagrams to support your analysis. Ensure that you provide proper captions and citations for all visuals used in your research paper.
Conclusion : In your conclusion, summarize the main points of your research and restate your thesis statement. Reflect on the significance of your findings and their implications for the field of ancient art history. Discuss any limitations or areas for further research. Leave your readers with a thought-provoking final statement that encourages them to contemplate the broader implications of your research.
Citations and References : Properly cite all the sources used in your research paper using the appropriate citation style (such as APA, MLA, or Chicago). Create a bibliography or reference list that includes all the sources consulted. Ensure that you follow the formatting guidelines for your chosen citation style accurately.
Revise and Edit : After completing your initial draft, take the time to revise and edit your research paper. Check for clarity, coherence, and logical flow of ideas. Ensure that your arguments are supported by evidence and that your writing is free of grammatical and spelling errors. Seek feedback from peers or professors to gain different perspectives on your work.
Proofread : Before submitting your research paper, thoroughly proofread it to eliminate any lingering errors. Pay attention to grammar, punctuation, spelling, and formatting. Ensure that your paper adheres to the required formatting style and meets all the guidelines set by your instructor.

Writing an ancient art history research paper requires meticulous planning, in-depth research, and effective organization. By following the steps outlined above, you can develop a compelling and well-structured research paper that demonstrates your knowledge and analytical skills in the field of ancient art history. Remember to carefully analyze your sources, develop a strong thesis statement, present a clear and coherent argument, and support your analysis with relevant evidence. With dedication and attention to detail, you can create an exceptional research paper that contributes to the ongoing scholarly discourse in the field of ancient art history.

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In-Depth Research : Research is at the core of any successful ancient art history paper. Our writers are skilled in conducting thorough and comprehensive research using reputable scholarly sources, museum catalogs, archaeological findings, and other relevant materials. They delve into the depths of ancient art history to gather the most current and accurate information for your research paper.
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Customized Solutions : Every research paper is unique, and we understand that your specific research topic may require a tailored approach. Our writers take the time to understand your research objectives, provide personalized guidance, and develop a research paper that aligns with your academic goals. We value your input and ensure that your voice shines through in the final product.
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A List of Unique Art Research Paper Topics

Art is an exciting field of study, and research in this area is fun to do. We have identified the different areas and the possible topics you can research on. Art is a broad area of study but choosing a topic is not as difficult as you think. With the right guide, you can find interesting topics for your thesis. We have some tips to get you on the right path. We also provide you with some tips on how to choose a research topic in the arts.

How to Choose the Right Art Topic

Choosing a project topic in arts requires careful thought. To make things easier for you, we have noted some areas to consider before picking a research topic.

· Consider Your Interest

Art is a field of study that emphasizes creativity. It is a field that will require you to bring your creativity to bear. What happens if you search your mind and nothing comes out?

This problem can happen if you do not have an interest in the area. Even if you can come up with something, the ideas will not flow if you write about your area of interest.

There are areas of difficulty in every research, but you will be more inclined to find working solutions if it is your area of interest. If you are working on your area of study, you will be better attuned to the research. It also helps the overall look of your research. Your enthusiasm is essential in every project work.

· Access to Material

Before you decide to take on a topic for research in arts, you should consider the availability of materials and your access to them. Materials may be available, but you may not have access to them.

Essential questions to ask are, are there materials on this topic? Have books been published in this area? Are there articles online on this topic? You may also want to check if your school library has materials on the topic.

Then you have to ask if you have access to these materials. Can you download the material online? Or read them online? Are the books available for sale? If you answer yes, then you are good to go.

· Identify a Gap

Research is called so because someone else has researched that area before. So, what you are doing is a “re-search.” However, previous research could not have covered every aspect of that field or topic. Therefore, you have to identify that gap and fill it.

Without proper research, you will not come up with a viable topic. In academics, you do not have to repeat what someone has done already.

Expert Consulting for Art Research Paper Topics

Looking to excel in your art research paper? Our professional dissertation consultant is here to support you. With their expertise in the field of art, they can provide personalized guidance and advice on selecting engaging topics, conducting thorough research, and crafting a compelling art research paper. Benefit from the knowledge and experience of our dissertation consultants to enhance the quality and impact of your work. Contact us today to unlock the full potential of your art research paper with our expert consulting services.

Modern Art Topics

Themes in 21 st century paintings
Themes in 20 th century paintings
The new media and arts
Filmography in the 21 st century
Emerging forms in modern arts
Modern art as a viable tool for activism
Impact of technology on modern arts
Themes in modern poetry
What is the influence of feminism on modern art?
Gendered roles in modern arts

Media Art History Research Paper Topics

Art development and the media
Dynamics of art produced using the media
Globalization, digital art, and emerging discusses
Globalization, electronic art, and activism
Literature and the new media
Poetic rendition in the new media
The impact of digital technologies on art
Advertising in the 21 st century
Filmic art in the 21 st century
Computer games as art

Pop Art Research Paper Topics

Comic books as tools for social criticism
Advertising and sublimation: a study of the human psyche
Pop art as a platform for activism
Popular pop artists in the 21 st century
Thematic and stylistic trends in pop art
Technology and ethics in pop art
Pop art as high and low art
Pop art as an economy booster
Principles of pop art
Interaction and connection between pop art and other art forms

Visual Art Research Topics

Painting as pedagogy
Sculpture in the modern age
The creative works of popular artists
Aesthetics of painting: a study of an artist’s creations
A comparison of style of different artists
Trends in photography in different generations
Impact of technology on visual art
Socioeconomic impact of animation
Impact of visual art on culture
Visual art and feminism

Art Therapy Research Paper Topics

The interworking of therapy and art
The use of art for therapeutic effects
Technological approaches to art therapy
The use of virtual reality in art therapy
Theories of art therapy
Dance therapy for the treatment of anxiety
Color therapy for children with learning disabilities
Music as therapy for depression
The evolution of art therapy

Art History Research Paper Topics

Impact of the industrial revolution on art
Themes and styles of painting in the 20 th and 21 st centuries
Aesthetics and styles in Francisco de Goya’s works
The place of art in human civilization
A comparison of the work of two prominent painters
Themes and styles of music in the 20 th and 21 st centuries
Influence of ancient philosophers on art
The aesthetics and style of Michelangelo’s works
The place of erotica in the arts
History of paintings in different cultures

Ancient Art History Research Paper Topics

Art forms and styles in Greece
Compare the artworks of different artists
Biblical motives in the works of Leonardo da Vinci
Early African arts and history
The history behind early roman arts
Chinese arts and lifestyle before the 21 st century
Ancient Egyptian arts and lifestyle
History of the pyramid of Egypt
The contribution of the Greek theatre to dramatic arts
Early arts and religion

Classical Greek Art Research Paper Topic

Classical Greek art-related topics for a research paper is an intelligent choice. There are several areas you can focus on including:

The different styles of Greeks pottery
Myths in classical Greek sculpture
Aesthetics and style of Greek architecture
Compare the works of legendary sculptors
Impact of religion on Greek artworks
Compare ancient Greek art with the present
The influence of science in Greek arts
Styles of Phidias sculptor
Imagery and symbolism in classical Greek arts
Relationship between classical Greek arts and Greece lifestyle

Renaissance Art Topics

A comparison of renaissance art in different parts of Europe
What was the influence of renaissance art on man’s worldview?
How is renaissance art different from those of the medieval age?
What are the aesthetics of the art of the time?
How is the nobility of man portrayed in the art forms of the age?
How was the renaissance a revival of classical Roman and Greek art?
What are the forms and styles of renaissance art?
History, evolution, and preservation of renaissance arts
How do the renaissance arts portray humanism and individualism?
What are the theories of renaissance art?

20th Century Research Paper Topics Art History

Specific museum and its art collection
Harlem renaissance as a springboard for art activism
Aesthetics and styles of Pablo Picasso’s arts
Influence of Jackson Pollock’s arts
Influence of religion and science on the 20 th century arts
Compare earlier art styles with those of the 20 th century
Artistic movements in the 20 th century
Political cartoons and their influence in 20 th century politics
Influence of earlier art style on 20 th art styles
The prominent art movement of the 20 th century

Great Thai Art Topic for a Research Paper

The culture and artistic heritage of Thailand
Influence of religion on Thai arts
Representation of Thai social life in Thai arts
Folk heritage of Thailand
Aesthetic and stylistic import of Thai arts
Ancient and prehistoric art forms
A diachronic study of Thai arts from prehistoric times to the present
Signs and symbols in Thai arts
The influence of globalization on contemporary Thai arts
Messages in line, color, and space in Thai art.

Medieval Art History Research Paper Topics

Aesthetics and style of Raphael’s paintings
Religious and non-religious art forms that originated from the time
The evolution and sustenance of art forms
Compare the artworks of Michelangelo and Raphael
History of renaissance arts
Symbols and motif in medieval paintings
Religious motifs in Leonardo de Vinci’s paintings
Aesthetics and styles of Byzantine art style
Evolution of early Christian arts,
Elements of Gothic arts

Mexican Revolutionary Art Research Paper Topics

Impact of the Mexican revolution on Mexican lifestyle
History and effects of revolutionary arts
Compare the artworks of Frida Kahlo, Diego, Rivera
Surrealism in Mexican arts
Mural paintings during the Mexican revolution
The place of arts in Mexican revolution
Different phases of the Mexican revolution and the artworks created during that time
Impact of the Mexican revolution on people’s perception of art
Compare Mexican revolutionary arts with those created after the revolution
Aesthetics and style of David Alfaro Siqueiros’s artworks

Argumentative Art Topics

Some art research paper topics in these areas include:

The most significant artwork in the 20th century
Is graffiti art or vandalism?
Which city has the most remarkable art history and why?
The relevance of medieval art in contemporary times
How has the museum preserved art culture and enthusiasm
Modern pop culture does not measure up to earlier times. Argue for or against
Do ethics limit art?
Has technology limited creativity in art?
Is the role of the artist in society relevant?
Do cartoons fuel or mediate in political issues?

Good South East Asia Art Topics for a Research Paper

Asia is a place of high artistic creations. Discuss
Compare ancient and contemporary Asian arts
History of calligraphy arts in East Asia
What is the philosophy behind ancient artistic creations of different ages?
The evolution of Bollywood
How does Chinese circus art reflect the Chinese tradition?
Jewelry styles and meaning in India
Aesthetics and styles in Japanese calligraphy art
Religious relevance of art in south India
The evolution of pop culture in India

Researches in art are not difficult if taken the right way. With this guide, picking an area of study and identifying the gap is not tedious. We have helped you out in this regard with the information provided above.

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Article contents

Arts-based research.

Janinka Greenwood Janinka Greenwood University of Canterbury
https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190264093.013.29
Published online: 25 February 2019

Arts-based research encompasses a range of research approaches and strategies that utilize one or more of the arts in investigation. Such approaches have evolved from understandings that life and experiences of the world are multifaceted, and that art offers ways of knowing the world that involve sensory perceptions and emotion as well as intellectual responses. Researchers have used arts for various stages of research. It may be to collect or create data, to interpret or analyze it, to present their findings, or some combination of these. Sometimes arts-based research is used to investigate art making or teaching in or through the arts. Sometimes it is used to explore issues in the wider social sciences. The field is a constantly evolving one, and researchers have evolved diverse ways of using the communicative and interpretative tools that processes with the arts allow. These include ways to initially bypass the need for verbal expression, to explore problems in physically embodied as well as discursive ways, to capture and express ambiguities, liminalities, and complexities, to collaborate in the refining of ideas, to transform audience perceptions, and to create surprise and engage audiences emotionally as well as critically. A common feature within the wide range of approaches is that they involve aesthetic responses.

The richness of the opportunities created by the use of arts in conducting and/or reporting research brings accompanying challenges. Among these are the political as well as the epistemological expectations placed on research, the need for audiences of research, and perhaps participants in research, to evolve ways of critically assessing the affect of as well as the information in presentations, the need to develop relevant and useful strategies for peer review of the research as well as the art, and the need to evolve ethical awareness that is consistent with the intentions and power of the arts.

multisensory
performance

Introduction

The term arts-based research is an umbrella term that covers an eclectic array of methodological and epistemological approaches. The key elements that unify this diverse body of work are: it is research; and one or more art forms or processes are involved in the doing of the research. How art is involved varies enormously. It has been used as one of several tools to elicit information (Cremin, Mason, & Busher, 2011 ; Gauntlett, 2007 ; Wang & Burns, 1997 ) and for the analysis of data (Boal, 1979 ; Gallagher, 2014 ; Neilson, 2008 ), and so it serves as an enrichment to the palette of tools used in qualitative research. It has been used in the presentation of findings (Bagley & Cancienne, 2002 ; Conrad, 2012 ; Gray & Sinding, 2002 ) and so occupies a space that could be responded to and evaluated as both art and research. It has been used to investigate art and the process of art-making. The emergence of the concept and practice of a/r/tography (Belliveau, 2015 ; Irwin, 2013 ; Springgay, Irwin, & Kind, 2005 ), for example, places art-making and its textual interpretation in a dynamic relationship of inquiry into the purpose, process, and meaning of the making of an artwork.

The field is multifaceted and elusive of definition and encompassing explanation. This article does not attempt such definitions. But it does risk describing some well-trodden pathways through the field and posing some questions. Illustrative examples are offered from the author’s work, as well as citing of works by other researchers who use arts-based approaches.

My own explorations of arts-based research began many years ago, before the term came into usage. I was commissioned to develop a touring play for a New Zealand youth theater, and I chose to write a docudrama, Broadwood: Na wai te reo? (Greenwood, 1995 ). The play reported the case of a remote, rural, and predominantly Maori school that made Maori language a compulsory subject in its curriculum. The parents of one boy argued against the decision, claiming the language held no use for their son. The dispute was aired on national television and was debated in parliament. The minister agreed that the local school board had the right to make the decision after consultation with parents and community. The dispute ended with the boy being given permission to do extra math assignments in the library during Maori language classes. To develop the script, I interviewed all the local participants in the case and sincerely sought to capture the integrity of their views in my dialogue. I accessed the minister of education’s comments through public documents and media and reserved the right to occasionally satirize them. Just a week or two before final production, the family’s lawyer officially asked for a copy of the script. To my relief, it was returned with the comment that the family felt I had captured their views quite accurately. The youth theater was invited to hold its final rehearsal on the local marae (a traditional tribal Maori ground that holds a meeting house and hosts significant community occasions), and a local elder offered the use of an ancestral whalebone weapon in the opening performance, instead of the wooden one made for the production. The opening performance took place in the school itself, and the boy, together with his parents and family friends, sat in the audience together with hundreds of community people. The play had an interactive section where the audience was asked to vote in response to a survey the school had originally sent out to its community. The majority of the audience voted for Maori language to be part of the mandatory curriculum. The boy and his family voted equally emphatically for it not to be. The play then toured in New Zealand and was taken to a festival in Australia.

At the time I saw the work purely in terms of theater—albeit with a strongly critical social function. Looking back, I now see it was a performative case study. I had carefully researched the context and respectfully interviewed participants after gaining their informed consent. The participants had all endorsed my reporting of the data. The findings were disseminated and subject to popular as well as peer review. The performances added an extra dimension to the research: they actively invited audience consideration and debate.

This article discusses the epistemology that underlies arts-based approaches to research, reviews the purposes and value of research that involves the arts, identifies different stages and ways that art may be utilized, and addresses questions that are debated in the field. It does not seek to disentangle all the threads within this approach to research or to review all key theorizations and possibilities in the field. The arena of arts-based research is a diverse and rapidly expanding one, and it is only possible within this discussion to identify some of the common underlying characteristics and potentialities and to offer selected examples. Because this discussion is shaped within an essay format, rather than through a visual or performative collage, there is the risk of marking a limited number of pathways and of making assertions. At the same time, I acknowledge that the discussion might have alternatively been conducted through arts-based media, which might better reflect some of the liminalities and interweaving layers of art-based processes (see further, Greenwood, 2016 ).

The term art itself compasses a wide and diverse spectrum of products and process. This article focuses particularly on dramatic and visual art, while acknowledging that the use of other art forms, such as poetry, fiction, dance, film, and fabric work, have been variously used in processes of investigation. The word art is used to indicate the wider spectrum of art activities and to refer to more specific forms and processes by their disciplines and conventions.

Why Use Art?

One of the main reasons for the growth of arts-based approaches to research is recognition that life experiences are multi-sensory, multifaceted, and related in complex ways to time, space, ideologies, and relationships with others. Traditional approaches to research have been seen by increasing numbers of researchers as predominantly privileging cerebral, verbal, and linearly temporal approaches to knowledge and experience. The use of art in research is one of many shifts in the search for truthful means of investigation and representation. These include, among others, movements toward various forms of narratives (Riessman, 2008 ), recognition of indigenous knowledges, and indigenous ways of sharing and using knowledge (Bharucha, 1993 ; Smith, 2014 ), auto-ethnographies (Ellis, 2004 ), conceptualizations of wicked questions (Rittel & Webber, 1973 ), processes of troubling (Gardiner, 2015 ), and queering (Halperin, 2003 ). Preissle ( 2011 ) writes about the “qualitative tapestry” (p. 689) and identifies historic and contemporary threads of epistemological challenges, methods, and purposes, pointing out the ever-increasing diversity in the field. Denzin and Lincoln ( 2011 ) describe qualitative research as a site of multiple interpretative practices and, citing St. Pierre’s ( 2004 ) argument that we are in a post “post” period, assert that “we are in a new age where messy, uncertain multi-voiced texts, cultural criticism, and new experimental works will become more common, as will more reflexive forms of fieldwork, analysis and intertextual representation” (p. 15). Springgay, Irwin, and Kind ( 2005 ) assert that a/r/tography is not a new branch of qualitative research but a methodology in its own right, and that it conceptualizes inquiry as an embodied encounter through visual and textual experiences. The use of art in research is a succession of approaches to develop methodology that is meaningful and useful.

Art, product, and process allow and even invite art-makers to explore and play with knowing and meaning in ways that are more visceral and interactive than the intellectual and verbal ways that have tended to predominate in Western discourses of knowledge. It invites art viewers to interact with representations in ways that involve their senses, emotions, and ideas. Eisner ( 1998 , 2002 ) makes a number of significant assertions about the relationship between form and knowledge that emphasize the importance of art processes in offering expanded understandings of “what it means to know” (Eisner, 1998 , p. 1). He states: “There are multiple ways in which the world can be known: Artists, writers, and dancers, as well as scientists, have important thongs to tell about the world” (p. 7). Like other constructivists (Bruner, 1990 ; Guba, 1996 ), he further argues that because human knowledge is a constructed form of experience, it is a reflection of mind as well as nature, that knowledge is made, not simply discovered. He then reasons that “the forms through which humans represent their conception of the world have a major influence on what they are able to say about it” (p. 6), and, making particular reference to education, he states that whichever particular forms of representation become acceptable “is as much a political matter as an epistemological one” (p. 7). Eisner’s arguments to extend conceptualizations of knowledge within the field of education have been echoed in the practices of art-based researchers.

