Introduction
One of the keys to success in IB Visual Arts is showing how your work is influenced by other artists and cultural contexts. Examiners want to see that you’ve studied artists critically and applied those ideas to your own process. But with so many artists across history, students often ask: Which artists should I research for my IB portfolio and comparative study?
In this guide, we’ll highlight some of the best artists — both classical and contemporary — to inspire your IB Visual Arts journey.
Why Researching Artists Matters
Studying other artists helps you:
- Develop your technical and conceptual skills.
- Understand cultural and historical contexts.
- Build connections between your process portfolio, exhibition, and comparative study.
- Strengthen your curatorial rationale with research-based evidence.
- Discover your own artistic voice by adapting influences.
Best Artists to Research by Theme
1. Identity and Self-Expression
- Frida Kahlo – self-portraits exploring pain and identity.
- Zanele Muholi – photography addressing race, gender, and LGBTQ+ identity.
- Cindy Sherman – staged photography exploring personas and stereotypes.
2. Memory and the Human Experience
- Christian Boltanski – installations about memory and loss.
- Tracey Emin – autobiographical works that reveal personal stories.
- Anselm Kiefer – large-scale works dealing with history and trauma.
3. Nature and the Environment
- Georgia O’Keeffe – close-up paintings of flowers and landscapes.
- Andy Goldsworthy – ephemeral sculptures using natural materials.
- Agnes Denes – conceptual environmental art projects.
4. Technology and Modern Life
- Nam June Paik – pioneer of video and media art.
- Refik Anadol – digital projection and AI-driven installations.
- Barbara Kruger – bold text-and-image works critiquing consumerism.
5. Social and Political Issues
- Ai Weiwei – installations critiquing censorship and human rights abuses.
- Kara Walker – silhouettes exploring race and historical power dynamics.
- Banksy – street art addressing politics, society, and activism.
6. Form, Abstraction, and Experimentation
- Pablo Picasso – Cubism and redefined forms.
- Wassily Kandinsky – abstract compositions inspired by music.
- Yayoi Kusama – immersive installations exploring repetition and infinity.
Tips for Researching Artists
- Go beyond biography: Focus on techniques, concepts, and cultural influences.
- Make direct connections: Annotate how their work inspires your experiments.
- Use comparisons: Research multiple artists with different perspectives on the same theme.
- Reflect personally: Always explain why you connect with their work.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Only researching famous artists without personal connection.
- Copying styles instead of adapting influences.
- Ignoring cultural or historical context.
- Overloading your portfolio with research pages instead of experiments.
FAQs on Researching Artists
Q1: Do I have to research contemporary artists?
Not necessarily, but including both historical and contemporary artists shows a broader perspective.
Q2: Can I research local or lesser-known artists?
Yes — as long as you can find enough reliable sources to analyze their work.
Q3: How many artists should I include in my portfolio?
There’s no set number, but most strong portfolios include 4–6 artists studied in depth.
Q4: Should I research artists in the same medium I work in?
It helps, but don’t limit yourself. Sometimes artists in other media can inspire new approaches.
Q5: Can I use the same artists for both the comparative study and process portfolio?
Yes, as long as you approach them differently in each component.
Conclusion
Researching artists is essential for a strong IB Visual Arts portfolio. By studying a mix of classical, modern, and contemporary artists — and reflecting on how they influence your own work — you’ll demonstrate depth, cultural awareness, and originality. The best artists to research are those who inspire you personally while also giving you material for critical analysis.
