ARTnaive

ARTnaive is a term used in contemporary art discourse to describe works that fuse naïve or childlike aesthetics with modern artistic methodologies. The label situates itself at the intersection of traditional naïve art—characterized by directness, untrained handling, and earnest expression—and late-capitalist, postdigital production, including DIY methods, digital printing, and algorithmic or AI-assisted processes.

Origin and usage: The expression began to appear in critical writing in the 2010s, without a fixed definition. Critics use ARTnaive to signal intentional simplicity and affective immediacy, often as a counterpoint to highly technical or polished contemporary art. The ARTnaive component of the term is sometimes treated as an open-ended reference to artistic practice, technology, or the broader field of image-making.

Characteristics: Works labeled ARTnaive typically feature flat perspective, simplified forms, bold outlines, bright palettes, and a sense of spontaneity. They may combine traditional media with digital elements, such as scanned drawings layered in software, or be produced entirely with low-tech tools. Themes center on memory, folklore, everyday life, or social commentary, using humor or whimsy to engage complex ideas.

Reception and influence: The movement has a contested status within art discourse. Proponents praise its accessibility, sincerity, and critique of art-world pretentiousness; critics question the term’s vagueness and potential commodification. ARTnaive is commonly discussed alongside outsider art, lowbrow, and primitivist discussions, as part of a broader interest in democratizing image-making in the digital era.

See also: Naïve art; Outsider art; Primitivism; Lowbrow.