Artists themselves understand through their practice that art is way of coming to know the world and of presenting that knowing, emergent and shifting though it may be, to others. Sometimes the process of coming to know takes the form of social analysis. In Guernica , as a well-known example, Picasso scrutinizes and crystallizes the brutal betrayals and waste of war. In Caucasian Chalk Circle , Brecht fractures and strips bare ideas of justice, loyalty, and ownership. Their respective visual and dramatic montages speak in ways that are different from and arguably more potent than discursive descriptions.

In many indigenous cultures, art forms are primary ways of processing and recording communally significant information and signifying relationships. For New Zealand Māori, the meeting house, with its visual images, poetry, song, oratory, and rituals, is the repository library of mythic and genealogical history and of the accumulated legacies of meetings, contested positions, and nuanced consensual decisions. Art within Māori and other indigenous culture is not an illustrative addition to knowledge systems, it is an integral means of meaning making and recording.

One of the characteristics of arts and arts-based research projects is that they engage with aesthetic understandings as well as with discursive explanations. The aesthetic is a contested term (Greenwood, 2011 ; Hamera, 2011 ). However, it is used here to describe the engagement of senses and emotion as well as intellectual processes, and the consequent collation of semiotics and significances that are embedded in cultural awareness and are variously used by art makers and art viewers to respond to works of art. An aesthetic response thus is a visceral as well as rational one. It may be comfortable with ambiguities, and it may elude verbalization.

The processes of art-making demand a commitment to a continuous refinement of skills and awareness. Art-viewers arguably also gain more from an artwork as they acquire the skills and literacies involved with that particular art form and as they gain confidence to engage with the aesthetic. However, viewers may apprehend meaning without mastery of all the relevant literacies. I recall an experience of watching flamenco in El Puerto de Santa Maria, a township outside Cadiz. My senses drank in the white stone of former monastery walls and the darkening sky over an open inner courtyard. My muscles and emotions responded spontaneously to the urgency of the guitar and the beaten rhythms on a packing case drum. My nerves tensed as the singer’s voice cut through the air. The two dancers, both older and dressed in seemingly causal fawn and grey, riveted my attention. I was a stranger to the art form, and I did not know the language of the dance and could not recognize its phases or its allusions. I did feel the visceral tug of emotion across space. My heart and soul responded to something urgent, strangely oppressive, but indefinable that might have an apprehension of what those who understand flamenco call duende . If I was more literate in the art form, I would no doubt have understood a lot more, but the art, performed by those who did know and had mastered its intricacies, communicated an experience of their world to me despite my lack of training. In that evening, I learned more about the experience of life in southern Spain than I had in my earlier pursuit of library books and websites.

Art, thus, is positioned as a powerful tool that calls for ever-refining expertise in its making, but that can communicate, at differing levels, even with those who do not have that expertise. Researchers who use art draw on its rich, and sometimes complex and elusive, epistemological bases to explore and represent aspects of the world. The researchers may themselves be artists; at the least, they need to know enough of an art form to be aware of its potential and how to manipulate it. In some cases intended participants and audiences may also be artists, but often they are not. It is the researcher who creates a framework in which participants join in the art or in which audiences receive it.

Art, Research Purpose, and Research Validity

So far, the argument for the value of art as a way of knowing is multifarious, embodied, and tolerant of ambivalences and ambiguities. Where then are the rigors that are widely held as essential for research? It can be argued that arts-based research, to be considered as research, needs to have explicit research purpose and needs to subject itself to peer critique.

As has been widely noted (Eisner, 1998 ; Leavy, 2017 ; Sullivan, 2010 ), the making of art involves some investigation, both into the process of making and into some aspect of the experiential world. In research, that purpose needs to be overt and explicit. When the purpose is identified, then the choice of methods can be open to critical scrutiny and evaluation. The design of an arts-based research project is shaped, at its core, by similar considerations as other research.

Arts-based research needs to be explicit about what is being investigated. If the objective is not clear, then the result may still be art, but it is hard to call it research. Purpose determines which of the vast array of art strategies and processes will be selected as the research methods. The trustworthiness of any research depends on a number of factors: at the design stage, it depends on a clear alignment between the purpose of the research and the methods selected to carry out the investigation. In arts-based research, as in other research, it is vital that the researcher identifies the relationship between purpose and selected art tools, and offers recipients of the research clear means to evaluate and critique the reliability and usefulness of the answers that come from the research. This is where choices about strategies need to be clearly identified and explained, and both the aims and boundaries of the investigation need to be identified.

This does not imply need for a rigid and static design. Art is an evolving process, and the research design can well be an evolving one, as is the case with participatory action research (Bryndon-Miller, Karl, Maguire, Noffke, & Sabhlok, 2011 ), bricolage (Denzin & Lincoln, 2011 ), and a number of other research approaches. However, the strategic stages and choices of the emergent design donot need to be identified and explained. Nor does it imply that all data or findings need to be fully explicable verbally. One of the reasons for choosing arts-based methods, although not the only one, is to allow the operation of aesthetic and subconscious understandings as well as conscious and verbalized ones. That is part of the epistemological justification for choosing an arts-based approach. The ambivalences and pregnant possibilities that result may be considered valued gains from the choice of research tools, and their presence simply needs to be identified, together with explication of the boundaries of how such ambivalence and possibilities relate to the research question.

Different Kinds of Purpose

The sections of this article examine common and different areas of purpose for which arts-based research is frequently used, arranging them into three clusters and discussing some of the possibilities within each one.

The first, and perhaps largest, cluster of purposes for using arts-based research is to investigate some social (in the broadest sense of the word) issue. Such issues might, for example, include woman’s rights, school absenteeism, gang membership, cross-cultural encounters, classroom relationships, experiences of particular programs, problems in language acquisition. The methodological choices involved in this group of purposes have been repeatedly addressed (e.g., Boal, 1979 ; O’Brien & Donelan, 2008 ; Finley, 2005 ; Leavy, 2017 ; Prosser, 2011 ; Wang & Burns, 1997 ) in discussions of the use of arts-based approaches to the social sciences. The intention for using arts-based tools is to open up different, and hopefully more empowering, options for exploring the specific problem or issue, and for expressing participants’ perspectives in ways that can bypass participants’ discomfort with words or unconscious compliance with dominant discourses, or perhaps to present findings in ways that better reveal their dynamics and complexity than written reports.

Another smaller, but important, cluster of purposes is to research art-making processes or completed art works. For example, a theater director (Smithner, 2010 ) investigates the critical decisions she made in selecting and weaving together separate performance works into a theatrical collage. Or, a researcher (O’Donoghue, 2011 ) investigates how a conceptual artist working with film and video enquires into social, political, and cultural issues and how he shapes his work to provoke viewers to develop specific understandings. These kinds of studies explore the how and why of art-making, focusing on the makers’ intentions, their manipulation of the elements and affordances of their specific art field, and often engage with aesthetic as well as sociocultural dimensions of analysis. Often such studies are presented as narratives or analytic essays, and it is the subject matter of the research that constitutes the arts basis. Sometimes, such studies find expression in new artworks, as is the case in Merita Mita’s film made about the work of painter Ralph Hotere (Mita, 2001 ), which interlays critical analyses, documentation of process, interviews, and pulsating images of the artworks.

The third cluster involves research about teaching, therapy, or community development through one or more of the arts. Here arts are primarily the media of teaching and learning. For example, when drama is the teaching medium, the teacher may facilitate the class by taking a fictional role within the narrative that provokes students to plan, argue, or take action. Students may be prompted to use roles, create improvisations, explore body representations of ideas or conflicts, and explore contentious problems in safely fictitious contexts. Because it examines both work within an art form and changes in learners’ or community members’ understandings of other issues, this cluster overlaps somewhat with the two previous clusters. However, it is also building a body of its own traditions.

One strong tradition is the documentation of process. For example, Burton, Lepp, Morrison, and O’Toole ( 2015 ) report two decades of projects, including Dracon and Cooling Conflict , which have used drama strategies as well as formal theoretical teaching to address conflict and bullying. They have documented the specific strategies used, discussed their theoretical bases, and acknowledged the evidence on which they base their claims about effectiveness of the strategies in building understanding about and reducing bullying. The strategies used involved use of role and improvisation and what the authors call an enhanced form of Boal’s Forum Theatre. Other examples include the Risky Business Project (O’Brien & Donelan, 2008 ), a series of programs involving marginalized youth in dance, drama, music, theater performance, stand-up comedy, circus, puppetry, photography, visual arts, and creative writing; explorations of cross-cultural understandings through drama processes (Greenwood, 2005 ); the teaching of English as a second language in Malaysia through teacher-in-role and other drama processes (Mohd Nawi, 2014 ); working with traditional arts to break down culturally bound ways of seeing the world (Stanley, 2014 ); and the training of a theater-for-development team to use improvisational strategies to address community problems (Okagbue, 2002 ). While the strategies are arts processes and the analysis of their effect addresses aesthetic dimensions of arts as well as cognitive and behavioral ones, the reporting of these projects is primarily within the more traditional verbal and discursive forms of qualitative research.

Sometimes the reporting takes a more dramatic turn. Mullens and Wills ( 2016 ) report and critically analyze Re-storying Disability Through the Arts , an event that sought to create space for dialogue between students, researchers, artists, educators, and practitioners with different involvements or interests in disability arts. They begin their report by re-creating a scene within the workshop that captures some of the tensions evoked, and follow this with a critical commentary on three community-based art practices that engage in a strategy of re-storying disability. They present arts as means to “counter powerful cultural narratives that regulate the lives and bodies of disabled people” (Mullens & Wills, 2016 , p. 5). Barrett ( 2014 ) reports a project, informed by an a/r/tography methodology, which utilized the classroom teaching of the prescribed arts curriculum to allow students to explore evolving understandings of identity and community. Montages of photographs are a central component in the report, as is a series of images that illustrate Barrett’s reflections on her own role within the investigation.

Using Art to Research Social Issues: Collecting Data

Within a social science research project, art processes might be used to collect data, to carry out analysis and interpretation, or to present findings. Perhaps the most common use is to collect data. The process of photovoice (Wang & Burns, 1997 ), for example, gives participants cameras and asks them to capture images that they consider as significant elements of the topic being investigated. Graffiti might be used to prompt absentee students to discuss their perceptions of schooling. Body sculptures, freeze frames, and hot seating are examples of drama strategies that could be used to facilitate reflection and debate about cross-cultural encounters, feelings about hospitalization, experiences of domestic violence, or an array of other topics.

In each case the art produced becomes the basis for further discussion. This process is quite different from historical concepts of art therapy, where the therapist would give expert insight into what a patient’s artwork means; here it is the participants who give the explanation, perhaps independently or perhaps through dialogue with other participants and the researcher. The embodied experience of construction provides a platform and a challenge to talking in ways that are more thoughtful and more honest than through a conventionally structured verbal interview. The talk after making is important, but the art products are not merely precursors to verbal data, they are concrete points of references to which both participants and researchers can refer and can use to prompt further introspection or deconstruction. The process of making, moreover, is one that allows time for reflection and self-editing along the way and so may yield more truthful and complex answers than those that might be given instantly in an interview. Participants who are second language speakers or who lack the vocabulary or theoretical constructs to express complex feelings, reactions, or beliefs can be enabled to use physicalization to create a bridge between what they know or feel wordlessly inside them and an external expression that can be read by others.

The art tools available for such data gathering are as varied as the tools used by artists for making art. They might include drawing, collage, painting, sculpting materials or bodies, singing, orchestration, Lego construction, movement improvisation, creation of texts, photography, graffiti, role creation, and/or spatial positioning.

Art Processes as Tools for Analysis

Art processes can also be used to analyze and interpret data. Within qualitative paradigms, the processes of collecting and interpretation of data often overlap. This is also true of arts-based research. For instance, Greenwood ( 2012 ) reported on a group of experienced Bangladeshi educators who came to New Zealand to complete their Masters. While they were proficient in English, they found colloquial language challenging, struggling often to find words with the right social or emotional connotations at the speed of conversation. In previous discussions, they often looked to each other for translation. A teaching workshop, held as an illustration of arts-based research, addressed the research question: what have been your experiences as international students? A small repertoire of drama strategies, particularly freeze frames with techniques for deconstructing and refining initial offers, short animations, and narrative sequencing were used. These prompted participants to recall and show personal experiences, to critically view and interpret one another’s representations, and to further refine their images to clarify their intended meaning. The participants flung themselves into the challenge with alacrity and flamboyance and created images of eagerness, hope, new relationships, frustration, failed communication, anger, dejection, unexpected learning, and achievement. They also actively articulated ideas as we deconstructed the images and, through debate, co-constructed interpretations of what was being shown in the work and what it meant in terms of their experience, individual and shared, of overseas study. The interweaving of making, reflection, discussion, and further refinement is intrinsic to process drama; as a research method, it affords a means of interweaving data collection and collaborative analysis. In this case the participants also debated aspects of the validity of the process as research, raising questions about subjectivity in interpretation, about the nature of crystallization (Richardson, 1994 ), about informed consent, and about co-construction of narratives. Analysis shifted from being the task of an outsider researcher to one carried out, incrementally and experimentally, by insider participants. While the researcher held the initial power to focus the work, participants’ physical entry into the work, and their interrogation of the images that were created constituted a choice of how much they would share and contribute, and so they became active and sometimes playful partners in the research. This approach to analysis shares many features with participatory action research (Brydon-Miller et al., 2011 ), both in eliciting the agency of participants and in evolving a process of analysis that is interwoven with the gathering of data from preceding action and with the planning of further investigative cycles of action.

The work of Boal is perhaps one of the best known examples of the use of an art process, in this case theater, as a means of analysis of data. Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed ( 1979 ) details a series of strategies for deconstruction and collaborative analysis. For example, in the process he calls image theatre , participants select a local oppressive problem that they seek to resolve. They create and discuss images that exemplify experience of the problem and their idealized solutions (the data); they then analyze their images to find where power resides and how it is supported. Boal’s theater process calls for experimentation with further images that explore scenarios where power could become shared to some extent and could allow further action by those who experience the oppression. The process finishes with consequential explorations of the first step to be taken by participants as a means to work toward an equilibrium of power. Boal, as the title of his book, Theatre of the Oppressed , acknowledges, draws on the work of his Braziailan compatriot, Freire, and particularly on his concept of conscientization (Freire, 1970 , 1972 ). Boal’s process for analyzing experiences of oppression is not so much a direct action plan as a means of analyzing the mechanisms of specific conditions of oppression and the potential, however limited, for agency to resolve the oppression. The sequenced strategies of creating and discussing alternative images of oppression, power relationships, and action enable participants to deconstruct the socio-cultural reality that shapes their lives and to gain awareness of their capacity to transform it.

Art as a Means to Present Findings

There is a large and growing body of research that presents findings in arts forms. A few examples are briefly discussed.

After collecting data, through interviews and official communications from participants in a case where a district school was being threatened with closure, Owen ( 2009 ) commissioned a composer to write a score for sections of his transcripts and create a community opera. He expressed the hope that this would “transform their tiny stories into noisy histories” (p. 3). Part of the data was sung at a conference I attended. I was struck by the shift in power. What I might have regarded as dull data in a PowerPoint presentation now became a compelling articulation of experiences and aspirations and a dynamic debate between personal lives and authoritarian policy.

The AIDS Memorial Quilt project (Morris, 2011 ; Yardlie & Langley, 1995 ) is frequently described as the world’s greatest piece of community folk art. A claim can be made that, while each panel in the quilt is a product of folk art, the collation of the quilt in its enormity is a work of conceptual art that juxtaposes the fragility and isolation of individual loss with the overwhelming global impact of the AIDS epidemic. The quilt can also be seen as research that visually quantifies the death toll through AIDS in Western world communities and that qualitatively investigates the life stories and values of those who died through the perceptions of those who loved them.

A number of museums throughout the world present visual and kinaesthetic accounts of social and historical research. Well-known examples are the Migration Museum in Melbourne, the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg, and the Documentation Center for the History of National Socialism in Munich. A less securely established exhibition is that of images of the Australian Aboriginal Stolen Generation that was collected by the Dumbartung Aboriginal Corporation to educate community and schoolchildren, “but only had the funding to showcase the exhibit for one night” (Diss, 2017 ). These and many other exhibitions create visual and experiential environments where the data of history can be not only seen and read but also felt.

In a similar way to how these exhibitions use actual archival photographs, theater may use the exact words of interviews to re-tell real stories. In making Verbatim , Brandt and Harcourt ( 1994 ) collated the words from 30 interviews with convicted murderers, their families, and the families of murder victims. “We went into the prisons to find out what the story was that we were going to tell, and that was the story that emerged from the material we collected,” Harcourt explained (White, 2013 ). “Not only the content, but also the form emerged from that context. We didn’t go in having decided we were going to make a solo show. Form emerged from the experience of the prison system.”

A frequently used form is that of ethnodrama (Mienczakowski, 1995 ; Saldaña, 2008 ). Ethnodrama presents data in a theatrical form: using stage, role, and sometimes lighting and music. Saldaña ( 2008 ) explains that ethnodrama maintains “close allegiance to the lived experiences of real people while presenting their voices through an artistic medium” (p. 3) and argues that the goals are not only aesthetic, they also possess emancipatory potential for motivating social change within participants and audiences.

Sometimes the ethnographic material is further manipulated in the presentation process. Conrad ( 2012 ) describes her research into the Native program at the Alberta youth corrections center in play form as “an ethnographic re-presentation of the research—a creative expression of the research findings” (p. xii). Her play jumps through time, creating fragments of action, and is interspersed by video scenes that provide alternative endings that could result from choices made by the characters. Conrad explains her choice of medium: “Performance has the potential to reach audiences in ways beyond intellectual understanding, through engaging other ways of knowing that are empathetic, emotional, experiential, and embodied, with the potential for radically re-envisioning social relations” (p. xiii).

Belliveau ( 2015 ) created a performative research about his work in teaching Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing in an elementary school. He interwove excerpts of students’ performances from the Shakespearean text with excerpts of their discussions about the issues of power, pride, love, and other themes in a new performance work that illustrated as well as explained primary students’ response to Shakespeare. He later presented a keynote at the IDEA (International Drama in Education Association) conference in Paris where he performed his discussion of this and other work with young students. Similarly, Lutton’s ( 2016 ) doctoral research explored the work and challenges of selected international drama educators using imagination and role play. In her final performance of her research, she took the role of an archivist’s assistant at a fictitious Museum of Educational Drama and Applied Theatre to provide “an opportunity for drama practitioners to use their skills and knowledge of drama pedagogy to tell their own stories” (Lutton, p. 36). She states that her choice of research tool embraces theatricality, enabling the embodiment of participants’ stories, the incorporation of critical reflection and of aesthetic knowledge (p. 36).

