The History of Alternative Art: From DIY Origins to Modern Collectability

 

Introduction
Alternative art refers to creative expressions that exist outside the mainstream gallery and museum system. It encompasses artist-run spaces, experimental media, performance, underground comics, and DIY initiatives that resist commercialization. At its heart, alternative art is about autonomy, experimentation, and building communities outside the “white cube.”

Early Alternative Art Movements and Media

Fluxus and the DIY Ethos

Fluxus, emerging in the 1960s, championed simplicity, collaboration, and a critique of art’s commodification. Its “event scores”—short instructions for performances—invited anyone to create art, erasing barriers between artist and audience. The movement’s rejection of hierarchy helped inspire generations of experimental artists.

Xerox and Copy Art Pioneers

In the 1960s and 70s, artists like Charles Arnold Jr. and Wallace Berman began experimenting with photocopiers, creating works that became known as xerox or copy art. Unlike oil paintings, these pieces were cheap, reproducible, and democratic. Esta Nesbitt, working with IBM, even developed new xerography techniques, blending avant-garde creativity with accessible technology.

Underground Comix

From 1968 to 1975, underground comix spread through head shops rather than mainstream publishers. They featured satire, politics, sexuality, and countercultural commentary, bypassing censorship. These works demonstrated how alternative media could challenge societal norms and create new visual languages.

The Rise of Alternative Exhibition Spaces

Defining “Alternative Space”

The phrase “alternative space” was coined in the early 1970s within the U.S. National Endowment for the Arts to describe non-commercial, artist-run venues. These places offered freedom from the conventions of commercial galleries and prioritized experimental, collective creativity (Books & Ideas).

Key Spaces and Movements

SoHo in New York became a hub for such experimentation. 112 Greene Street, The Kitchen, A.I.R. Gallery, Franklin Furnace, and P.S.1 all prioritized radical practices and gave artists control over how their work was shown. Beyond New York, Chicago’s Randolph Street Gallery became a vital space for experimental artists in the late 1970s and 80s.

Alternative Art and Counterculture

In Chicago, Funk Art and the Hairy Who rejected polished modernism in favor of surreal, playful, and comic-infused imagery. In New York, the 1960s avant-garde intertwined with civil rights struggles, anti-war protests, and queer liberation movements. This cross-pollination of politics and creativity turned alternative art into both an aesthetic and a form of resistance (New Yorker).

Collector & Buyer Insights

Why It Matters

For collectors, alternative art represents more than objects—it’s a chance to preserve cultural narratives that mainstream institutions once overlooked. Original xerox works, underground comics, and early pieces from artist-run exhibitions often carry both historical and financial value.

What to Look For

  • Provenance linked to early exhibitions or artist-run spaces

  • Limited editions or rare prints

  • Documentation of performance or ephemeral works

  • Condition, especially for fragile xerox and paper-based art

Practical Tips for Getting Started

  • Visit alternative institutions: Seek out nonprofit galleries, university exhibitions, or spaces like MoMA PS1 (originally P.S.1).

  • Learn about media care: Xerox art and underground comix require archival storage and careful handling.

  • Engage with communities: Forums, workshops, and artist-run collectives are great entry points into alternative collecting.

Where to Discover and Acquire Alternative Art

Collectors today can explore:

  • Nonprofit and artist-run galleries

  • Museum programs that revisit experimental legacies

  • Specialist art fairs and online platforms focused on alternative and emerging creators

Emerging Trends & New Voices

Alternative art traditions continue today in digital and performance realms. Queer performance heritage, DIY digital collectives, and the revival of overlooked media like xerox art and underground comix show that alternative practice remains a vital cultural force.

Educational & Cultural Significance

Alternative art reshaped who could create and where art could exist. By rejecting hierarchy and emphasizing experimentation, it expanded the possibilities of art itself—bridging politics, culture, and community.

Conclusion

The history of alternative art is one of independence, resistance, and imagination. From Fluxus and xerox pioneers to underground comix and artist-run galleries, this movement invites us to view creativity outside conventional boundaries. For collectors and enthusiasts alike, alternative art offers a way to connect with stories and practices that defy the mainstream—proof that art thrives wherever artists claim their space.

FAQ

What is alternative art?
Creative work outside commercial galleries and museums, often DIY, experimental, or artist-run.

When did alternative art spaces first emerge?
In the early 1970s, with pioneering artist-run spaces in New York and Chicago.

What are examples of alternative media?
Fluxus performance scores, xerox art, and underground comix.

Why collect alternative art?
It carries cultural narratives, unique experimentation, and often historical value overlooked by mainstream markets.

How do I care for xerox art or comix?
Store in archival sleeves away from light and moisture, and handle with gloves.

Where can I discover alternative art today?
Artist-run galleries, nonprofit spaces, museum programs, and specialized fairs.

Is alternative art still being made?
Yes—DIY, digital, and performance practices continue to evolve, often rooted in the same anti-commercial spirit.