Psychedelic art - Definition and Overview

The Psychedelic Era (1965-1975) initiated through the use of psychedelic drugs (namely LSD, mescaline and psilocybin), inspired an entire area of art that is still enjoyed and revered by both those who have and who have not had a personal psychedelic experience.

While psychedelic art was originally focused around the posters and album covers of psychedelic music, it found its own niche in the art community which is still thriving to this day.

Having had a drug-induced psychedelic experience is not a prerequisite for being adept with this style of art. M. C. Escher, Mati Klarwein and Salvador Dali produced art that would be considered psychedelic by most, without the use of psychedelics.

Aspects of Psychedelic Art

Some aspects of pyschedelic art may include the use of:

• Kaleidoscopic, fractal or paisley patterns
• Bright and/or highly contrasting colours
• Extreme depth of detail
• The morphing of objects and/or themes and sometimes collage

For decades, many users of psychedelics report that they perceive a fractalization of the things they are looking at and a kaleidoscopic patterning. Recent scientific examination of the visual cortex has suggested that a fractal structure based on hexagons may be how the receptive fields are organized.

Psychedelic Artists

• H. R. Giger — Homepage (http://www.hrgiger.com/)
• Robert Williams
• Pablo Amaringo — Homepage (http://www.pabloamaringo.com/)
• Michael Whelan — Homepage (http://www.michaelwhelan.com/)
• Salvador Dalí — Webpage (http://www.dali-gallery.com/)
• David Singer — Homepage (http://www.davidsinger.com/)
• Lee Conklin — Homepage (http://www.leeconklin.com/)
• Roberto Matta — Webpage (http://www.matta-art.com/)
• M. C. Escher — Homepage (http://www.mcescher.com/)
• Alex Grey — Homepage (http://www.alexgrey.com/)
• Allyson Grey — Homepage (http://www.allysongrey.com/)
• Brummbaer — Webpage (http://users.lycaeum.org/~maverick/cyber.htm)
• Carolyn Kleefeld — Homepage (http://www.carolynmarykleefeld.com/)
• Barbara Mendes — Homepage (http://www.pbase.com/hillel/mendes/)
• Mati Flarwein — Homepage (http://www.matiklarwein.com/)
• Tadanori Yokoo — Homepage (http://www.tadanoriyokoo.com/)
• Martina Hoffmann — Homepage (http://www.martinahoffmann.com/)
• Mark Henson — Homepage (http://www.sacredlight.to/)
• Rober Venosa — Homepage (http://www.venosa.com/)
• Brian Exton — Homepage (http://www.picturerealm.co.uk/)
• Boyle Family — Homepage (http://www.boylefamily.co.uk/)
• Peter Max — Homepage (http://www.petermax.com)
• Rick Griffin — Webpage (http://www.myraltis.co.uk/rickgriffin/galleries1.htm)
• Gilbert Shelton — Webpage (http://www.lambiek.net/shelton.htm)
• Luke Brown — Webpage (http://spectraleyes.com/)
• Naoto Hattori — Webpage (http://www.wwwcomcom.com/)
• Neil Gibson — Webpage (http://www.neilgibson.ca/)

See also

• Psychedelic
• Psychedelia
• Psychedelic music
• Psychedelic literature
• Flashback (flash animation)
• Erowid Culture Vault: Visionary Arts Vault (http://www.erowid.org/culture/art/)