The Cheviot, the Stag, and the Black Black Oil , developed by John McGrath and the 7:84 Theatre Company, recounts the history of economic exploitation of the Scottish people, from the evictions that followed the clearances for the farming of Cheviot sheep, through the development of Highland stag hunts, to the capitalist domination of resources in the 1970s oil boom. Within a traditional ceilidh form it tells stories, presents arguments, and uses caricature, satire, and parody. The play is the result of research and of critical analysis of movements of power and economic interests. It is also a very effective instrument of political persuasion: McGrath gives the dispossessed crofters a language that tugs at our empathy whereas that of the landlords provokes our antagonism. Is this polemics or simple historic truth? Does the dramatic impact of the play unreasonably capture our intellects? And if the facts that are presented are validated by other accounts of history does it matter if it does? What is, what should be, what can be the relationship between research and the evocation, even manipulation of emotions?

Emotion—and Its Power

In as much as arts offer different ways of knowing the world, their use at various stages of research has the power to influence both what we come to know and how we know it. Art tools, strategically used, allow access to emotions and visceral responses as well as to conscious ideas. That makes them powerful for eliciting information. It also makes them powerful in influencing audiences.

The photos of the brutality of the police and of the steadfastness of the activists in the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg are examples of powerfully influencing as well as informing data. As well as the events that are recorded, the faces and the bodies speak through the photos. Their exhibition in blown-up size at eye level together with film footage and artifacts create a compellingly powerful response in viewers. Like many others, I came out of the museum emotionally drained and confirmed, even strengthened, in my ideological beliefs. The power of the exhibition had first sharpened and then consolidated my understandings. Was this because of the power of the facts presented in the exhibition, or was it because of the power of their presentation ? Or was it both? When the issue presented is one like apartheid, I am not afraid of having my awareness influenced in multiple ways: I believe I already have an evidence-informed position on the subject. I also applaud the power of the exhibition to inform and convince those who might not yet have reached a position. But what if the issue was a different one? Perhaps one which I was more uncertain about? Might it then seem that the emotional power of the exhibition gave undue weight to the evidence?

The issue here is not a simple one. The presentation is not only the reporting of findings: it is also art. The researcher (in the artist) stays true to the data; the artist (in the researcher) arranges data for effect and affect. Conrad explicitly states her hope that her choice of presentation mode will add impact to her research findings: she wants the presentation of her research about youth in detention centers to engender more empathetic understandings of their experiences and lead, in turn, to more constructive attitudes toward their needs. By putting their words to music, Owen wants his audience to listen more attentively to opinions of the stakeholders in the schools threatened with closure. McGrath wants his audience to side with those dispossessed by the combined power of capital and law. The Dumbartung Aboriginal Corporation plans to emotionally move as well as to inform its community. In writing Broadwood , I meticulously presented both sides of the dispute, I deliberately placed music and metaphor at the service of Maori language, and I deliberately used the spatial suggestiveness of the stage to evoke possibilities in the ending. The boy is alone in the library while his classmates are on the marae listening to an elder explain the history of their meetinghouse. The elder gives them an ancient whalebone weapon to hold, the students pass it among themselves, then hold it out across space to the boy. The boy stands, takes half a cautious step toward them and then stops; the lights go down. I intended the audience to complete the action in their subconscious.

In each of these cases, the art form of the presentation allows the artist/researcher to manipulate affect as well as critical cognition. To my mind, this is not simply another iteration of the argument between subjectivity and objectivity in research. Many contemporary approaches to research openly recognize that knowledge is mediated by context, experience, and social and historical discourses as well as by individuals’ personal interpretation (Denzin & Lincoln, 2011 ; Ellis, 2004 ). It is shaped by what is left out as well as by what is included. The practice of careful and scrupulous reflexivity is a way of acknowledging and bounding the subjectivity of the researcher (Altheide & Johnson, 2011 ; Ellingson, 2011 ). The researcher-who-is-artist draws on a subconscious as well as a conscious sense of how things fit together, and constructs meaning subconsciously as well as consciously, manipulating affect and effect in the process. Perhaps all researchers do so to some extent. For instance, the deliberately invisible authors of much quantitative research, who allow the passive voice to carry much of the reporting, who triangulate and define limitation, create an effect of fair-minded and dependable authority. The affect is not necessarily misleading, and it is something that readers of research have learned to recognize. However, the researcher-who-is-artist can draw on the rich repertoire of an art field that already operates in the domain of the aesthetic as well as of the critically cognitive, in spaces that are liminal as well those that are defined. It is arguable that readers of research still need to recognize and navigate through those spaces. Arguably, the challenge exists not only in the field of research: it is present in all the media that surrounds our daily lives.

A/r/tography and Examination of Places Between

The challenge of exploring liminal spaces of intention, process, explanation, effect, and affect is seriously taken up by the emergent discipline of a/r/tography . The backslashes in the term speak of fracture; they also denote the combined authorial roles of artist, researcher, and teacher. Springgay, Irwin, and Kind ( 2005 ) explain that a/r/tography is deliberately introspective and does not seek conclusions: rather it plays with connections between art and text and seeks to capture the embodied experience of exploring self and the world. Irwin et al. ( 2006 ) state: “Together, the arts and education complement, resist, and echo one another through rhizomatic relations of living inquiry” (p. 70). A/r/tography is explicitly positioned as a practice-based and living inquiry: it explores but resists attempting to define the spaces between artist, teacher, and researcher, and so implicitly rejects boundaries between these roles. It conceptualizes inquiry as a continuing experiential process of encounter between ideas, art media, context, meaning, and evolving representations. At the same time as it blurs distinctions, it teases out interrelationships: it offers art inquiry as something that is purposeful but unfixed, and art knowing as something that is personally and socially useful, but at best only partially and temporarily describable, never definable. This is one reason why its proponents explain it as a substantively different and new methodology outside the existing frameworks of qualitative research.

A/r/tography emerged out of the field of art education, with the explicit aim to extend the opportunities afforded by education in the arts, and to develop means to record and report the complex facets of learning and teaching in the arts. Consequently its language may be experienced, by readers who are outside the discipline, as highly abstract, deliberately ambiguous, and even esoteric: it seems to speak, as many research disciplines do, primarily to others in its own field. However, its broad principles have been picked up, and perhaps adapted, by practitioners who seek to explore the processes of their students’ learning through the arts and the evolving understandings they develop. For instance, Barrett and Greenwood ( 2013 ) report exploration of the epistemological third space through which place-conscious education and visual arts pedagogy can be interwoven and through which students, many of whom do not aspire to become artists, can use art-making to re-imagine and re-mark their understandings of their physical and social context and of their relationship with community. The value of this kind of research is posed in terms of the insights it affords rather than its capacity for presenting authoritative conclusions.

A Conference Debate, and the Politics of Research

Whether the provision of insights is enough to make art-making into research is a question that is frequently and sometimes fiercely contested. One such debate took place at a European conference I recently attended. It occurred in an arts-based research stream, and it began with the presentation of two films. The films were relatively short, and a discussion followed and became increasingly heated. Personally, I liked the films. The first reported a dance process that became an undergraduate teaching text. The second, in layers of imagery and fragments of dialogue, explored the practice of two artists. However, I was not sure what the added value was in calling either research. I saw art responding to art, and that seemed valuable and interesting enough. Why was the construct of research being privileged? The filmmakers defended the claim to research on the grounds that there was inquiry, on the grounds that art spoke in languages that were best discussed through art, and on the grounds that research was privileged in their institutions. Then a respected professor of fine arts put forward more direct criticism. Research, he argued, needed to make explicit the decisions that were made in identifying and reporting findings so that these would be accessible for peer review. Neither film, he said, did so. Defenses from the audience were heated. Then another senior art educator argued that art itself could not just be self-referential: it had to open a space for others to enter. The debate continued in corridors long after the session ended.

That the criticisms were unrelenting seemed an indication of how much was at stake. The space held by arts-based research within the European academic congregation is still somewhat fragile. The arts-based network was formed because of advocates’ passionate belief in the extended possibilities that arts-based methods offer, and this year again it expressed its eagerness to receive contributions in film and other art media as well as PowerPoint and verbal presentations. However, the network also saw itself as a custodian of rigor.

The participants in the session re-performed an argument that lingers at the edges of arts-based research. At the far ends of the spectrum, art and research are readily recognizable, and when art is borrowed as a tool in research, the epistemological and methodological assumptions are explicable. But the ground is more slippery when art and research intersect more deeply. When is the inquiry embedded within art, and when does it become research? Is it useful to attempt demarcations? What is lost from art or from research if demarcations are not attempted? The questions, as well as possible answers, are, as Eisner suggested, political as well as philosophical and methodological.

The doing of research and its publication have become big academic business. Universities around the world are required to report their academics’ research outputs to gain funding. My university, for example, is subject to a six-yearly round of assessment of research performance, based primarily on published and on funded research outputs. Each academic’s outputs are categorized and ranked, and the university itself is ranked and funded, in comparison with the other universities in the country. There is pressure on each academic to maximize research publications, even at the cost, it often seems, of other important academic activities, such as teaching. The competitive means of ranking also increases contestations about what is real research, serving both as a stimulus for positioning differing forms of inquiry as research and as a guarded gateway that permits some entries and denies others. Politicians and policymakers, in their turn, favor and fund research that can provide them with quotable numbers or clear-cut conclusions. Arts-based research still battles for a place within this politico-academic ground, although there appears to be growing acceptance of the use of art tools as means to elicit data.

Site for Possibilities—and Questions

The politics of research do matter, but for researchers who are committed to doing useful research, there are other factors to consider when choosing research approaches. These include the potentialities of the tools, the matter that is to be investigated, and the skills and practice preferences of the researcher.

The emergence and development of processes of arts-based research are grounded in belief that there are many ways of knowing oneself and the world, and these include emotions and intuitive perceptions as well as intellectual cognition. The epistemology of arts-based research is based on understandings that color, space, sound, movement, facial expression, vocal tone, and metaphor are as important in expressing and understanding knowledge as the lexical meanings of words. It is based on understandings that symbols, signs, and patterns are powerful means of communication, and that they are culturally and contextually shaped and interpreted. Arts-based research processes tolerate, even sometimes celebrate, ambiguity and ambivalence. They may also afford license to manipulate emotions to evoke empathy or direct social action.

The use of arts-based processes for eliciting participants’ responses considerably increases researchers’ repertoire for engaging participants and for providing them with means of expression that allow them to access feelings and perceptions that they might not initially be able to put into words as well as giving them time and strategies for considering their responses. The use of arts-based processes for analysis and representation allow opportunities for multidimensional, sensory, and often communal explorations of the meaning of what has been researched. It also presents new challenges to receivers of research who need to navigate their way not only through the overt ambiguities and subjective expression, but also through the invisible layers of affect that are embedded in art processes.

The challenges signal continuing areas of discussion, and perhaps work, for both arts-based researchers and for the wider research community. Does the use of art in representation of research findings move beyond the scope of critical peer review? Or do we rather need to develop new languages and strategies for such review? Do we need critical and recursive debate about when art becomes research and when it does not? Are the ambiguities and cognitive persuasions that are inherent in arts-based representations simply other, and useful, epistemological stances? Does the concept of research lose its meaning if it is stretched too far? Does art, which already has a useful role in interpreting and even shaping society, need to carve out its position as research? Does the entry of arts-based research into the arena of research call for revisions to the way we consider ethics? How do the procedures of institutional ethics committees need to be adapted to accommodate the engagement of the human body as well as the emergent design and ambiguities of the arts-based research processes? What are the more complex responsibilities of arts-based researchers toward their participants, particularly in terms of cultural protocols, reciprocity of gains, and the manipulation of emotions and cognition through visually or dramatically powerful presentations?

The already existing and expanding contribution of arts-based researchers argues vigorously for the place of arts processes in our congregations of research discussion and production. Quite simply, the arts address aspects of being human that are not sufficiently addressed by other methodologies. They are needed in our repertoire of tools for understanding people and the world. However, like other research approaches, they bring new challenges that need to be recognized and debated.

