Are Face Masks Art?

Now a year after our world turned upside down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most people are used to things we never previously considered. A big adjustment for many came in the form of wearing face masks while out in public to keep our communities safe and healthy. Now a habitual part of our daily lives, many people are turning to face masks as an avenue of creativity and self-expression. 

Face masks have been utilized throughout history for cultural purposes as often as medical ones. They are a significant part of theater (from Japanese Noh theater to Greek tragedies), holidays (such as Carnival of Venice, Mardi Gras, and Día de los Muertos), and cultural traditions (such as FESTIMA celebrations in West African countries or Dinagyang in the Philippines). Lately, museums all over the world are representing famous works of art on face masks for purchase, such as Van Gogh’s “Starry Night.” Likewise, artists and entrepreneurs have been able to share their own work and creativity by selling colorful and patterned masks on public platforms such as Etsy.

"Starry Night" Face Mask from the National Gallery of Art, Washington

Locally, The Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) hosted a "MASKART" competition among its students in 2020 to “celebrate how masks can communicate love, respect, and express our feelings during this strange time.” Many other organizations jumped on this trend of mask design competitions as well. It is encouraging to see that nothing can diminish the creativity that exists in all of us!

How are you expressing creativity in your daily life? Share with us on Instagram at @arckboston!