Young British Artists (YBAs)
The Young British Artists (YBAs) were a loose group of artists who began to exhibit together in London in the late 1980s, known for their entrepreneurial spirit and use of shock tactics.
The YBAs gained notoriety in the 1990s for their use of unconventional materials, provocative imagery, and a “shock of the new” approach. They often explored themes of death, identity, consumerism, and the media, often with a dark sense of humor. Key figures include: Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin, and Sarah Lucas. The YBAs revitalized the British art scene and gained international recognition, but also attracted controversy for their sometimes sensationalist approach.
Key Artists
- Sarah Lucas - Au Naturel (1994)
- Damien Hirst - The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living (1991)
- Tracey Emin - My Bed (1998)
- Gary Hume - Doors series (various)
- Chris Ofili - No Woman No Cry (1998)