179 Contemporary Art Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

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Contemporary Art Practices Essay Speaking about contemporary art, people usually mean the objects of art and artistic techniques that began to be used in the middle of the twentieth century.
Impact of Digital Technologies on Contemporary Art On the contrary, digital art has been applauded in that it is fast and flexible in the sense that artists get to finish their jobs fast.
Modernism in Art and Painting Paintings done in the past about the state of people and past society presently help to give direction to in the world of art.
Differences of Realism, Naturalism, and Modernism Periods in Art The realism movement in art is a product of the ideological and philosophical spirit of its time. Modernism is the movement in search of new forms of art, and it emphasizes the interior world.
Modernism and Arts and Crafts: Comparison Today, critics view modernism as a breakdown of the traditional styles inherent to the Western culture that used to connect the appearance of works of art to the appearance of the natural world. In particular, […]
The Artistic Life of Xu Beihong and His Influence to Modern Art in China Xu Beihong was a major player in the revolutionalization of Chinese art. The dissenting voice was however that of Xu Beihong who was convinced that the answer to Chinese art was in the 19th century […]
Theory of Modern Art: Rationalization Buchloh observes the cyclical appearance of action and reaction in art since the advent of Cubism, and infers from this that art reflects somehow the state of society.
The Influence of Conceptual Image on Modern Art and Design If a practical application is concerned, an image is a way of communication, and a designer often plays the role of the mediator between the public and the seller of a product the image is […]
The Difference Between Art Deco and Depression Modern Design By and whole, Art Deco and Depression differ in their characteristics and their meanings as they bring unlike messages to the viewers.
Analysis of Modern Interior Design Style The factors mentioned above and the interior design style are associated because the industry of interior design is a broad discipline that combines knowledge and technologies of many fields. The first major factor that has […]
Pregnant Female Body in Renaissance and Modern Art Thus, he considered Mona Lisa to be a symbol of the origin of life, and the female image as a symbolic source of natural powers of creation and destruction.
Modern Ceramic Art: Beatrice Wood and Bernard Leach She was widely exposed to art and yearned to run away to France which charted the direction of her life as she thwarted her mother plans for “coming out” into the society and leading a […]
Effects of World War I on the Development of Modern Art For the artists and most of the people in Europe, the time that preceded the World War I, the actual war period and the aftermath of the was presented a period of profound disillusionment 13.
Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock: The Revolutionary Modern Artists The essay addresses the contribution of these famous artists to their particular art movements and in general, the world of art.
American Art Deco and Mid-Century Modern Designs Therefore, this style continues to be present in the decoration and design of buildings, interiors, transportation, and accessories. The Mid-century Modern design remains popular due to its sole combination of organic materials, clear lines, and […]
Modernist Typography in Graphic Design In the example above, it can be seen that these serifs take on a strong triangular shape, joined to the main stroke with a series of brackets that serves both to fill in the negative […]
Visual Analysis of Nature in Modern Art In the age of modern arts, when both the creators and the audience is less concerned with the physical form and more with the underlying messages and feelings that art invokes, the multi-faceted topic of […]
Modern Art: A Cultural-Aesthetic Movement The problem of defining of the term Modernism created much difficulty for artists, philosophers and writers of the 20th century. In the course of time, the aspect of realism came into consideration to change a […]
Theory of Modern Art: Theory of Realism The proper use of art, according to this declaration, was to document “a true picture of the events” and shape the mind towards the revolutionary ideal[7].
Modern Asian Art Exhibition in Museum Overall, modern Asian art reflects the diverse cultural and artistic traditions of the region and shows the ways in which this legacy was influenced by Western art trends.”Mandala” by Kamal Boullata is an example of […]
Contemporary Religious Education and Liberal Arts The provision of contemporary religious education becomes a necessity and guide and ensures that more people are in a position to transform their lives.
Contemporary Art as an Example of Social Commentary In summary, art is a vehicle for the expression of the political, religious, and social views of both the artist and the audience.
Traditional and Contemporary Art: Paintings Rouen Cathedral The glamorous overall appearance of pop art is pleasant and engaging. I find abstract art overhyped and thought-provoking due to the lack of subject.
Mark Bradford on Reimagine Modernist Art Instead of painting in a realistic style, abstract painters seek to capture the ethereal, unveil the unseen, and express the mysterious.
Painting as Contemporary 21st Century Art Topic Considering different perspectives and applications in the exploration of the topic of geometric art, I intend to study the impact of geometric art in different industries.
National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea Thankfully, modern technologies allow us to share museums’ exhibits and opportunities online and our National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art located in Korea is not an exception.
Michael Jackson’s Glove for Museum of Contemporary Art Australia It describes the cultural importance of the piece of work and how it resonates with the institution’s wider objectives and mission statement.
Museum of Modern Art: Reflection The Cypress tree is also a significant element in the painting as van Gogh projects it as a rising flame from the ground to the night sky.
Ai Weiwei as a Contemporary Art Artist The meaning of human rights and the destiny of the Chinese people are of primary significance for the artist, so many of his works reflect the issues that Weiwei recognizes and wants to eliminate.
The Concept of Modern Art Development Walter Benjamin stated in the book, The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. In the statement, Benjamin was responding to the effect of reproduction on the aura of an object.
Contemporary Islamic Art Overview The influence of European art in the East grows in the 19th century and reaches its climax by the 20th century.
The Coming of Modern Era and the Birth of “New Art” The most notable movements included Impressionism, then Cubism, Expressionism, Fauvism, Suprematism, Abstract art, proponents of which contributed immensely to the establishment of a new perspective on the role of art in society.
Art and Printmaking. Contemporary Art These types of printmaking have differences relative to the nature of the surface, which creates or forms the print that is to be transferred onto a fabric or paper.
The Formation of the Contemporary Art The painting created by Wilfredo Lam, one of the famous representatives of Modern Primitivism, represents the image of primitive way of life and depiction of early beliefs of Afro-Cubans.
“Salt Shaker” by Stuart Davis and Modern Art The Salt Shaker is a prominent example of how most ordinary and banal items may be turned into major art pieces.
Contemporary Moorish Interior Design As a result, the Moroccan Style interior design provides a number of possibilities to demonstrate and highlight these nuances and peculiarities that exist in different cultures.
Modernist Art: A Feminist Perspective Clarke limited the definition of modernism even further by his restriction of it to the facets of the Paris of Manet and the Impressionists, a place of leisure, pleasure, and excesses, and it seems that […]
Hensbergen’s “Guernica” Is a Paradigm of the Modern Art Guernica is a depiction of the airborne devastation of a Basque city by the fascists in the period of the Spanish Civil war.
Classical and Contemporary Art as Influenced by Kate Beynon In Li Ji’s drawing, Beynon creates the image of a strong, stout and bold warrior completely in control of the mountain next to her.
Effects of Globalization in the Contemporary Japanese Art They have in turn influenced the art of painting in Japan to develop it and push it to a global level.
Contemporary Culture and Pop Art To understand the essence of pop Art better, the connection between the This is not a Pipe by Foucault and Plato and the Simulacrum by Deleuze and the works of pop art can be of […]
A Work of Modern Art Analysis: “Global Death and Destruction” by Robert Arneson This, in its turn, brings about ideas of how precarious the position of man himself is in this world in contrast to the stable and imminent existence of the things created by him: war, and […]
Animations and Modern Film Designs In the film industry, the audience has to be captivated by the proposition in the pictures. In order to catch the attention of the viewers the film has to be striking and enjoyable.
The History of Modernism Era: The Modern Philosophy of Art Modernism is used for the description of the style and ideas of a work of art that was produced during this period or era of modernism.
Studies in Contemporary Art and Artists The paper is claimed to review some of the most known contemporary artists, and define the particularities, that may be regarded as mnemonic traces of their arts.
Modern Views on Aesthetics and Art Robert Solomon in his article dedicated to Kitsch, which is often viewed as a degeneration of the present-day culture, states that it also has a right to be called art.
Modern Vision of Art: “Embankment” and “TH.2058” On the other hand, I believe that in order to create a piece of art, the author should not necessarily make all components on their own: for instance, when a talented florist creates a composition […]
Yue Minjun’s Self-Portraits As Modern Art This paper will try to present the aesthetic as well as commercial interpretation of artist Yue Min Jun as an artist, in the eyes of a westerner but with the consideration of personal history and […]
Modern Art: Nature, Life Man and Abstract Exhibition The theme for the exhibition is ‘Nature, Life Man and Abstract’ on how various artists have attempted to depict nature, life, man in the abstract form. Featured in this exhibit is one of the works […]
Humanities: Modern Culture and the Arts In light of the foregoing, the essence of the paper is to zero in on the explorations of the cultural transformations in a particular society substantiating notions that culture is dynamic and is always subject […]
Modern Art Directions Analysis The new art of the 20th century is a variety of sections and directions. The creativity of separate representatives of the avant-garde does not fit at all in the frameworks of any art currents.
The Pregnant Form as Modern Art Form However, with the advent of Christianity and the vilification of the female form, it became necessary to hide the woman’s body, especially the ‘grotesque’ form of the pregnant woman.
Foundations of Modern Art: Getty Museum Jacques-Louis David’s excellent masterpiece of the young lovers Telemachus and Eucharis was created at the dawn of the artist’s life when the defeat of Napoleon and the return of the monarchy in France forced him […]
Classic & Modern Art Classifying and Appreciating The classical style of art have been those of portraits, still, life, landscape, and the genre itself were used as subjects for the different forms of artworks.
Eco-Friendly Design in Contemporary Fashion In this case, fibers are plants that need to be treated during processing; designing and they too require the usage of herbicides, fertilizers, and other chemicals that are hazardous to the environment at large.
Jenny Holzer as a Contemporary Artist Although she lives and works in New York, her work is known throughout the country for its biting reflections on political issues of the day, coupled with her blatant attempt to involve the average consumer […]
Contemporary Literature. Poems and Paintings The poem and painting chosen for the analysis in this paper belong to the works of the second group, that is the picture came to existence much earlier than the poem which, in its turn, […]
Mid-Century Modern Design However, the key focus of the style is the combination of function and a unique design that is appealing to the eye.
Interior Architecture in Context: Subjective Well-Being in Modernist Design According to Petermans and Pohlmeyer, subjective well-being is an emerging topic of research in the field of design, although, no consensus has been reached in the scientific area as to what represents the essence of […]
Russian Avant-Garde in History of Modern Art The Russian avant-garde is a massive wave of non-traditional, experimental, and innovative art that covers the period from the end of the 19th century to the middle of the 20th century in Russia.
Cubism in History of Modern Art Cubism has become one of the iconic art movements of the twentieth century that had a profound effect on the development of art.
Cultural Encounter: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art As I learned from the description of the exhibition by the SFMOMA and the video called “Julie Mehretu: Politicized Landscapes,” Mehretu painted with ink on the background of the blurred 19th-century paintings of the American […]
Modern Art in Actions, Events, Performances The relationship between the audience and a work of art was drastically transformed from observation to involvement as for the first time the viewer was placed in the art context.
Art Exhibition in Contemporary Society One of the key roles and benefits of the art exhibition is that it helps to advance and promote the value of different aspects of art, thus enabling artists to achieve their goals in those […]
Art-Society Nexus in the Museum of Modern Art Whether it is in the genesis of individual works, the act of reception, or the course of the history of style, the dialectical development of art does not proceed from the antagonism between social and […]
Paintings: Emotional Intensity of Modern Art Name: Hong Seung-Hye Title: “More Interesting than War” Year: 2008 Gallery: Kukje Hallery Exhibition: Debris Materials: Polyurethane on acrylic Method of construction and dimensions: 14 x 18 x 27 cm, 14 x 20 x […]
Modernist Revolution in Art History Simultaneously, the works of Karl Marx challenged the assumption of the relative nature of the shortcomings of capitalist society and suggested its fundamental flaws and inherent contradictions as reasons for the current social issues.
Australia’s Aboriginal and Modernist Visual Arts Indigenous Australian art is characterized by a lot of imagery that depicted the origin of the artist and the themes in the paintings.
Modern Art: Painting, Sculpture, Architecture, Photography Duchamp and his work have a connection through the refusal to accept the views of the majority of artists and art lovers.
Modernity in Traditional Islamic Building Design The bifurcation of scholarly opinions on the place of modernity in traditional Islamic building design is a testament to the complexity of the issue.
Zhuang Huan’s “Poppy Fields” in Modern Chinese Art Zhang Huan disclosed the meaning of his art, and particularly, of this series in several interviews declaring that these “paintings represent the hallucination of happiness and the hallucination of fear and loneliness in this life […]
Ideas in Neo-Expressionism and Contemporary Art The insights of identity can be seen in the artworks of many contemporary artists. The majority of them try to reveal their philosophical views and attract the public’s attention to those issues they consider to […]
Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art’s Exhibitions In terms of mission, the Museum of Contemporary Art of Montreal is dedicated to revealing to the world the crucial position that the present-day art holds in the community.
Contemporary Installation Art Changes From the 20th Century Quite the opposite, art serves as the means of rendering the alteration and the challenges that people face in the identified realms, therefore, portraying the process of the evolution of the humankind.
The Body in Contemporary Art Finally, the art of performance includes the human body in its motion; in this role, the body is viewed from a variety of angles and perspectives and in the combination with what is happening to […]
Greek Mosaics in Later Greek Art and Modern Art For instance, all the decorated floors were usually confined to a unique principle whereby the dining room and the anteroom were considered.
Contemporary Female Artists in Turkey The secrecy associated with Islam and gender roles in some parts of Asia has further compounded this mystery because few people know what to make of the place of women in traditional Islamic societies and […]
Classicism, Realism and Contemporary Art Paintings In my opinion, this difference is concerned with the fact that, whereas, many artistic works of the past can be enjoyed by just about anyone, this is far from being the case with the examples […]
Modernity Development in Art of 18-20th Centuries In turn, romanticism and realism are aimed at showing that modernity can be viewed as the search for new topics or questions that have not been examined by the representatives of the previous cultural movements.
Contemporary Art at Saatchi Gallery of London The work states the idea that the “location of the soul was not necessarily in the body”, and the focus is not on the man trying to breathe above the water, but on the vivid […]
Modern Art: Condensation Cube by Hans Haacke Thus, obviously being the bright example of the modern art, Condensation Cube helps to author to introduce several questions which are interesting to him and raise the question of the relations between art and science […]
Modern Art Works: Painting, Sculpture and Vintage Illustration The aim of this essay is to describe the painting Joy of Life by Henri Matisse, the sculpture The Kiss by Constantin Brancussi, and to present the vintage print illustration of 1930s.
Artistic Modernism and Art Nouveau The opposition of mass production to the handmade artistic work can also be regarded as the opposition of the inhuman and soulless to the infinite and spiritual that is comprised of beauty.
Modern Arts Development in the USA The research explores how the social status, the cultivation of esthetics, and attendance of artistic events affect the inherent attitudes of the cultural policies in the USA.
Zhao Zhao and the Chinese Contemporary Art It is considered to portray the repression of the artist and Ai Weiwei by the authorities in China. The marks of the brush in Sky No.
Exploration of Artwork From Modern Art History: Fauvism This painting by Henri Matisse was his first work that portrayed impressionism and also the advent of colored painting by the Fauvists.
Contemporary Art in China However, the fruits of the struggles are worth the effort, if the current fame and reputation of China as a beacon of contemporary art is anything to go by.
Modern Approaches to Creating of the Artwork The technological peculiarities of the installation are characterized by the fact that the author uses a projection screen and a room with four specific zones for producing of the effect of interacting with the characters […]
Design Activism to Contemporary Designers As a result, scholars have coined the term “design activism” to enhance the role of designers to the society. The rise of many designers as a profession has been in a crossroads to decide on […]
Authenticity in Contemporary Design One example of contemporary design that incorporates the aspect of actual handcraft is films production.”Films incorporate the aspect of nostalgic impulses, and as such it increases the film’s authenticity and production”.
Visual and Contemporary Arts: My Bed by Emin Tracey and Nan and Brian in Bed by Nan Goldin The bed is a work of art used to identify the life situation of the artist in the wider context of the society.
Recent Modern Art Exhibition: Projects 89 Art exhibitions are the places, which will be interesting to people of any age and any gender any time.”A natural effect of the Museum exhibition will be to lead the public to enquire why it […]
Post-Colonial and Contemporary British Muslim Artists The art presented by these Muslims bears the attitude portrayed by the British society towards them and the Islamic religion as a whole and the artists’ own views on Islam.
Role of Modern Art Museum From the above we can say that the modern art museum acts as memory banks for all events and objects in the society which is of great utility to the members of a given social […]
Contemporary Graffiti as Political Art Banksy’s graffiti art work is still considered as one of the best way of protesting against the government in order to remove the CCTV cameras from the cities or to use those cameras in proper […]
Modern Art: From Impressionism to Contemporary This color unifies the parasol and the grass on the hill, creating a flow of the eyes from one point to the bottom.
Music as a Contemporary Art Creativity involves manipulating words to appeal to the audience and for the audience to be able to relate to the music easily.
Jeff Koons’ Contemporary Artwork The common artwork of the artist include the inflatable balloons toys and the pink panther, beside the life-size ceramic model of the late pop star Michael Jackson holding his favourite pet, chimpanzee babbles as shown […]
Modern Philosophers: Martin Luther, Erasmus, Leonardo Davinci and Thomas Biley A fiery critic of the Papacy doctrines, Martin Luther believed that any good choice made by man has to be founded on God’s principles and not from institutions like Roman Catholic Church, which was based […]
Postmodern and Modern Art: Essays by Claes Oldenburg and by Ad Rheinhardt Harrison and Wood observe that “The history of art is that of a long series of attacks upon social and aesthetic values held to be moribund, although the avant-garde position is frequently nostalgic and absolute”.[1] […]
The Contemporary Artists and Their Contributions Since childhood, she admired the work of Mexican and Southwest artists and this drove her to apply their employment of warm colors in her individual paintings.
Modern and Postmodern Art: The Book Theories of Modern Art Naum Gabo in his essay on neoplasticism and constructivism published in the book Theories of modern art tries to analyze the changes that have taken in the art world in modern years.
“Theory in Contemporary Art Since 1985” Summary The article has laid out that the persona’s decision to stick to his race would take a two fold interpretation in which some of the whites who are closely tied to him and his work […]
Contemporary Design Issues in Film Industry It is used in the film with an objective of closely aligning the audience with a serial killer. They both do this by providing the resolution expected by the audience at the end of a […]
Exhibitions of Contemporary Arts in Three Different Museums This discussion looks at the exhibitions of contemporary arts in three different museums namely Armand Hammer Museum of Art and Culture, Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
Theory of Modern Art Institutions His proposals fit into a continuum of detachment from the real and the concrete that has been evident in the art and the writing on art in the 20th century.
The Museum of Contemporary Art Each exhibition at MOCA is a unique opportunity for people to enjoy the beauty of the world they live in and to see how the professionals recognize the main aspects of the modern world.
Contemporary Art: New Ways of Seeing
The Relationships Between Feminism and the Contemporary Art
Contemporary Art: Work Comparison of Beth Lipman and Josiah McElheny
Link Between Global Markets and Contemporary Art
How Contemporary Art Owes the Renaissance
Malaysia Contemporary Art Issues: Art as Idea-A View From Jalaini Abu Hassan
How Contemporary Art Redefined the Meaning of Art Media
Parallels Between Photography and New Media Concerning Contemporary Art Forms
How the Dada Artists Challenged the Contemporary Art
Consumer Desires and Value Perceptions Regarding Contemporary Art Collection and Exhibit Visits
How Mobile Phones and Internet Changed Contemporary Art
The Relationships Between Postmodernism and Contemporary Art
Pricing Color Intensity and Lightness in Contemporary Art Auctions
Correlation Between Radio and Contemporary Art
Overview of Russian Modern and Contemporary Art
Perspectives of Healing Children Through Contemporary Art
Selling Out: The Financialization of Contemporary Art
Site-Specific Installation Artworks Promote Appreciation of Contemporary Art
Transcending Time and Place: Baroque and Contemporary Art
Why People Don’t Understand Contemporary Art
Andy Warhol and His Work on the Contemporary Art
Building Consumer-Arts Institution Relationships: Exploratory Study in Contemporary Art Museums
Linking Chinese Contemporary Art and Social Change
Commercial Contemporary Art Market Overview and Analysis
Contemporary Art and Art Theory of Africa and Asia
Gabriel Orozco’s Impact on Contemporary Art
Contemporary Art and Its Influence on Contemporary Culture
The Relations Between Contemporary Art and Political Views
Contemporary Art and the Plight of Its Public
Overview of Contemporary Art From the Middle East
Contemporary Art and the Search for History
Creative Drawing and Contemporary Art and Design
Contemporary Art Issues: Digital Art in Malaysia
Cultural and Contemporary Art: The Nocturne Festival
Contemporary Art Issues: Malay’s Identity in Lat’s Cartoon
Don Thompson: The $12 Million Stuffed Shark: Curious Economics of Contemporary Art
Contemporary Art: Role of Marina Abramovic
Empathic Vision: Affect, Trauma, and Contemporary Art
Contemporary Art Music Within the Music World
Exploring Contemporary Art: Franz West Chameleon 2004
What Inspires You in Contemporary Art?
Which Contemporary Art Museums Do You Visit?
What Is Andy Warhol’s Contribution to Contemporary Art?
What Is the Commercial Side of Contemporary Art?
What Artistic Practices Are Used in Contemporary Art?
What Is the Influence of Contemporary Art on Modern Culture?
Does Contemporary Art Reflect Political Views?
What Is the Role of Contemporary Art in Society?
What Is the History of Contemporary Art?
Can Digital Art in Malaysia Be Called Contemporary?
What Are the Currents of Contemporary Art?
Contemporary Art: What Are the New Ways of Seeing?
Why People Don’t Understand Contemporary Art?
What Does Modern Art Owe to the Renaissance?
What Is the Main Purpose of Contemporary Art?
How Has Contemporary Art Rethought the Meaning of Art Media?
How Did the Dada Artists Challenge the Contemporary Art?
How Have Mobile Phones and Internet Changed Contemporary Art?
Why the Feminist Movement Is Important for Contemporary Art?
Is Modern Architecture a Contemporary Art?
How Affordable Is It for Consumers to Visit Contemporary Art Exhibitions?
What Is the Main Difference Between Contemporary Art and Postmodernism?
How Is Pricing at Contemporary Art Auctions Formed?
How Does Globalization Affect Contemporary Art?
How Is Contemporary Art Used to Heal Children?
Who Is the Creator of Contemporary Art?
How Popular Are Installations in Contemporary Art?
Which Representatives of Contemporary Art Do You Know?
Can Body Art Be Called Contemporary Art?
How Did the Attitude Towards Contemporary Art Change According to the Era?
Chicago (A-D)
Chicago (N-B)

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198 Art History Thesis Topics: Best Ideas

Did you know that on this page, you can find 198 original art history thesis topics that you can’t find anywhere else? Our art experts and professional writers have created this list over the last couple of months. In fact, we are updating the list periodically to make sure each student who visits our blog has the chance to find a unique topic that he or she can write a thesis on.

In addition to the exceptional topics, we also have some tips and tricks on how to write the perfect thesis without spending months working on it. This blog post includes the chapters you need to write (with a short explanation of each one), as well as some of the things you need to keep in mind when writing a thesis. Let’s get started!

Writing the Best Art History Thesis Paper

As you probably know already, finding some original art history thesis topics is just one part of the thesis writing process. Because we know most students don’t have any experience writing theses, we will briefly talk about some of the key characteristics of a good thesis paper. We will start with the structure. Here are the main chapters you should have in your paper:

Introduction: This is the part where you will present your thesis statement, as well as discuss the significance of your thesis and present the research questions, limitations and assumptions. Review of Related Literature: Use this chapter to discuss what you have learned from other works in your field that pertain to your chosen topic. Show your readers why your research is relevant to the topic. Design and Methodology: In this chapter, you will need to present the design and discuss the methods you have used to gather the data or the evidence to support your thesis statement. A reader should be able to replicate your study after reading this chapter. Findings: This is the part where you can discuss your findings and show your readers why and how they support your thesis. You can include a part where you make recommendations for further research, if necessary. Conclusion: The final chapter of your paper, the Conclusion is the place where you summarize everything and reemphasize the main points of your paper. Refrain from introducing any new information here.

Apart from structuring your thesis correctly, you should keep a few other important things in mind. Here are some of the things that will help you get a better grade on your research paper, according to our expert academic writers:

Make sure you only gather data from reliable sources. Also, remember to cite and reference each source you use. Format your thesis correctly, in accordance with the guidelines in the style book. Each style (APA, MLA, Chicago, Turabian, etc.) has a style book that you can usually find online for free. Edit your work thoroughly and make sure your logic and clarity are perfect. Also make sure you are not using technical terms that you have not defined previously. Think about what examiners want to see or try to learn what they are looking for. After all, you want a top grade, don’t you? Do your best to come up with a unique, interesting thesis. Think long and hard about how you will write the thesis statement. Get feedback from your supervisor as early as possible. This can prevent some serious delays and rewrites. Find some original art history thesis topics and choose the one you think would thrill the evaluation committee.

Fortunately for you, the last tip is something we can help you with right now. We have 198 original art history thesis topics right here on this page. You can use any of them for free. No, you don’t even need to give us any credit. That is our thesis writing help to begin with going through these topics shouldn’t take you more than 5 minutes, so what are you waiting for?

