What is environmental art

The planet's natural wonders have inspired artistic expression since its very beginnings, but today this relationship has evolved into a new form of creation linked to the contemporary environmental context. Against a backdrop of climate change, the loss of biodiversity and the rise of sustainable urbanism, art is no longer confined to representing nature; rather, it often becomes part of it or uses it as a means of protest and reflection. This current of contemporary artistic activism places the natural environment at the centre of the work and makes it the medium for the artwork, bringing together aesthetics, environmental awareness and social action. 

Art and nature 

The first thing that comes to mind when you think of nature in art is landscapes. This genre of painting has been popular in Asia since ancient times but was disparaged in Europe until it became fashionable in the Dutch baroque period and was then exported to other countries. The world's most renowned landscape painters include the Flemish master Jacob van Ruisdael, John Constable from England, American Thomas Cole, Dutchman Vincent Van Gogh and Monet and Cézanne from France, among many others.

Nature is also a recurring theme in other visual arts. It has inspired everything from the gardens of Versailles (France) by André Le Nôtre to sculptures like Peine del Viento by Eduardo Chillida in San Sebastián (Spain) and the photographs of Yosemite National Park in the United States by Californian Ansel Adams. Japanese architecture blends into its surroundings by using plant materials like paper, bamboo and wood.

Characteristics and aims of environmental art

Environmental art encompasses these traditional genres and modern art, addressing ethics and conservationist activism. This new approach to art emerged at the end of the sixties and, unlike the classics, it does more than depict a landscape or include the environment in its creations. The environment becomes the work of art, to raise awareness of the harm we are causing to the environment and call us to action.

Our polluted air and oceans, global warming, deforestation and the consequences of mass consumption for the environment are among the subjects dealt with by contemporary environmental art through photography, painting, drama, dance and sculpture, among other disciplines. Ecoart uses natural, sustainable materials like earth, stones, leaves and branches.

From 'land art' to 'arte povera'

Environmental art encompasses other, similar movements, such as ecological art, arte povera and land art. The last of these changes the landscape by installing large-scale works of art, such as gigantic spirals, ditches and ramps created using the land itself or natural materials, to inspire emotions in those who view them. The first examples of land art appeared in the United States at the end of the sixties and, generally, the works mutated and ended up disappearing due to erosion.

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Arte povera (poor art) emerged in Italy during the same period as land art and is characterised by the use of 'poor' raw materials that are easy to obtain, such as earth, rocks, plants, etc. The purpose is to provoke thought by working with the materials and observing its specific qualities. These are works that reject the commercial side of art, that require public intervention and are transformed over time as the materials used break down.

Current trends 

In contemporary art the relationship with nature has moved beyond mere representation to become a field of active experimentation and environmental engagement. In response to the climate crisis, the loss of biodiversity and the need for new models of sustainability, new movements are emerging that integrate science, ecology and social action into the creative process. 

• Bioart: uses living organisms (bacteria, cells, fungi or plants) as artistic material. This practice challenges the boundaries between the natural and the artificial, the ethical and the aesthetic, and makes life itself part of the artwork. 
• Regenerative art: focuses on the restoration of damaged ecosystems through artistic interventions that have a positive environmental impact. It not only highlights degradation but also seeks to reverse or restore it. 
• Climate change installations: immersive works that use scientific data, technology or sustainable materials to depict the effects of global warming, rising sea levels or habitat loss, creating a sensory experience that raises awareness among viewers. 

Leading environmental artists

The following is a list of some of the best-known artists from this artistic movement:

• Herman de Vries: this Dutch sculptor (1931) based in Germany is one of the precursors of contemporary environmental art. His works feature natural items from around the world to highlight their biodiversity.

• Andy Goldsworthy: British sculptor and photographer (1956) who has been making amazing creations for two decades. He creates temporary works in forests and riverbeds with no more than his own hands.

• Joseph Beuys: this multidisciplinary German artist (1921-1986) created 7000 Oaks, one of the 20th century's most significant works of environmental art. Beuys and his team used 7,000 oaks to replant several contaminated areas.

• Robert Smithson: an American artist (1938-1973) who created massive, temporary works of art, one of which was Spiral Jetty in the Great Salt Lake in Utah. He died in a plane crash while searching for the location of his next work.

• Andrew Rogers: works use natural materials and are global in nature. His Rhythms of Life sculpture project started in 1998 and consists of 51 monumental stone sculptures in 16 countries.

• Agnes Denes: Hungarian artist (1931) who began her career as a poet and became a pioneer of environmental art in the 1970s. From her first work in Sullivan Country in the US in 1968 to the Living Pyramid of 2022 in Istanbul, she has shown how pollution destroys the environment.

Contemporary examples of art, sustainability and energy 

In contemporary art it is increasingly common to find projects that directly address environmental challenges and the energy transition. These practices have not only an aesthetic dimension, but also social, educational and technological dimensions, and artists develop them in collaboration with institutions, regions and stakeholders in the energy sector. 

• Installations on marine pollution and plastics: numerous contemporary art projects use plastic waste collected from beaches and oceans to create sculptures and installations that highlight the impact of pollution. These works are usually displayed in public spaces or museums with the aim of raising awareness and promoting changes in consumer habits. 

• Participatory projects in urban settings: collaborative urban art involves the public in the transformation of public spaces through murals, community gardens or temporary interventions in neighbourhoods. These initiatives foster social cohesion and encourage collective reflection on the sustainability of cities. 

• Art and renewable energy: some artists and collectives work with clean technologies such as solar, wind or hydro to power their works. These installations transform energy data or sustainable infrastructure into visual and auditory experiences, reinforcing the connection between creativity and energy innovation. 

• bin this context organisations such as Iberdrola are driving cultural and artistic projects linked to sustainability, supporting initiatives that connect the energy transition with social awareness and cultural innovation. These collaborations reinforce the role of art as a tool for communicating and supporting the shift towards more sustainable energy models.

Iberdrola's commitment to art and sustainability 

Iberdrola is pursuing a strategy of supporting art and culture that is closely linked to its commitment to sustainability and the energy transition. Through its patronage and collaboration with cultural institutions, the company promotes projects that encourage reflection on climate change, innovation and the future of energy. 

Within this framework Iberdrola promotes cultural initiatives that connect science, art and environmental awareness, supporting exhibitions, educational programmes and activities that bring sustainability closer to the public. This cultural sponsorship is not limited to the conservation of artistic heritage but also seeks to foster new forms of contemporary creation related to current global challenges. 

Furthermore, the company integrates art into its vision for the energy transition, viewing culture as a key tool for raising public awareness of the importance of moving towards a cleaner and more efficient energy model. In this way its support for the arts becomes an extension of its commitment to decarbonisation and sustainable innovation.