Noun

Singular found object

Plural found objects

found object (plural found objects)

1. a natural object, or one manufactured for some other purpose, considered as a work of art

Synonyms

• found art
• objet trouvé

The term found art—more commonly found object (French: objet trouvé) or readymade—describes art created from the undisguised, but often modified, use of objects that are not normally considered art, often because they already have a non-art function. Marcel Duchamp was the originator of this in the early 20th century.

Found art derives its identity as art from the designation placed upon it by the artist. The context into which it is placed (e.g. a gallery or museum) is usually also a highly relevant factor. The idea of dignifying commonplace objects in this way was originally a shocking challenge to the accepted distinction between what was considered art as opposed to not art. Although it may now be accepted in the art world as a viable practice, it continues to arouse questioning, as with the Tate Gallery's Turner Prize exhibition of Tracey Emin's My Bed, which consisted literally of her unmade and dishevelled bed. In this sense the artist gives the audience time and a stage to contemplate an object. Appreciation of found art in this way can prompt philosophical reflection in the observer.

Found art, however, has to have the artist's input, at the very least an idea about it, i.e. the artist's designation of the object as art, which is nearly always reinforced with a title. There is mostly also some degree of modification of the object, although not to the extent that it cannot be recognised. The modification may lead to it being designated a "modified", "interpreted" or "adapted" found object.

• Artists (32)

See also:

• Arts: Visual Arts: Collage (80)
• Arts: Visual Arts: Thematic (664)
• Shopping: Visual Arts: Mixed Media (30)
• Shopping: Visual Arts: Thematic (413)
• Shopping: Visual Arts: Thematic: Folk (17)

• Yahoo! Groups: AssemblageArt
  groups.yahoo.com
  For established or emerging assemblage artist or even interested in theoretical or art historical discussion of assemblage art. Critiques, discussion, marketing, methods, materials are all topics which many may be interested in exploring.
• Tribe: Altered Books
  alteredbooks.tribe.net
  Group for those obsessed with altering books, collage and Antiquarian Art. All things paper and pulp including textiles.
• The Zymoglyphic Museum
  zymoglyphic.org
  Contains art, artifacts, and natural history from the Zymoglyphic culture, whose creative output relies mainly on the assemblage of natural objects.