Easy Thesis Topics in Art History

We’ll start our list with some easy thesis topics in art history. Choose any of these ideas if you want to spend as little time as possible writing your paper:

Discuss the Gothic stained glass
Compare ancient Egyptian and Roman art
The important of Mona Lisa
An in-depth look at the Romanesque style
An in-depth look at Amarna Art
Discuss art in the Golden Age
Analyze the life of Claude Monet
What is reformed naturalism?
Peculiarities of the surrealist movement
Discuss art in the Notre Dame
Talk about sculptures in a cathedral of your choice
Research the life of Picasso
Talk about political views in sculpture
The peculiarities of Gothic art
How important are recurring subjects in art?

Art History Research Questions

The best way to come up with a great topic is to go through some art history research questions. To help you out, we have compiled a list of the best ones below:

What is photogravure and why is it important?
What are the peculiarities of Scandinavian weaving?
What are some characteristics of Egyptian art?
How important is art as part of the curriculum?
What is the role of life in modern art?
Which artist had the biggest influence on contemporary art?
What makes Gothic paintings special?
Can you talk about the Dadaist movement?
What is real art?
Can you talk about the history is symbols in Gothic paintings?
How did art evolve in Ancient Rome?
Why is Leonardo Da Vinci so popular?
How important is nature in ancient art?
When did Cubism first appear?
How were ancient works of art preserved?

Art in the 19th Century Topics

In case you want to write a thesis on 19th century art, you have arrived at the right place. Here are some of the best art in the 19th century topics:

Discuss European painting in the 19th century
Modernism in the 19th century
The history of surrealism
Talk about the focus of 19th century art
The history of cubism
The history of symbolism
Research the Industrial Revolution in art
Compare symbolism and cubism
Talk about the Enlightenment movement
What influenced modern art in the 19th century?

Art History Thesis Topics on the Late Gothic Period

Our experienced writers managed to create a list of art history thesis topics on the late gothic period that you will absolutely love:

Discuss the vaulted hall churches in Germany
Major themes in late Gothic sculptures
Differences between Renaissance and late Gothic art
Talk about the British Perpendicular style
Discuss the Flamboyant style
Compare and contrast the Flamboyant and Perpendicular styles
Major themes in late Gothic paintings
The main symbols of Gothic art
Research the late gothic era in France
What is the tracery window?

Art History Senior Thesis Topics

Are you working on a senior thesis in art history and need some inspiration? All you have to do is pick one of our art history senior thesis topics for free and start writing:

Talk about manuscripts in Modernist paintings
A closer look at the Romanesque style
The role of life in art
The history of photography as an art
An in-depth look at Neoclassicist sculptures
Art on the Great Wall in China
Discuss the importance of recurring subjects in art
The role of nature in art
An in-depth look at Christian symbols in art
The first musical instruments

Undergraduate Art History Thesis Topics

Of course, our list of topics would not be complete without some ideas for undergrads. Here are the undergraduate art history thesis topics we think will perform best in 2023:

Research the Statue of Zeus
Famous impressionists
Talk about stained glass windows
Talk about 3 important Greek sculptures
Discuss the film industry in Bollywood
Research the history of pop art
Primitivism: is it an art?
Research the history of Venetian carnival masks
Differences between modernism and cubism
Discuss the Rococo movement

Art History Photography Thesis Topics

Interested in writing about photography? After all, it is art. Don’t worry about it; we’ve got your back. Here are some original art history photography thesis topics:

Discuss the history of photography
Are photographs works of art?
Famous artworks that are photographs
Latest advancements in photographic technology
An in-depth look at lighting and its uses
Research 3 artists that have made an art out of photography
An in-depth look at the purpose of photography
Research the first photo camera
Famous photographs in art museums in your area
The life and work of Ansel Adams
The role of Jonas Leriche in photography
Discuss the role of the background in photography
How important is the camera for a photographer?
What makes a good photographer?

Art History Thesis Topics Greek

Are you interested in talking about Greek art? Do you want some of the best topics for free? You’re in luck because we have some interesting art history thesis topics greek for you right here:

Analyze the Kore statue in Greece
Talk about the Mask of Agamemnon
Research ancient Greek pottery
Research the Hades abducting Persephone painting
Discuss the Coloso de Rodas
Roman sculptures in ancient Greece
The history of ancient Greek art
Research ancient Greek architecture
Discuss the Geometric period
Research metalwork art in Greece

Art History Thesis Topics Impressionism

Writing your thesis on a topic related to impressionism will surely impress the evaluation committee and your supervisor. Check out these art history thesis topics impressionism ideas:

Discuss the Impression, Sunrise by Claude Monet
Research the styles in The Fighting Temeraire
The depiction of light in impressionism
Research Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s Dance at Le Moulin de la Galette
Discuss the embracement of modernity
The history of the Impressionist movement
The main ideas of impressionism
Talk about the style of open composition
Discuss unusual visual angles
Talk about the first impressionist exhibition

Art History Research Topics

Your research paper will be memorable if you choose the right topic for it, guaranteed. Take a look at this brand new list of art history research topics and select the one you like the most:

Talk about women in art
The history of modernism
Architecture as a form of art
The role of the Trojan Horse
Talk about art as a form of therapy
The importance of Francisco de Goya’s paintings
Dreams in works by Dali
Discuss the rise of pop art
Art and autism
Discuss the Art Deco style

Famous Artists and Their Works

It has been demonstrated that finding new and interesting facts about famous artists can get students some bonus points. Here are some ideas related to famous artists and their works:

The life and works of Leonardo Da Vinci
The life and works of Pablo Picasso
Discuss the most important Warhol sculpture
Dorothea Lange’s contributions to photograph
Discuss the works of Zeuxis
The life and works of Michelangelo
The life and works of Constantin Brancusi
The life and works of Vincent Van Gogh
The importance of Marie Tussaud
An in-depth look at the history of the Mona Lisa
The life and works of Alberto Giacometti
Analyze the works of Apelles (370 BC)
The life and works of Henry Moore
The life and works of Rembrandt
The life and photographs of Ansel Adams

Ancient Art History Research Paper Topics

Our experienced academic writers managed to come up with a nice list of ancient art history research paper topics for students looking to start working on their thesis:

Talk about ancient art in Palestine
Research primitive art
Talk about ancient art in China
Talk about ancient art in Greece
Characteristics of ancient art
Talk about ancient art in Rome
The first work of art in the world
Talk about ancient art in India
Talk about ancient art in Mesopotamia
Characteristics of Persian art

Compare and Contrast Topics in Art History

If you want to write a compare and contrast paper, you are in luck. We have just added these interesting compare and contrast topics:

Echion and Polygnotus
Salvador Dali and Michelangelo
Modern and contemporary art
Vincent Van Gogh and Raphael
Compare and contrast two sculptures of your choice
Impressionism and cubism
Claude Monet and Leornardo da Vinci
Compare and contrast two paintings of your choice
Protogenes and Apollodorus
Henri Matisse and Frida Kahlo
Surrealism and modern art
Rembrandt and Johannes Vermeer
Compare and contrast two art styles of your choice
Abstract expressionism and cubism
Jackson Pollock and Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Controversial Art History Topics

Art history has, like many other fields, plenty of controversies. Why not write your research paper on one of them? Here are some interesting yet controversial art history topics:

Research the Le Dejeuner sur l’Herbe by Édouard Manet
An in-depth look at Marcel Duchamp’s Fountain
Discuss the Campbell’s Soup Cans by Andy Warhol
What makes an art piece controversial?
Controversies surrounding Pablo Picasso’s Guernica mural
Controversies in pop art
Is graffiti an art?

Contemporary Art History Topics

Do you want to write your thesis on a topic in contemporary art? No problem, we’ve got you covered. Check out these awesome contemporary art history topics and choose one for free:

The life and work of Takashi Murakami
The importance of Jenny Saville’s work
Major themes in contemporary paintings
Talk about contemporary art motifs on jewelry
The top 3 greatest contemporary artists
Talk about contemporary music
Talk about what makes contemporary art unique
Contemporary art on ceramics

Renaissance and the Middle Ages topics

Stop wasting your time searching for topics and select one of these brand new (100% original) Renaissance and the Middle Ages topics:

The life and work of Donatello
Peculiarities of Sandro Botticelli’s paintings
The history of the La Pieta
Research the sculptures of Michelangelo
The painting of the Sistine Chapel ceiling
An in-depth look at The Last Judgment painting
Styles in Caravaggio’s paintings
The life and works of Matteo Civitali
Research the Mona Lisa painting
The importance of Titian’s painting styles
Research the history of The Birth of Venus
The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci
Discuss a painting by Masaccio
Discuss the David of Michelangelo sculpture
Research the history of Lorenzo Ghiberti’s sculptures

Get Quality Thesis Writing Help

We know that most students are struggling with their first thesis. Don’t worry, you are certainly not the only one in this position. Truth be told, writing a thesis the right way can be extremely difficult for anyone who has not done it before. This is why, in addition to the exceptional thesis topics art history students are looking for, we are offering top quality custom dissertation help to students who want to get a top grade on their paper.

Get access to an expert online in a matter of minutes. All you have to do is tell us what you need and when you need it. We’ll pair you with one of our professional thesis writers in no time. Are you worried about the quality of our work? We know that the Internet can be a dangerous place, but you can certainly trust us and out experts. Just take a look at the feedback we have received from students like you over the years and decide if you need our services. Our art history thesis writers are ready to start working on your project right now.

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 113 great research paper topics.

General Education

One of the hardest parts of writing a research paper can be just finding a good topic to write about. Fortunately we've done the hard work for you and have compiled a list of 113 interesting research paper topics. They've been organized into ten categories and cover a wide range of subjects so you can easily find the best topic for you.

In addition to the list of good research topics, we've included advice on what makes a good research paper topic and how you can use your topic to start writing a great paper.

What Makes a Good Research Paper Topic?

Not all research paper topics are created equal, and you want to make sure you choose a great topic before you start writing. Below are the three most important factors to consider to make sure you choose the best research paper topics.

#1: It's Something You're Interested In

A paper is always easier to write if you're interested in the topic, and you'll be more motivated to do in-depth research and write a paper that really covers the entire subject. Even if a certain research paper topic is getting a lot of buzz right now or other people seem interested in writing about it, don't feel tempted to make it your topic unless you genuinely have some sort of interest in it as well.

#2: There's Enough Information to Write a Paper

Even if you come up with the absolute best research paper topic and you're so excited to write about it, you won't be able to produce a good paper if there isn't enough research about the topic. This can happen for very specific or specialized topics, as well as topics that are too new to have enough research done on them at the moment. Easy research paper topics will always be topics with enough information to write a full-length paper.

Trying to write a research paper on a topic that doesn't have much research on it is incredibly hard, so before you decide on a topic, do a bit of preliminary searching and make sure you'll have all the information you need to write your paper.

#3: It Fits Your Teacher's Guidelines

Don't get so carried away looking at lists of research paper topics that you forget any requirements or restrictions your teacher may have put on research topic ideas. If you're writing a research paper on a health-related topic, deciding to write about the impact of rap on the music scene probably won't be allowed, but there may be some sort of leeway. For example, if you're really interested in current events but your teacher wants you to write a research paper on a history topic, you may be able to choose a topic that fits both categories, like exploring the relationship between the US and North Korea. No matter what, always get your research paper topic approved by your teacher first before you begin writing.

113 Good Research Paper Topics

Below are 113 good research topics to help you get you started on your paper. We've organized them into ten categories to make it easier to find the type of research paper topics you're looking for.

Arts/Culture

Discuss the main differences in art from the Italian Renaissance and the Northern Renaissance .
Analyze the impact a famous artist had on the world.
How is sexism portrayed in different types of media (music, film, video games, etc.)? Has the amount/type of sexism changed over the years?
How has the music of slaves brought over from Africa shaped modern American music?
How has rap music evolved in the past decade?
How has the portrayal of minorities in the media changed?

Current Events

What have been the impacts of China's one child policy?
How have the goals of feminists changed over the decades?
How has the Trump presidency changed international relations?
Analyze the history of the relationship between the United States and North Korea.
What factors contributed to the current decline in the rate of unemployment?
What have been the impacts of states which have increased their minimum wage?
How do US immigration laws compare to immigration laws of other countries?
How have the US's immigration laws changed in the past few years/decades?
How has the Black Lives Matter movement affected discussions and view about racism in the US?
What impact has the Affordable Care Act had on healthcare in the US?
What factors contributed to the UK deciding to leave the EU (Brexit)?
What factors contributed to China becoming an economic power?
Discuss the history of Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies (some of which tokenize the S&P 500 Index on the blockchain) .
Do students in schools that eliminate grades do better in college and their careers?
Do students from wealthier backgrounds score higher on standardized tests?
Do students who receive free meals at school get higher grades compared to when they weren't receiving a free meal?
Do students who attend charter schools score higher on standardized tests than students in public schools?
Do students learn better in same-sex classrooms?
How does giving each student access to an iPad or laptop affect their studies?
What are the benefits and drawbacks of the Montessori Method ?
Do children who attend preschool do better in school later on?
What was the impact of the No Child Left Behind act?
How does the US education system compare to education systems in other countries?
What impact does mandatory physical education classes have on students' health?
Which methods are most effective at reducing bullying in schools?
Do homeschoolers who attend college do as well as students who attended traditional schools?
Does offering tenure increase or decrease quality of teaching?
How does college debt affect future life choices of students?
Should graduate students be able to form unions?

What are different ways to lower gun-related deaths in the US?
How and why have divorce rates changed over time?
Is affirmative action still necessary in education and/or the workplace?
Should physician-assisted suicide be legal?
How has stem cell research impacted the medical field?
How can human trafficking be reduced in the United States/world?
Should people be able to donate organs in exchange for money?
Which types of juvenile punishment have proven most effective at preventing future crimes?
Has the increase in US airport security made passengers safer?
Analyze the immigration policies of certain countries and how they are similar and different from one another.
Several states have legalized recreational marijuana. What positive and negative impacts have they experienced as a result?
Do tariffs increase the number of domestic jobs?
Which prison reforms have proven most effective?
Should governments be able to censor certain information on the internet?
Which methods/programs have been most effective at reducing teen pregnancy?
What are the benefits and drawbacks of the Keto diet?
How effective are different exercise regimes for losing weight and maintaining weight loss?
How do the healthcare plans of various countries differ from each other?
What are the most effective ways to treat depression ?
What are the pros and cons of genetically modified foods?
Which methods are most effective for improving memory?
What can be done to lower healthcare costs in the US?
What factors contributed to the current opioid crisis?
Analyze the history and impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic .
Are low-carbohydrate or low-fat diets more effective for weight loss?
How much exercise should the average adult be getting each week?
Which methods are most effective to get parents to vaccinate their children?
What are the pros and cons of clean needle programs?
How does stress affect the body?
Discuss the history of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
What were the causes and effects of the Salem Witch Trials?
Who was responsible for the Iran-Contra situation?
How has New Orleans and the government's response to natural disasters changed since Hurricane Katrina?
What events led to the fall of the Roman Empire?
What were the impacts of British rule in India ?
Was the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki necessary?
What were the successes and failures of the women's suffrage movement in the United States?
What were the causes of the Civil War?
How did Abraham Lincoln's assassination impact the country and reconstruction after the Civil War?
Which factors contributed to the colonies winning the American Revolution?
What caused Hitler's rise to power?
Discuss how a specific invention impacted history.
What led to Cleopatra's fall as ruler of Egypt?
How has Japan changed and evolved over the centuries?
What were the causes of the Rwandan genocide ?

Why did Martin Luther decide to split with the Catholic Church?
Analyze the history and impact of a well-known cult (Jonestown, Manson family, etc.)
How did the sexual abuse scandal impact how people view the Catholic Church?
How has the Catholic church's power changed over the past decades/centuries?
What are the causes behind the rise in atheism/ agnosticism in the United States?
What were the influences in Siddhartha's life resulted in him becoming the Buddha?
How has media portrayal of Islam/Muslims changed since September 11th?

Science/Environment

How has the earth's climate changed in the past few decades?
How has the use and elimination of DDT affected bird populations in the US?
Analyze how the number and severity of natural disasters have increased in the past few decades.
Analyze deforestation rates in a certain area or globally over a period of time.
How have past oil spills changed regulations and cleanup methods?
How has the Flint water crisis changed water regulation safety?
What are the pros and cons of fracking?
What impact has the Paris Climate Agreement had so far?
What have NASA's biggest successes and failures been?
How can we improve access to clean water around the world?
Does ecotourism actually have a positive impact on the environment?
Should the US rely on nuclear energy more?
What can be done to save amphibian species currently at risk of extinction?
What impact has climate change had on coral reefs?
How are black holes created?
Are teens who spend more time on social media more likely to suffer anxiety and/or depression?
How will the loss of net neutrality affect internet users?
Analyze the history and progress of self-driving vehicles.
How has the use of drones changed surveillance and warfare methods?
Has social media made people more or less connected?
What progress has currently been made with artificial intelligence ?
Do smartphones increase or decrease workplace productivity?
What are the most effective ways to use technology in the classroom?
How is Google search affecting our intelligence?
When is the best age for a child to begin owning a smartphone?
Has frequent texting reduced teen literacy rates?

How to Write a Great Research Paper

Even great research paper topics won't give you a great research paper if you don't hone your topic before and during the writing process. Follow these three tips to turn good research paper topics into great papers.

#1: Figure Out Your Thesis Early

Before you start writing a single word of your paper, you first need to know what your thesis will be. Your thesis is a statement that explains what you intend to prove/show in your paper. Every sentence in your research paper will relate back to your thesis, so you don't want to start writing without it!

As some examples, if you're writing a research paper on if students learn better in same-sex classrooms, your thesis might be "Research has shown that elementary-age students in same-sex classrooms score higher on standardized tests and report feeling more comfortable in the classroom."

If you're writing a paper on the causes of the Civil War, your thesis might be "While the dispute between the North and South over slavery is the most well-known cause of the Civil War, other key causes include differences in the economies of the North and South, states' rights, and territorial expansion."

#2: Back Every Statement Up With Research

Remember, this is a research paper you're writing, so you'll need to use lots of research to make your points. Every statement you give must be backed up with research, properly cited the way your teacher requested. You're allowed to include opinions of your own, but they must also be supported by the research you give.

#3: Do Your Research Before You Begin Writing

You don't want to start writing your research paper and then learn that there isn't enough research to back up the points you're making, or, even worse, that the research contradicts the points you're trying to make!

Get most of your research on your good research topics done before you begin writing. Then use the research you've collected to create a rough outline of what your paper will cover and the key points you're going to make. This will help keep your paper clear and organized, and it'll ensure you have enough research to produce a strong paper.

