American Artist Appreciation Month – August 2025

History of American Artist Appreciation Month

We don’t really know who or how American Artist Appreciation Month started but it is clear that, through August, we are encouraged to celebrate American artists and the incredible works that they have created. Creating a piece of art might be a solitary task, yet artwork is often consumed and appreciated by the masses. Looking at artwork in person is known to kindle feelings of awe, empathy, and appreciation for humanity.

The United States has a long and rich artistic history. It stretches from the earliest indigenous cultures to the modern-day globalization of contemporary art. Long before European settlers arrived on the American shores, Native American peoples were already crafting ritual and utilitarian objects in the image of their natural environment and beliefs. After the arrival of the Europeans, artists imitated the European styles in portraiture and landscape painting to correctly represent the new landscape. However, it was not until the middle of the 19th century with the Hudson River School that American artists could launch a cohesive movement. Through the early 20th century, artists would still seek inspiration from European avant-garde groups but they shifted their focus to urban American centers and the more rural Midwest. After World War II, artists in America started the Abstract Expressionist movement, which brought them international fame for the first time. American artistic influence was finally being recognized abroad, and later Minimalism and Pop Art made great waves in the international art community. Over the years, America became home to important museums, art centers, and schools, and now with the influence of social media and digital platforms, the nation is seeing a rise in a more individualistic approach to art.