30+ Conversation Questions: ART and ARTISTS

These questions focus especially on the visual arts.

For handy tips on how to get the most out of these questions go here

Let’s Talk about Art

1. What is art? How would you define it?

2. What is your favourite kind of art? (drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, etc)

3. Which artists do you really like? What is it you like about their work?

4. Do you have a favourite period of art history or a favourite style of art?

5. Do you have a favourite work of art? Why do you like it so much?

6. Would you say that you are creative? In what ways can people be creative?

7. Do you like to draw or paint?

8. Do you think anyone can learn to draw very well or is some natural talent necessary?

9. Have you ever made a sculpture or made pottery?

10. What kind of art did you do at school? Did you enjoy it?

11. Do you think it is important to do art at school?

12. Have you ever studied the history of art?

13. Have you visited any famous art galleries? If so, what did you see there?

14. What emotions can art provoke?

15. In your opinion, which artists are overrated?

16. Which artists do you feel deserve far more recognition?

17. Can you tell us about an important artist from your country or your culture?

18. What makes a painting beautiful or interesting?

19. Do you consider architecture a form of art? Why or why not?

20. Is there much street art (murals) where you live?

21. Have you ever seen a work of street art that you thought was really clever or beautiful or had a powerful message?

22. Have you ever looked at a famous piece of art and wondered why on earth it is so popular?

23. How does art reflect society and cultures?

24. In what ways can art benefit people’s mental health?

25. Is art able to influence social issues?

26. How has technology changed the way people create or view art?

27. Do you like digital art? What jobs require digital art skills?

28. What are the advantages and disadvantages of art created by Artificial Intelligence?

29. Why are some works of art so astronomically expensive?

30. If you had millions, what artwork would you love to buy? Or would you spend your money on other things?

31. In your opinion, why do you some people find modern art silly or meaningless?

32. What positive and negative impacts has social media had on artists and their artwork?

33. What do you think are some of the reasons that most famous painters are men?

34. Can you think of a work of art that has caused controversy? Why?

35. What are the most important social issues today that you would you love to see artists address through their artwork?


Famous Quotes about Art

Which of these quotes about art do you like the most? What do you think it means?

“Creativity takes courage” – Henri Matisse

“The fact is that when it comes to art, we can’t avoid our own reflection.” – Yayoi Kusama

“I am my own muse*. I am the subject I know best. The subject I want to know better.” – Frida Kahlo

“Art should disturb the comfortable, and comfort the disturbed.” – Banksy

* someone or something that inspires an artist. It tends to refer more to a person.


More topics

Films and Cinema
Music
Animals and Nature
Travel and Holidays

Full list of conversation topics here