Poor Art

Arte Povera emerged in Italy, mainly in Turin, in the late 1960s. The term was coined by critic Germano Celant in 1967. The movement used simple, everyday materials such as earth, wood, stone, coal, metal, and textiles, challenging traditional art forms and industrial society. It developed mainly between 1967 and the 1970s, although its artists continued to influence contemporary art. Key figures include Mario Merz, Jannis Kounellis, Michelangelo Pistoletto, and Giuseppe Penone.