mixedmedia

Mixed media, also written as mixed-media, refers to an art practice that combines two or more distinct materials or techniques in a single artwork. The approach encompasses painting, drawing, sculpture, collage, photography, printmaking, textiles, found objects, digital components, and even sound or video. The term is widely used in fine art to describe works that go beyond a single medium, often exploring texture, process, and concept through hybridity.

Historically, mixed media has roots in early 20th-century experiments with collage and assemblage. Artists such as Picasso and Braque pioneered collage in the cubist era, while Dada, Surrealism, and later American artists like Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns expanded practices that fused painting with nontraditional materials. In the contemporary context, mixed media frequently incorporates digital technology, video, sound, and interactive elements, blurring boundaries between painting, sculpture, design, and new media.

Techniques and materials used in mixed media are highly varied and can include layering, transfers, decoupage, sculpture, textile work, found objects, glue and additives, as well as digital prints, projection, and electronics. The approach emphasizes process as a source of meaning and often invites experimentation, collaboration across disciplines, and iterative making.

Conservation and interpretation present unique challenges, as materials may have differing aging properties and chemical compatibilities. Documentation and careful archival practices are important for the longevity of mixed-media works. Mixed media remains a flexible umbrella term for interdisciplinary, materially inventive art.

See also: collage, assemblage, multimedia, installation art, mixed-media sculpture.