The 10 most controversial artworks in history
From a tin of preserved excrement priced by its weight in gold to an artist who arranged to be shot with a real rifle, these are works that argued their way into history rather than charmed their way in. This countdown covers ten pieces that provoked lawsuits, obscenity trials, vandalism and resignations, plus three more that pushed the same limits even further.
2026-08-25
Dada to Op Art: the 5 most controversial movements in art history
Five movements, five different scandals: a rejected urinal, a manifesto that helped feed Fascism, a surrealist show trial, a covert CIA funding programme, and a fashion trade that copied an artist’s work without paying her. From Dada’s Fountain to Bridget Riley’s Op Art, these are the documented rows behind five of art history’s most disputed movements.