What's Next?

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Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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'Research Art Collection' showcase in Old Main

A flag indicating if the weather is good for whaling, in Barrow, AK

The Office of the Senior Vice President for Research at Penn State hosted an open house for the “Research Art Collection” on April 25. The collection showcases the fine balance between art and research through various displays. From cassowary bird scans to bio-manufactured fashion to sustainable architecture, these works are featured in several different dimensional formats, including digital, print and 3D.

“It’s inspiring to see people become engaged in research via the arts, and the arts via research, whether intentional or unintentional on the creator’s part. This curated collection is a reminder that we are sculpting a landscape of knowledge, where we see the depth and dimensions of our discoveries," said Andrew Read, senior vice president for research at Penn State. “We truly appreciate not only the artists and the researchers that contributed their work, but the team that helped curate, install and create this space that sparks conversation and inspiration.”

Included in the inaugural exhibit are works by researchers and artists in the College of Arts and Architecture, the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, the Social Science Research Institute, Materials Research Institute, the Institute of Energy and the Environment, the College of Health and Human Development and more.

An image of a flag indicating if the weather is good for whaling in Barrow, AK, taken by SSRI cofund and CSA Director Guangqing Chi, was included in the collection.

José Pinto Duarte, professor of architecture and of landscape architecture, also contributed to the exhibit.

“Throughout history, art has consistently mirrored the advancements in science and technology of its era," Duarte said. "Creating art that encapsulates the forefront of contemporary science and technology often demands a close collaboration between artists and scientists, blurring the boundaries between their respective domains. The pieces showcased in this exhibition vividly illustrate this concept."

Melik Demirel, Huck Endowed Chair Professor of Biomimetic Materials in the Penn State College of Engineering contributed his team’s research to the exhibit and discussed why he chose to participate.

“We wanted to draw attention to the issue of microfiber plastic pollution," Demirel said. "The use of plastic products has brought us many benefits, but it comes at a cost. The use of plastic requires massive resources, and it fills up landfills and pollutes our oceans.”

Work from the lab of Seth Bordenstein, director of the Microbiome Center, Huck Chair in Microbiome Sciences and professor of biology and of entomology, is also included in the collection.

“Wonder weaves science and art together in a tapestry of imagination," Bordenstein said. "This fusion drives momentum for creativity and collaboration across disciplines, ones that have personally enriched my perspective and capacity to think outside the box. In steadfast ways, Penn State is the model for melding our artistic and scientific imaginations together for the benefit of our experiences and growth."

Artwork was selected to highlight the breadth and depth of the art of research. Included in the mixed media exhibit are microscopic images and ceramic representations of zombie-ant fungus, visual virus gears made of powder-coated aluminum and knit sculpture that emphasize the relationship between form, force and material.

“These captivating works that showcase the remarkable synergy between art and research at Penn State are powerful reminders that art and science are complementary expressions of human creativity and curiosity,” said Kimberly Brue, assistant vice president, research marketing and communications, who led the curation project. “It’s been an honor to drive this collection which features faculty, staff and student’s work from across the enterprise. And a special thank you to the various staff members who assisted with the curation, preparation and installation — such as the Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, the Office of Physical Plant and the sign Shop at Penn State — who were essential in making this a success."

Artwork will be updated annually to continually showcase new works from across Penn State institutes, colleges and campuses. The office, located at 304 in Old Main, is open to visitors to take a self-guided tour weekdays.

Art History Resources

Guidelines for Analysis of Art
Formal Analysis Paper Examples

Guidelines for Writing Art History Research Papers

Oral Report Guidelines
Annual Arkansas College Art History Symposium

Writing a paper for an art history course is similar to the analytical, research-based papers that you may have written in English literature courses or history courses. Although art historical research and writing does include the analysis of written documents, there are distinctive differences between art history writing and other disciplines because the primary documents are works of art. A key reference guide for researching and analyzing works of art and for writing art history papers is the 10th edition (or later) of Sylvan Barnet’s work, A Short Guide to Writing about Art . Barnet directs students through the steps of thinking about a research topic, collecting information, and then writing and documenting a paper.

A website with helpful tips for writing art history papers is posted by the University of North Carolina.

Wesleyan University Writing Center has a useful guide for finding online writing resources.

The following are basic guidelines that you must use when documenting research papers for any art history class at UA Little Rock. Solid, thoughtful research and correct documentation of the sources used in this research (i.e., footnotes/endnotes, bibliography, and illustrations**) are essential. Additionally, these guidelines remind students about plagiarism, a serious academic offense.

Paper Format

Research papers should be in a 12-point font, double-spaced. Ample margins should be left for the instructor’s comments. All margins should be one inch to allow for comments. Number all pages. The cover sheet for the paper should include the following information: title of paper, your name, course title and number, course instructor, and date paper is submitted. A simple presentation of a paper is sufficient. Staple the pages together at the upper left or put them in a simple three-ring folder or binder. Do not put individual pages in plastic sleeves.

Documentation of Resources

The Chicago Manual of Style (CMS), as described in the most recent edition of Sylvan Barnet’s A Short Guide to Writing about Art is the department standard. Although you may have used MLA style for English papers or other disciplines, the Chicago Style is required for all students taking art history courses at UA Little Rock. There are significant differences between MLA style and Chicago Style. A “Quick Guide” for the Chicago Manual of Style footnote and bibliography format is found http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html. The footnote examples are numbered and the bibliography example is last. Please note that the place of publication and the publisher are enclosed in parentheses in the footnote, but they are not in parentheses in the bibliography. Examples of CMS for some types of note and bibliography references are given below in this Guideline. Arabic numbers are used for footnotes. Some word processing programs may have Roman numerals as a choice, but the standard is Arabic numbers. The use of super script numbers, as given in examples below, is the standard in UA Little Rock art history papers.

The chapter “Manuscript Form” in the Barnet book (10th edition or later) provides models for the correct forms for footnotes/endnotes and the bibliography. For example, the note form for the FIRST REFERENCE to a book with a single author is:

1 Bruce Cole, Italian Art 1250-1550 (New York: New York University Press, 1971), 134.

But the BIBLIOGRAPHIC FORM for that same book is:

Cole, Bruce. Italian Art 1250-1550. New York: New York University Press. 1971.

The FIRST REFERENCE to a journal article (in a periodical that is paginated by volume) with a single author in a footnote is:

2 Anne H. Van Buren, “Madame Cézanne’s Fashions and the Dates of Her Portraits,” Art Quarterly 29 (1966): 199.

The FIRST REFERENCE to a journal article (in a periodical that is paginated by volume) with a single author in the BIBLIOGRAPHY is:

Van Buren, Anne H. “Madame Cézanne’s Fashions and the Dates of Her Portraits.” Art Quarterly 29 (1966): 185-204.

If you reference an article that you found through an electronic database such as JSTOR, you do not include the url for JSTOR or the date accessed in either the footnote or the bibliography. This is because the article is one that was originally printed in a hard-copy journal; what you located through JSTOR is simply a copy of printed pages. Your citation follows the same format for an article in a bound volume that you may have pulled from the library shelves. If, however, you use an article that originally was in an electronic format and is available only on-line, then follow the “non-print” forms listed below.

B. Non-Print

Citations for Internet sources such as online journals or scholarly web sites should follow the form described in Barnet’s chapter, “Writing a Research Paper.” For example, the footnote or endnote reference given by Barnet for a web site is:

3 Nigel Strudwick, Egyptology Resources , with the assistance of The Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Cambridge University, 1994, revised 16 June 2008, http://www.newton.ac.uk/egypt/ , 24 July 2008.

If you use microform or microfilm resources, consult the most recent edition of Kate Turabian, A Manual of Term Paper, Theses and Dissertations. A copy of Turabian is available at the reference desk in the main library.

C. Visual Documentation (Illustrations)

Art history papers require visual documentation such as photographs, photocopies, or scanned images of the art works you discuss. In the chapter “Manuscript Form” in A Short Guide to Writing about Art, Barnet explains how to identify illustrations or “figures” in the text of your paper and how to caption the visual material. Each photograph, photocopy, or scanned image should appear on a single sheet of paper unless two images and their captions will fit on a single sheet of paper with one inch margins on all sides. Note also that the title of a work of art is always italicized. Within the text, the reference to the illustration is enclosed in parentheses and placed at the end of the sentence. A period for the sentence comes after the parenthetical reference to the illustration. For UA Little Rcok art history papers, illustrations are placed at the end of the paper, not within the text. Illustration are not supplied as a Powerpoint presentation or as separate .jpgs submitted in an electronic format.

Edvard Munch’s painting The Scream, dated 1893, represents a highly personal, expressive response to an experience the artist had while walking one evening (Figure 1).

The caption that accompanies the illustration at the end of the paper would read:

Figure 1. Edvard Munch, The Scream, 1893. Tempera and casein on cardboard, 36 x 29″ (91.3 x 73.7 cm). Nasjonalgalleriet, Oslo, Norway.

Plagiarism is a form of thievery and is illegal. According to Webster’s New World Dictionary, to plagiarize is to “take and pass off as one’s own the ideas, writings, etc. of another.” Barnet has some useful guidelines for acknowledging sources in his chapter “Manuscript Form;” review them so that you will not be mguilty of theft. Another useful website regarding plagiarism is provided by Cornell University, http://plagiarism.arts.cornell.edu/tutorial/index.cfm

Plagiarism is a serious offense, and students should understand that checking papers for plagiarized content is easy to do with Internet resources. Plagiarism will be reported as academic dishonesty to the Dean of Students; see Section VI of the Student Handbook which cites plagiarism as a specific violation. Take care that you fully and accurately acknowledge the source of another author, whether you are quoting the material verbatim or paraphrasing. Borrowing the idea of another author by merely changing some or even all of your source’s words does not allow you to claim the ideas as your own. You must credit both direct quotes and your paraphrases. Again, Barnet’s chapter “Manuscript Form” sets out clear guidelines for avoiding plagiarism.

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Open access
Published: 13 May 2024

What are the strengths and limitations to utilising creative methods in public and patient involvement in health and social care research? A qualitative systematic review

Olivia R. Phillips 1 , 2 na1 ,
Cerian Harries 2 , 3 na1 ,
Jo Leonardi-Bee 1 , 2 , 4 na1 ,
Holly Knight 1 , 2 ,
Lauren B. Sherar 2 , 3 ,
Veronica Varela-Mato 2 , 3 &
Joanne R. Morling 1 , 2 , 5

Research Involvement and Engagement volume 10 , Article number: 48 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

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There is increasing interest in using patient and public involvement (PPI) in research to improve the quality of healthcare. Ordinarily, traditional methods have been used such as interviews or focus groups. However, these methods tend to engage a similar demographic of people. Thus, creative methods are being developed to involve patients for whom traditional methods are inaccessible or non-engaging.

To determine the strengths and limitations to using creative PPI methods in health and social care research.

Electronic searches were conducted over five databases on 14th April 2023 (Web of Science, PubMed, ASSIA, CINAHL, Cochrane Library). Studies that involved traditional, non-creative PPI methods were excluded. Creative PPI methods were used to engage with people as research advisors, rather than study participants. Only primary data published in English from 2009 were accepted. Title, abstract and full text screening was undertaken by two independent reviewers before inductive thematic analysis was used to generate themes.

Twelve papers met the inclusion criteria. The creative methods used included songs, poems, drawings, photograph elicitation, drama performance, visualisations, social media, photography, prototype development, cultural animation, card sorting and persona development. Analysis identified four limitations and five strengths to the creative approaches. Limitations included the time and resource intensive nature of creative PPI, the lack of generalisation to wider populations and ethical issues. External factors, such as the lack of infrastructure to support creative PPI, also affected their implementation. Strengths included the disruption of power hierarchies and the creation of a safe space for people to express mundane or “taboo” topics. Creative methods are also engaging, inclusive of people who struggle to participate in traditional PPI and can also be cost and time efficient.

‘Creative PPI’ is an umbrella term encapsulating many different methods of engagement and there are strengths and limitations to each. The choice of which should be determined by the aims and requirements of the research, as well as the characteristics of the PPI group and practical limitations. Creative PPI can be advantageous over more traditional methods, however a hybrid approach could be considered to reap the benefits of both. Creative PPI methods are not widely used; however, this could change over time as PPI becomes embedded even more into research.

Plain English Summary

It is important that patients and public are included in the research process from initial brainstorming, through design to delivery. This is known as public and patient involvement (PPI). Their input means that research closely aligns with their wants and needs. Traditionally to get this input, interviews and group discussions are held, but this can exclude people who find these activities non-engaging or inaccessible, for example those with language challenges, learning disabilities or memory issues. Creative methods of PPI can overcome this. This is a broad term describing different (non-traditional) ways of engaging patients and public in research, such as through the use or art, animation or performance. This review investigated the reasons why creative approaches to PPI could be difficult (limitations) or helpful (strengths) in health and social care research. After searching 5 online databases, 12 studies were included in the review. PPI groups included adults, children and people with language and memory impairments. Creative methods included songs, poems, drawings, the use of photos and drama, visualisations, Facebook, creating prototypes, personas and card sorting. Limitations included the time, cost and effort associated with creative methods, the lack of application to other populations, ethical issues and buy-in from the wider research community. Strengths included the feeling of equality between academics and the public, creation of a safe space for people to express themselves, inclusivity, and that creative PPI can be cost and time efficient. Overall, this review suggests that creative PPI is worthwhile, however each method has its own strengths and limitations and the choice of which will depend on the research project, PPI group characteristics and other practical limitations, such as time and financial constraints.

Peer Review reports

Introduction

Patient and public involvement (PPI) is the term used to describe the partnership between patients (including caregivers, potential patients, healthcare users etc.) or the public (a community member with no known interest in the topic) with researchers. It describes research that is done “‘with’ or ‘by’ the public, rather than ‘to,’ ‘about’ or ‘for’ them” [ 1 ]. In 2009, it became a legislative requirement for certain health and social care organisations to include patients, families, carers and communities in not only the planning of health and social care services, but the commissioning, delivery and evaluation of them too [ 2 ]. For example, funding applications for the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR), a UK funding body, mandates a demonstration of how researchers plan to include patients/service users, the public and carers at each stage of the project [ 3 ]. However, this should not simply be a tokenistic, tick-box exercise. PPI should help formulate initial ideas and should be an instrumental, continuous part of the research process. Input from PPI can provide unique insights not yet considered and can ensure that research and health services are closely aligned to the needs and requirements of service users PPI also generally makes research more relevant with clearer outcomes and impacts [ 4 ]. Although this review refers to both patients and the public using the umbrella term ‘PPI’, it is important to acknowledge that these are two different groups with different motivations, needs and interests when it comes to health research and service delivery [ 5 ].

Despite continuing recognition of the need of PPI to improve quality of healthcare, researchers have also recognised that there is no ‘one size fits all’ method for involving patients [ 4 ]. Traditionally, PPI methods invite people to take part in interviews or focus groups to facilitate discussion, or surveys and questionnaires. However, these can sometimes be inaccessible or non-engaging for certain populations. For example, someone with communication difficulties may find it difficult to engage in focus groups or interviews. If individuals lack the appropriate skills to interact in these types of scenarios, they cannot take advantage of the participation opportunities it can provide [ 6 ]. Creative methods, however, aim to resolve these issues. These are a relatively new concept whereby researchers use creative methods (e.g., artwork, animations, Lego), to make PPI more accessible and engaging for those whose voices would otherwise go unheard. They ensure that all populations can engage in research, regardless of their background or skills. Seminal work has previously been conducted in this area, which brought to light the use of creative methodologies in research. Leavy (2008) [ 7 ] discussed how traditional interviews had limits on what could be expressed due to their sterile, jargon-filled and formulaic structure, read by only a few specialised academics. It was this that called for more creative approaches, which included narrative enquiry, fiction-based research, poetry, music, dance, art, theatre, film and visual art. These practices, which can be used in any stage of the research cycle, supported greater empathy, self-reflection and longer-lasting learning experiences compared to interviews [ 7 ]. They also pushed traditional academic boundaries, which made the research accessible not only to researchers, but the public too. Leavy explains that there are similarities between arts-based approaches and scientific approaches: both attempts to investigate what it means to be human through exploration, and used together, these complimentary approaches can progress our understanding of the human experience [ 7 ]. Further, it is important to acknowledge the parallels and nuances between creative and inclusive methods of PPI. Although creative methods aim to be inclusive (this should underlie any PPI activity, whether creative or not), they do not incorporate all types of accessible, inclusive methodologies e.g., using sign language for people with hearing impairments or audio recordings for people who cannot read. Given that there was not enough scope to include an evaluation of all possible inclusive methodologies, this review will focus on creative methods of PPI only.

We aimed to conduct a qualitative systematic review to highlight the strengths of creative PPI in health and social care research, as well as the limitations, which might act as a barrier to their implementation. A qualitative systematic review “brings together research on a topic, systematically searching for research evidence from primary qualitative studies and drawing the findings together” [ 8 ]. This review can then advise researchers of the best practices when designing PPI.

Public involvement

The PHIRST-LIGHT Public Advisory Group (PAG) consists of a team of experienced public contributors with a diverse range of characteristics from across the UK. The PAG was involved in the initial question setting and study design for this review.

Search strategy

For the purpose of this review, the JBI approach for conducting qualitative systematic reviews was followed [ 9 ]. The search terms were (“creativ*” OR “innovat*” OR “authentic” OR “original” OR “inclu*”) AND (“public and patient involvement” OR “patient and public involvement” OR “public and patient involvement and engagement” OR “patient and public involvement and engagement” OR “PPI” OR “PPIE” OR “co-produc*” OR “co-creat*” OR “co-design*” OR “cooperat*” OR “co-operat*”). This search string was modified according to the requirements of each database. Papers were filtered by title, abstract and keywords (see Additional file 1 for search strings). The databases searched included Web of Science (WoS), PubMed, ASSIA and CINAHL. The Cochrane Library was also searched to identify relevant reviews which could lead to the identification of primary research. The search was conducted on 14/04/23. As our aim was to report on the use of creative PPI in research, rather than more generic public engagement, we used electronic databases of scholarly peer-reviewed literature, which represent a wide range of recognised databases. These identified studies published in general international journals (WoS, PubMed), those in social sciences journals (ASSIA), those in nursing and allied health journals (CINAHL), and trials of interventions (Cochrane Library).

Inclusion criteria

Only full-text, English language, primary research papers from 2009 to 2023 were included. This was the chosen timeframe as in 2009 the Health and Social Reform Act made it mandatory for certain Health and Social Care organisations to involve the public and patients in planning, delivering, and evaluating services [ 2 ]. Only creative methods of PPI were accepted, rather than traditional methods, such as interviews or focus groups. For the purposes of this paper, creative PPI included creative art or arts-based approaches (e.g., e.g. stories, songs, drama, drawing, painting, poetry, photography) to enhance engagement. Titles were related to health and social care and the creative PPI was used to engage with people as research advisors, not as study participants. Meta-analyses, conference abstracts, book chapters, commentaries and reviews were excluded. There were no limits concerning study location or the demographic characteristics of the PPI groups. Only qualitative data were accepted.

