Modern Masterpieces

Ben Cozic, staff writer

Ever since man first drew on rock walls, art has become a major influence in the world. People show expression and perspective in what they create and then show it off to see how others react.

But what about art today? Since the days when great artists like Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci died, what types of artists are there in the modern world and how is their art different?  The answer is closer than you think.

In Charlottesville, there is a historic building located on 306 East Jefferson Street. When entering the building, immediately noticeable are paintings, sculptures, and drawings. This is the Graves International Art Gallery, where pieces of art are shown and sold.

One of the sections of the gallery is the Masters of Contemporary Art. In this section, there are a number of works created by various modern artists, such as The Scream by Salvador Dali and comic book inspired paintings by Roy Lichtenstein. These are a few of the works people will find when looking around in the exhibit. If you have any questions regarding either the exhibit or the artwork, the owners of the exhibit are happy to help.

A previous exhibit showed the works of Ron Campbell, the artist who drew the animation for the 1968 animated film Yellow Submarine, which is famously known to feature the musical band The Beatles.

When looking at the artwork, there is a description  below the work of the artist that created the piece. It goes on to describe their life and what made them interested in art.

I found this information helpful as it gave me a look into the lives of the artists responsible for such impactful imagery, despite not knowing that much about art.

There is no cost for admission to the gallery, and it is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

If you are interested in art and do not want to travel, then the Graves International Art Gallery is one to check out.

For more information, the gallery has a website: www.gravesinternationalart.com.