Quality appraisal

Quality appraisal using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist [ 10 ] was conducted by the primary authors (ORP and CH). This was done independently, and discrepancies were discussed and resolved. If a consensus could not be reached, a third independent reviewer was consulted (JRM). The full list of quality appraisal questions can be found in Additional file 2 .

Data extraction

ORP extracted the study characteristics and a subset of these were checked by CH. Discrepancies were discussed and amendments made. Extracted data included author, title, location, year of publication, year study was carried out, research question/aim, creative methods used, number of participants, mean age, gender, ethnicity of participants, setting, limitations and strengths of creative PPI and main findings.

Data analysis

The included studies were analysed using inductive thematic analysis [ 11 ], where themes were determined by the data. The familiarisation stage took place during full-text reading of the included articles. Anything identified as a strength or limitation to creative PPI methods was extracted verbatim as an initial code and inputted into the data extraction Excel sheet. Similar codes were sorted into broader themes, either under ‘strengths’ or ‘limitations’ and reviewed. Themes were then assigned a name according to the codes.

The search yielded 9978 titles across the 5 databases: Web of Science (1480 results), PubMed (94 results), ASSIA (2454 results), CINAHL (5948 results) and Cochrane Library (2 results), resulting in 8553 different studies after deduplication. ORP and CH independently screened their titles and abstracts, excluding those that did not meet the criteria. After assessment, 12 studies were included (see Fig. 1 ).

PRISMA flowchart of the study selection process

Study characteristics

The included studies were published between 2018 and 2022. Seven were conducted in the UK [ 12 , 14 , 15 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 23 ], two in Canada [ 21 , 22 ], one in Australia [ 13 ], one in Norway [ 16 ] and one in Ireland [ 20 ]. The PPI activities occurred across various settings, including a school [ 12 ], social club [ 12 ], hospital [ 17 ], university [ 22 ], theatre [ 19 ], hotel [ 20 ], or online [ 15 , 21 ], however this information was omitted in 5 studies [ 13 , 14 , 16 , 18 , 23 ]. The number of people attending the PPI sessions varied, ranging from 6 to 289, however the majority (ten studies) had less than 70 participants [ 13 , 14 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ]. Seven studies did not provide information on the age or gender of the PPI groups. Of those that did, ages ranged from 8 to 76 and were mostly female. The ethnicities of the PPI group members were also rarely recorded (see Additional file 3 for data extraction table).

Types of creative methods

The type of creative methods used to engage the PPI groups were varied. These included songs, poems, drawings, photograph elicitation, drama performance, visualisations, Facebook, photography, prototype development, cultural animation, card sorting and creating personas (see Table 1 ). These were sometimes accompanied by traditional methods of PPI such as interviews and focus group discussions.

The 12 included studies were all deemed to be of good methodological quality, with scores ranging from 6/10 to 10/10 with the CASP critical appraisal tool [ 10 ] (Table 2 ).

Thematic analysis

Analysis identified four limitations and five strengths to creative PPI (see Fig. 2 ). Limitations included the time and resource intensity of creative PPI methods, its lack of generalisation, ethical issues and external factors. Strengths included the disruption of power hierarchies, the engaging and inclusive nature of the methods and their long-term cost and time efficiency. Creative PPI methods also allowed mundane and “taboo” topics to be discussed within a safe space.

Theme map of strengths and limitations

Limitations of creative PPI

Creative ppi methods are time and resource intensive.

The time and resource intensive nature of creative PPI methods is a limitation, most notably for the persona-scenario methodology. Valaitis et al. [ 22 ] used 14 persona-scenario workshops with 70 participants to co-design a healthcare intervention, which aimed to promote optimal aging in Canada. Using the persona method, pairs composed of patients, healthcare providers, community service providers and volunteers developed a fictional character which they believed represented an ‘end-user’ of the healthcare intervention. Due to the depth and richness of the data produced the authors reported that it was time consuming to analyse. Further, they commented that the amount of information was difficult to disseminate to scientific leads and present at team meetings. Additionally, to ensure the production of high-quality data, to probe for details and lead group discussion there was a need for highly skilled facilitators. The resource intensive nature of the creative co-production was also noted in a study using the persona scenario and creative worksheets to develop a prototype decision support tool for individuals with malignant pleural effusion [ 17 ]. With approximately 50 people, this was also likely to yield a high volume of data to consider.

To prepare materials for populations who cannot engage in traditional methods of PPI was also timely. Kearns et al. [ 18 ] developed a feedback questionnaire for people with aphasia to evaluate ICT-delivered rehabilitation. To ensure people could participate effectively, the resources used during the workshops, such as PowerPoints, online images and photographs, had to be aphasia-accessible, which was labour and time intensive. The author warned that this time commitment should not be underestimated.

There are further practical limitations to implementing creative PPI, such as the costs of materials for activities as well as hiring a space for workshops. For example, the included studies in this review utilised pens, paper, worksheets, laptops, arts and craft supplies and magazines and took place in venues such as universities, a social club, and a hotel. Further, although not limited to creative PPI methods exclusively but rather most studies involving the public, a financial incentive was often offered for participation, as well as food, parking, transport and accommodation [ 21 , 22 ].

Creative PPI lacks generalisation

Another barrier to the use of creative PPI methods in health and social care research was the individual nature of its output. Those who participate, usually small in number, produce unique creative outputs specific to their own experiences, opinions and location. Craven et al. [ 13 ], used arts-based visualisations to develop a toolbox for adults with mental health difficulties. They commented, “such an approach might still not be worthwhile”, as the visualisations were individualised and highly personal. This indicates that the output may fail to meet the needs of its end-users. Further, these creative PPI groups were based in certain geographical regions such as Stoke-on-Trent [ 19 ] Sheffield [ 23 ], South Wales [ 12 ] or Ireland [ 20 ], which limits the extent the findings can be applied to wider populations, even within the same area due to individual nuances. Further, the study by Galler et al. [ 16 ], is specific to the Norwegian context and even then, maybe only a sub-group of the Norwegian population as the sample used was of higher socioeconomic status.

However, Grindell et al. [ 17 ], who used persona scenarios, creative worksheets and prototype development, pointed out that the purpose of this type of research is to improve a certain place, rather than apply findings across other populations and locations. Individualised output may, therefore, only be a limitation to research wanting to conduct PPI on a large scale.

If, however, greater generalisation within PPI is deemed necessary, then social media may offer a resolution. Fedorowicz et al. [ 15 ], used Facebook to gain feedback from the public on the use of video-recording methodology for an upcoming project. This had the benefit of including a more diverse range of people (289 people joined the closed group), who were spread geographically around the UK, as well as seven people from overseas.

Creative PPI has ethical issues

As with other research, ethical issues must be taken into consideration. Due to the nature of creative approaches, as well as the personal effort put into them, people often want to be recognised for their work. However, this compromises principles so heavily instilled in research such as anonymity and confidentiality. With the aim of exploring issues related to health and well-being in a town in South Wales, Byrne et al. [ 12 ], asked year 4/5 and year 10 pupils to create poems, songs, drawings and photographs. Community members also created a performance, mainly of monologues, to explore how poverty and inequalities are dealt with. Byrne noted the risks of these arts-based approaches, that being the possibility of over-disclosure and consequent emotional distress, as well as people’s desire to be named for their work. On one hand, the anonymity reduces the sense of ownership of the output as it does not portray a particular individual’s lived experience anymore. On the other hand, however, it could promote a more honest account of lived experience. Supporting this, Webber et al. [ 23 ], who used the persona method to co-design a back pain educational resource prototype, claimed that the anonymity provided by this creative technique allowed individuals to externalise and anonymise their own personal experience, thus creating a more authentic and genuine resource for future users. This implies that anonymity can be both a limitation and strength here.

The use of creative PPI methods is impeded by external factors

Despite the above limitations influencing the implementation of creative PPI techniques, perhaps the most influential is that creative methodologies are simply not mainstream [ 19 ]. This could be linked to the issues above, like time and resource intensity, generalisation and ethical issues but it is also likely to involve more systemic factors within the research community. Micsinszki et al. [ 21 ], who co-designed a hub for the health and well-being of vulnerable populations, commented that there is insufficient infrastructure to conduct meaningful co-design as well as a dominant medical model. Through a more holistic lens, there are “sociopolitical environments that privilege individualism over collectivism, self-sufficiency over collaboration, and scientific expertise over other ways of knowing based on lived experience” [ 21 ]. This, it could be suggested, renders creative co-design methodologies, which are based on the foundations of collectivism, collaboration and imagination an invalid technique in the research field, which is heavily dominated by more scientific methods offering reproducibility, objectivity and reliability.

Although we acknowledge that creative PPI techniques are not always appropriate, it may be that their main limitation is the lack of awareness of these methods or lack of willingness to use them. Further, there is always the risk that PPI, despite being a mandatory part of research, is used in a tokenistic or tick-box fashion [ 20 ], without considering the contribution that meaningful PPI could make to enhancing the research. It may be that PPI, let alone creative PPI, is not at the forefront of researchers’ minds when planning research.

Strengths of creative PPI

Creative ppi disrupts power hierarchies.

One of the main strengths of creative PPI techniques, cited most frequently in the included literature, was that they disrupt traditional power hierarchies [ 12 , 13 , 17 , 19 , 23 ]. For example, the use of theatre performance blurred the lines between professional and lay roles between the community and policy makers [ 12 ]. Individuals created a monologue to portray how poverty and inequality impact daily life and presented this to representatives of the National Assembly of Wales, Welsh Government, the Local Authority, Arts Council and Westminster. Byrne et al. [ 12 ], states how this medium allowed the community to engage with the people who make decisions about their lives in an environment of respect and understanding, where the hierarchies are not as visible as in other settings, e.g., political surgeries. Creative PPI methods have also removed traditional power hierarchies between researchers and adolescents. Cook et al. [ 13 ], used arts-based approaches to explore adolescents’ ideas about the “perfect” condom. They utilised the “Life Happens” resource, where adolescents drew and then decorated a person with their thoughts about sexual relationships, not too dissimilar from the persona-scenario method. This was then combined with hypothetical scenarios about sexuality. A condom-mapping exercise was then implemented, where groups shared the characteristics that make a condom “perfect” on large pieces of paper. Cook et al. [ 13 ], noted that usually power imbalances make it difficult to elicit information from adolescents, however these power imbalances were reduced due to the use of creative co-design techniques.

The same reduction in power hierarchies was noted by Grindell et al. [ 17 ], who used the person-scenario method and creative worksheets with individuals with malignant pleural effusion. This was with the aim of developing a prototype of a decision support tool for patients to help with treatment options. Although this process involved a variety of stakeholders, such as patients, carers and healthcare professionals, creative co-design was cited as a mechanism that worked to reduce power imbalances – a limitation of more traditional methods of research. Creative co-design blurred boundaries between end-users and clinical staff and enabled the sharing of ideas from multiple, valuable perspectives, meaning the prototype was able to suit user needs whilst addressing clinical problems.

Similarly, a specific creative method named cultural animation was also cited to dissolve hierarchies and encourage equal contributions from participants. Within this arts-based approach, Keleman et al. [ 19 ], explored the concept of “good health” with individuals from Stoke-on Trent. Members of the group created art installations using ribbons, buttons, cardboard and straws to depict their idea of a “healthy community”, which was accompanied by a poem. They also created a 3D Facebook page and produced another poem or song addressing the government to communicate their version of a “picture of health”. Public participants said that they found the process empowering, honest, democratic, valuable and practical.

This dissolving of hierarchies and levelling of power is beneficial as it increases the sense of ownership experienced by the creators/producers of the output [ 12 , 17 , 23 ]. This is advantageous as it has been suggested to improve its quality [ 23 ].

Creative PPI allows the unsayable to be said

Creative PPI fosters a safe space for mundane or taboo topics to be shared, which may be difficult to communicate using traditional methods of PPI. For example, the hypothetical nature of condom mapping and persona-scenarios meant that adolescents could discuss a personal topic without fear of discrimination, judgement or personal disclosure [ 13 ]. The safe space allowed a greater volume of ideas to be generated amongst peers where they might not have otherwise. Similarly, Webber et al. [ 23 ], , who used the persona method to co-design the prototype back pain educational resource, also noted how this method creates anonymity whilst allowing people the opportunity to externalise personal experiences, thoughts and feelings. Other creative methods were also used, such as drawing, collaging, role play and creating mood boards. A cardboard cube (labelled a “magic box”) was used to symbolise a physical representation of their final prototype. These creative methods levelled the playing field and made personal experiences accessible in a safe, open environment that fostered trust, as well as understanding from the researchers.

It is not only sensitive subjects that were made easier to articulate through creative PPI. The communication of mundane everyday experiences were also facilitated, which were deemed typically ‘unsayable’. This was specifically given in the context of describing intangible aspects of everyday health and wellbeing [ 11 ]. Graphic designers can also be used to visually represent the outputs of creative PPI. These captured the movement and fluidity of people and well as the relationships between them - things that cannot be spoken but can be depicted [ 21 ].

Creative PPI methods are inclusive

Another strength of creative PPI was that it is inclusive and accessible [ 17 , 19 , 21 ]. The safe space it fosters, as well as the dismantling of hierarchies, welcomed people from a diverse range of backgrounds and provided equal opportunities [ 21 ], especially for those with communication and memory difficulties who might be otherwise excluded from PPI. Kelemen et al. [ 19 ], who used creative methods to explore health and well-being in Stoke-on-Trent, discussed how people from different backgrounds came together and connected, discussed and reached a consensus over a topic which evoked strong emotions, that they all have in common. Individuals said that the techniques used “sets people to open up as they are not overwhelmed by words”. Similarly, creative activities, such as the persona method, have been stated to allow people to express themselves in an inclusive environment using a common language. Kearns et al. [ 18 ], who used aphasia-accessible material to develop a questionnaire with aphasic individuals, described how they felt comfortable in contributing to workshops (although this material was time-consuming to make, see ‘Limitations of creative PPI’ ).

Despite the general inclusivity of creative PPI, it can also be exclusive, particularly if online mediums are used. Fedorowicz et al. [ 15 ], used Facebook to create a PPI group, and although this may rectify previous drawbacks about lack of generalisation of creative methods (as Facebook can reach a greater number of people, globally), it excluded those who are not digitally active or have limited internet access or knowledge of technology. Online methods have other issues too. Maintaining the online group was cited as challenging and the volume of responses required researchers to interact outside of their working hours. Despite this, online methods like Facebook are very accessible for people who are physically disabled.

Creative PPI methods are engaging

The process of creative PPI is typically more engaging and produces more colourful data than traditional methods [ 13 ]. Individuals are permitted and encouraged to explore a creative self [ 19 ], which can lead to the exploration of new ideas and an overall increased enjoyment of the process. This increased engagement is particularly beneficial for younger PPI groups. For example, to involve children in the development of health food products, Galler et al. [ 16 ] asked 9-12-year-olds to take photos of their food and present it to other children in a “show and tell” fashion. They then created a newspaper article describing a new healthy snack. In this creative focus group, children were given lab coats to further their identity as inventors. Galler et al. [ 16 ], notes that the methods were highly engaging and facilitated teamwork and group learning. This collaborative nature of problem-solving was also observed in adults who used personas and creative worksheets to develop the resource for lower back pain [ 23 ]. Dementia patients too have been reported to enjoy the creative and informal approach to idea generation [ 20 ].

The use of cultural animation allowed people to connect with each other in a way that traditional methods do not [ 19 , 21 ]. These connections were held in place by boundary objects, such as ribbons, buttons, fabric and picture frames, which symbolised a shared meaning between people and an exchange of knowledge and emotion. Asking groups to create an art installation using these objects further fostered teamwork and collaboration, both at an individual and collective level. The exploration of a creative self increased energy levels and encouraged productive discussions and problem-solving [ 19 ]. Objects also encouraged a solution-focused approach and permitted people to think beyond their usual everyday scope [ 17 ]. They also allowed facilitators to probe deeper about the greater meanings carried by the object, which acted as a metaphor [ 21 ].

From the researcher’s point of view, co-creative methods gave rise to ideas they might not have initially considered. Valaitis et al. [ 22 ], found that over 40% of the creative outputs were novel ideas brought to light by patients, healthcare providers/community care providers, community service providers and volunteers. One researcher commented, “It [the creative methods] took me on a journey, in a way that when we do other pieces of research it can feel disconnected” [ 23 ]. Another researcher also stated they could not return to the way they used to do research, as they have learnt so much about their own health and community and how they are perceived [ 19 ]. This demonstrates that creative processes not only benefit the project outcomes and the PPI group, but also facilitators and researchers. However, although engaging, creative methods have been criticised for not demonstrating academic rigour [ 17 ]. Moreover, creative PPI may also be exclusive to people who do not like or enjoy creative activities.

Creative PPI methods are cost and time efficient

Creative PPI workshops can often produce output that is visible and tangible. This can save time and money in the long run as the output is either ready to be implemented in a healthcare setting or a first iteration has already been developed. This may also offset the time and costs it takes to implement creative PPI. For example, the prototype of the decision support tool for people with malignant pleural effusion was developed using personas and creative worksheets. The end result was two tangible prototypes to drive the initial idea forward as something to be used in practice [ 17 ]. The use of creative co-design in this case saved clinician time as well as the time it would take to develop this product without the help of its end-users. In the development of this particular prototype, analysis was iterative and informed the next stage of development, which again saved time. The same applies for the feedback questionnaire for the assessment of ICT delivered aphasia rehabilitation. The co-created questionnaire, designed with people with aphasia, was ready to be used in practice [ 18 ]. This suggests that to overcome time and resource barriers to creative PPI, researchers should aim for it to be engaging whilst also producing output.

That useable products are generated during creative workshops signals to participating patients and public members that they have been listened to and their thoughts and opinions acted upon [ 23 ]. For example, the development of the back pain resource based on patient experiences implies that their suggestions were valid and valuable. Further, those who participated in the cultural animation workshop reported that the process visualises change, and that it already feels as though the process of change has started [ 19 ].

The most cost and time efficient method of creative PPI in this review is most likely the use of Facebook to gather feedback on project methodology [ 15 ]. Although there were drawbacks to this, researchers could involve more people from a range of geographical areas at little to no cost. Feedback was instantaneous and no training was required. From the perspective of the PPI group, they could interact however much or little they wish with no time commitment.

This systematic review identified four limitations and five strengths to the use of creative PPI in health and social care research. Creative PPI is time and resource intensive, can raise ethical issues and lacks generalisability. It is also not accepted by the mainstream. These factors may act as barriers to the implementation of creative PPI. However, creative PPI disrupts traditional power hierarchies and creates a safe space for taboo or mundane topics. It is also engaging, inclusive and can be time and cost efficient in the long term.

Something that became apparent during data analysis was that these are not blanket strengths and limitations of creative PPI as a whole. The umbrella term ‘creative PPI’ is broad and encapsulates a wide range of activities, ranging from music and poems to prototype development and persona-scenarios, to more simplistic things like the use of sticky notes and ordering cards. Many different activities can be deemed ‘creative’ and the strengths and limitations of one does not necessarily apply to another. For example, cultural animation takes greater effort to prepare than the use of sticky notes and sorting cards, and the use of Facebook is cheaper and wider reaching than persona development. Researchers should use their discretion and weigh up the benefits and drawbacks of each method to decide on a technique which suits the project. What might be a limitation to creative PPI in one project may not be in another. In some cases, creative PPI may not be suitable at all.

Furthermore, the choice of creative PPI method also depends on the needs and characteristics of the PPI group. Children, adults and people living with dementia or language difficulties all have different engagement needs and capabilities. This indicates that creative PPI is not one size fits all and that the most appropriate method will change depending on the composition of the group. The choice of method will also be determined by the constraints of the research project, namely time, money and the research aim. For example, if there are time constraints, then a method which yields a lot of data and requires a lot of preparation may not be appropriate. If generalisation is important, then an online method is more suitable. Together this indicates that the choice of creative PPI method is highly individualised and dependent on multiple factors.

Although the limitations discussed in this review apply to creative PPI, they are not exclusive to creative PPI. Ethical issues are a consideration within general PPI research, especially when working with more vulnerable populations, such as children or adults living with a disability. It can also be the case that traditional PPI methods lack generalisability, as people who volunteer to be part of such a group are more likely be older, middle class and retired [ 24 ]. Most research is vulnerable to this type of bias, however, it is worth noting that generalisation is not always a goal and research remains valid and meaningful in its absence. Although online methods may somewhat combat issues related to generalisability, these methods still exclude people who do not have access to the internet/technology or who choose not to use it, implying that online PPI methods may not be wholly representative of the general population. Saying this, however, the accessibility of creative PPI techniques differs from person to person, and for some, online mediums may be more accessible (for example for those with a physical disability), and for others, this might be face-to-face. To combat this, a range of methods should be implemented. Planning multiple focus group and interviews for traditional PPI is also time and resource intensive, however the extra resources required to make this creative may be even greater. Although, the rich data provided may be worth the preparation and analysis time, which is also likely to depend on the number of participants and workshop sessions required. PPI, not just creative PPI, often requires the provision of a financial incentive, refreshments, parking and accommodation, which increase costs. These, however, are imperative and non-negotiable, as they increase the accessibility of research, especially to minority and lower-income groups less likely to participate. Adequate funding is also important for co-design studies where repeated engagement is required. One barrier to implementation, which appears to be exclusive to creative methods, however, is that creative methods are not mainstream. This cannot be said for traditional PPI as this is often a mandatory part of research applications.

Regarding the strengths of creative PPI, it could be argued that most appear to be exclusive to creative methodologies. These are inclusive by nature as multiple approaches can be taken to evoke ideas from different populations - approaches that do not necessarily rely on verbal or written communication like interviews and focus groups do. Given the anonymity provided by some creative methods, such as personas, people may be more likely to discuss their personal experiences under the guise of a general end-user, which might be more difficult to maintain when an interviewer is asking an individual questions directly. Additionally, creative methods are by nature more engaging and interactive than traditional methods, although this is a blanket statement and there may be people who find the question-and-answer/group discussion format more engaging. Creative methods have also been cited to eliminate power imbalances which exist in traditional research [ 12 , 13 , 17 , 19 , 23 ]. These imbalances exist between researchers and policy makers and adolescents, adults and the community. Lastly, although this may occur to a greater extent in creative methods like prototype development, it could be suggested that PPI in general – regardless of whether it is creative - is more time and cost efficient in the long-term than not using any PPI to guide or refine the research process. It must be noted that these are observations based on the literature. To be certain these differences exist between creative and traditional methods of PPI, direct empirical evaluation of both should be conducted.

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first review to identify the strengths and limitations to creative PPI, however, similar literature has identified barriers and facilitators to PPI in general. In the context of clinical trials, recruitment difficulties were cited as a barrier, as well as finding public contributors who were free during work/school hours. Trial managers reported finding group dynamics difficult to manage and the academic environment also made some public contributors feel nervous and lacking confidence to speak. Facilitators, however, included the shared ownership of the research – something that has been identified in the current review too. In addition, planning and the provision of knowledge, information and communication were also identified as facilitators [ 25 ]. Other research on the barriers to meaningful PPI in trial oversight committees included trialist confusion or scepticism over the PPI role and the difficulties in finding PPI members who had a basic understanding of research [ 26 ]. However, it could be argued that this is not representative of the average patient or public member. The formality of oversight meetings and the technical language used also acted as a barrier, which may imply that the informal nature of creative methods and its lack of dependency on literacy skills could overcome this. Further, a review of 42 reviews on PPI in health and social care identified financial compensation, resources, training and general support as necessary to conduct PPI, much like in the current review where the resource intensiveness of creative PPI was identified as a limitation. However, others were identified too, such as recruitment and representativeness of public contributors [ 27 ]. Like in the current review, power imbalances were also noted, however this was included as both a barrier and facilitator. Collaboration seemed to diminish hierarchies but not always, as sometimes these imbalances remained between public contributors and healthcare staff, described as a ‘them and us’ culture [ 27 ]. Although these studies compliment the findings of the current review, a direct comparison cannot be made as they do not concern creative methods. However, it does suggest that some strengths and weaknesses are shared between creative and traditional methods of PPI.

Strengths and limitations of this review

Although a general definition of creative PPI exists, it was up to our discretion to decide exactly which activities were deemed as such for this review. For example, we included sorting cards, the use of interactive whiteboards and sticky notes. Other researchers may have a more or less stringent criteria. However, two reviewers were involved in this decision which aids the reliability of the included articles. Further, it may be that some of the strengths and limitations cannot fully be attributed to the creative nature of the PPI process, but rather their co-created nature, however this is hard to disentangle as the included papers involved both these aspects.

During screening, it was difficult to decide whether the article was utilising creative qualitative methodology or creative PPI , as it was often not explicitly labelled as such. Regardless, both approaches involved the public/patients refining a healthcare product/service. This implies that if this review were to be replicated, others may do it differently. This may call for greater standardisation in the reporting of the public’s involvement in research. For example, the NIHR outlines different approaches to PPI, namely “consultation”, “collaboration”, “co-production” and “user-controlled”, which each signify an increased level of public power and influence [ 28 ]. Papers with elements of PPI could use these labels to clarify the extent of public involvement, or even explicitly state that there was no PPI. Further, given our decision to include only scholarly peer-reviewed literature, it is possible that data were missed within the grey literature. Similarly, the literature search will not have identified all papers relating to different types of accessible inclusion. However, the intent of the review was to focus solely on those within the definition of creative.

This review fills a gap in the literature and helps circulate and promote the concept of creative PPI. Each stage of this review, namely screening and quality appraisal, was conducted by two independent reviewers. However, four full texts could not be accessed during the full text reading stage, meaning there are missing data that could have altered or contributed to the findings of this review.

Research recommendations

Given that creative PPI can require effort to prepare, perform and analyse, sufficient time and funding should be allocated in the research protocol to enable meaningful and continuous PPI. This is worthwhile as PPI can significantly change the research output so that it aligns closely with the needs of the group it is to benefit. Researchers should also consider prototype development as a creative PPI activity as this might reduce future time/resource constraints. Shifting from a top-down approach within research to a bottom-up can be advantageous to all stakeholders and can help move creative PPI towards the mainstream. This, however, is the collective responsibility of funding bodies, universities and researchers, as well as committees who approve research bids.

A few of the included studies used creative techniques alongside traditional methods, such as interviews, which could also be used as a hybrid method of PPI, perhaps by researchers who are unfamiliar with creative techniques or to those who wish to reap the benefits of both. Often the characteristics of the PPI group were not included, including age, gender and ethnicity. It would be useful to include such information to assess how representative the PPI group is of the population of interest.

Creative PPI is a relatively novel approach of engaging the public and patients in research and it has both advantages and disadvantages compared to more traditional methods. There are many approaches to implementing creative PPI and the choice of technique will be unique to each piece of research and is reliant on several factors. These include the age and ability of the PPI group as well as the resource limitations of the project. Each method has benefits and drawbacks, which should be considered at the protocol-writing stage. However, given adequate funding, time and planning, creative PPI is a worthwhile and engaging method of generating ideas with end-users of research – ideas which may not be otherwise generated using traditional methods.

Data availability

No datasets were generated or analysed during the current study.

Abbreviations

Critical Appraisal Skills Programme

The Joanna Briggs Institute

National Institute of Health and Care Research

Public Advisory Group

Public and Patient Involvement

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Acknowledgements

With thanks to the PHIRST-LIGHT public advisory group and consortium for their thoughts and contributions to the design of this work.

The research team is supported by a National Institute for Health and Care Research grant (PHIRST-LIGHT Reference NIHR 135190).

Author information

Olivia R. Phillips and Cerian Harries share joint first authorship.

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Nottingham Centre for Public Health and Epidemiology, Lifespan and Population Health, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Clinical Sciences Building, City Hospital Campus, Hucknall Road, Nottingham, NG5 1PB, UK

Olivia R. Phillips, Jo Leonardi-Bee, Holly Knight & Joanne R. Morling

National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) PHIRST-LIGHT, Nottingham, UK

Olivia R. Phillips, Cerian Harries, Jo Leonardi-Bee, Holly Knight, Lauren B. Sherar, Veronica Varela-Mato & Joanne R. Morling

School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Epinal Way, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU, UK

Cerian Harries, Lauren B. Sherar & Veronica Varela-Mato

Nottingham Centre for Evidence Based Healthcare, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK

Jo Leonardi-Bee

NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK

Joanne R. Morling

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Author contributions: study design: ORP, CH, JRM, JLB, HK, LBS, VVM, literature searching and screening: ORP, CH, JRM, data curation: ORP, CH, analysis: ORP, CH, JRM, manuscript draft: ORP, CH, JRM, Plain English Summary: ORP, manuscript critical review and editing: ORP, CH, JRM, JLB, HK, LBS, VVM.

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Additional file 1: Search strings: Description of data: the search strings and filters used in each of the 5 databases in this review

Additional file 2: Quality appraisal questions: Description of data: CASP quality appraisal questions

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Additional file 3: Table 1: Description of data: elements of the data extraction table that are not in the main manuscript

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Phillips, O.R., Harries, C., Leonardi-Bee, J. et al. What are the strengths and limitations to utilising creative methods in public and patient involvement in health and social care research? A qualitative systematic review. Res Involv Engagem 10 , 48 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40900-024-00580-4

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20 Engrossing Art Research Paper Topics on Artist Biography Analyzing the life and work of a particular artist can help you understand them better and uncover the symbolism and hidden meanings in their work. Let's go over some engaging art topics for research papers, covering some of the most influential artists in history. 18th century:
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31 Architecture Research Paper Topics. 32 Theater Research Paper Ideas. 33 The Study of Photography as Research about Art. 34 Artist Biography Ideas. 34.1 Art Topics Ideas Base on the Artists of the 18th Century. 34.2 Artists of the 19th Century. Art has been a significant aspect of human civilization for centuries.
180 Art Research Topics To Get Your Inspiration Started
Here are some advanced art topics you could try: The emergence of urban street art. Cubism in Pablo Picasso paintings. The life and works of Louise Bourgeois. Talk about the influence of the paranormal on art. An in-depth look at Aztec religious art. Talk about a primeval music instrument of your choice.
80 Brilliant Art Research Paper Topics Ideas
The following are the 10 best art history research paper topics to consider; Comparing artistic freedom and censorship in Nazi Germany. History of Art: From the canvas age to photography. Research of medieval England Gothic art. Abstract Expressionism history in Art. History of Expressionism in Western Europe.
The Best 125 Art Research Paper Topics for 2023
Check out these unique art history research paper topics: The history of art in Eastern Europe. Russian art: the beginning. An in-depth look at Mayan art. The first works of art in the world. Discuss art in the Greek theater. The inception of Renaissance art. Compare and contrast Art Nouveau and Art Deco. The effects of art on the world.
Explore 200 Captivating Art Research Paper Topic Ideas
Art Research Paper Topics on Diverse Fields. Below is an extensive pool of research paper topics that you can choose to write an art research paper on. Contemporary Art Research Paper Topics . Eco-Friendly Practices in Contemporary Sculpture and Installation Art; Digital NFT Art Redefining Ownership and Authenticity in the Art World
70 Top Art Research Paper Topics To Explore
Great Arts Research Paper Topics on Minimalism. Minimalism, as a form of art, was a movement in painting and sculpture of the 1950s. It was made clear by the use of massive and straightforward ways. Here are some art research paper topics: The elements of minimalism art in Specific Objects by Donald Judd; Discuss the rise of minimal art
333 Art Research Paper Topics & Ideas
Art research paper topics cover a fascinating field, where numerous themes range from the study of specific artistic movements, periods, and styles to investigations into the socio-political context of art, including the use of new technologies in contemporary artistic practices. Various topics may explore the complexities of abstract ...
51 Best Art Research Paper Topics For Your Project
Fortunately, you can find some of the best ancient art history research paper topics right here: The industrial revolution and the development of art. The main motifs in ancient Greek art. The main motifs in ancient Roman art. The best works of William Blake. Medieval France and its obsession for stained glass.
10 Art History Papers: Topics for Inspiration
Mark Rothko's Orange, Red, Yellow. Research a particular movement of art, such as Color Field Painting, which was practiced by the Abstract Expressionist family of artists. Like Action Painting, the Color Field artists treat the surface of a canvas or paper as a "field" of vision, without a central focus, and emphasize the flatness of the surface.
Art History Research Paper Topics
100 Art History Research Paper Topics. Art history, as a field of study, covers thousands of years and countless cultures, offering an expansive array of topics for research papers. When embarking on an art history project, you can focus on certain eras, explore individual artists or art movements, investigate the role of art in specific ...
Top Art Research Paper Topic for All Students
Romanticism (1790-1850) art research paper topics should highlight the role of nature and subconsciousness in masterpieces of that time. Students can choose art research topics that explore influential German, English, and French painters of the Romanticism period. They interpreted the world differently and wanted to oppose the stern nature of ...
25 Arts Research Paper Topics Ideas
25 Arts Research Paper Topics Despite art can't be measured with figures and its value depends a lot on personal impressions, it still can be the subject of research. Studying something so connected to emotions may seem a challenging task, but don't worry: there is a lot of perfectly credible data you can use in your research paper if only ...
Ancient Art History Research Paper Topics
The field of ancient art history, encompassing a vast spectrum of civilizations and epochs, offers countless areas of exploration. We have prepared an extensive list of 100 research paper topics, meticulously categorized into ten sections, each reflecting a specific region or era in ancient art history. Expert advice on selecting relevant ...
A List of Unique Art Research Paper Topics
Visual Art Research Topics. Painting as pedagogy. Sculpture in the modern age. The creative works of popular artists. Aesthetics of painting: a study of an artist's creations. A comparison of style of different artists. Trends in photography in different generations. Impact of technology on visual art.
Arts-Based Research
Introduction. The term arts-based research is an umbrella term that covers an eclectic array of methodological and epistemological approaches. The key elements that unify this diverse body of work are: it is research; and one or more art forms or processes are involved in the doing of the research.How art is involved varies enormously. It has been used as one of several tools to elicit ...
179 Contemporary Art Essay Topic Ideas & Examples
📃 Good Research Topics about Contemporary Art. Andy Warhol and His Work on the Contemporary Art; ... It contains thousands of paper examples on a wide variety of topics, all donated by helpful students. You can use them for inspiration, an insight into a particular topic, a handy source of reference, or even just as a template of a certain ...
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Researching Artworks and Artists
Works such as the Dictionary of Art Terms can also be useful for definitions and explanations of terms and periods of art, as well as illustrations and diagrams for entries. Articles on Art, Artists, and Related Topics. These subscription resources provide citations and some full-text articles on art, artists, and related topics.
198 Art History Thesis Topics
Here are some of the best art in the 19th century topics: Discuss European painting in the 19th century. Modernism in the 19th century. The history of surrealism. Talk about the focus of 19th century art. The history of cubism. The history of symbolism. Research the Industrial Revolution in art.
113 Great Research Paper Topics
113 Great Research Paper Topics. One of the hardest parts of writing a research paper can be just finding a good topic to write about. Fortunately we've done the hard work for you and have compiled a list of 113 interesting research paper topics. They've been organized into ten categories and cover a wide range of subjects so you can easily ...
Good Examples of Artist Research Pages
Janet Fish research page by Serena Arya (Bolton School Girls' Division) The simple black and white presentation with torn edges below, reflects the artists work. There's nothing like a bit of white pen on black paper to create an artistic-looking page. Over 50% of the annotation is the student's response to the work.
'Research Art Collection' showcase in Old Main
Published on: May 16, 2024. The Office of the Senior Vice President for Research at Penn State hosted an open house for the "Research Art Collection" on April 25. The collection showcases the fine balance between art and research through various displays. From cassowary bird scans to bio-manufactured fashion to sustainable architecture ...
Guidelines for Writing Art History Research Papers
The following are basic guidelines that you must use when documenting research papers for any art history class at UA Little Rock. Solid, thoughtful research and correct documentation of the sources used in this research (i.e., footnotes/endnotes, bibliography, and illustrations**) are essential. Additionally, these guidelines remind students ...
Cultural Relativity and Acceptance of Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Voices in Bioethics is currently seeking submissions on philosophical and practical topics, both current and timeless. Papers addressing access to healthcare, the bioethical implications of recent Supreme Court rulings, environmental ethics, data privacy, cybersecurity, law and bioethics, economics and bioethics, reproductive ethics, research ethics, and pediatric bioethics are sought.
About Handwashing
Washing your hands is easy, and it's one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs. Follow these five steps every time. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and ...
What are the strengths and limitations to utilising creative methods in
There is increasing interest in using patient and public involvement (PPI) in research to improve the quality of healthcare. Ordinarily, traditional methods have been used such as interviews or focus groups. However, these methods tend to engage a similar demographic of people. Thus, creative methods are being developed to involve patients for whom traditional methods are inaccessible or non ...
Trustworthy 6G
The objective of this Special Issue (SI) is to enable both academic and industry researchers to present their research on trustworthy 6G. The SI also seeks to identify new application areas within this developing field and strongly encourages original research articles related to this topic, as well as high-quality review articles describing the current state of the art.