Since the realization of the fact that Mother Nature is in peril, environmentalists have endeavored to raise awareness among people about caring for their ecosystem. It is no different with artists. Eco-artists have defied mainstream artistic authority and presented the world with land art, conceptual art, sustainable art and earth art. Albeit artists focusing on the environment do not have a definitive framework for showcasing their work, it is evident from the varied materials and styles that they have struggled to maintain a dialogue between humankind, art and a sustainable environment.

Environmental art evolved in the 1960s, with Piotr Kowalski, Nils Udo and Agnes Denes — known as the Grandmother of the Environmental Art Movement — paving the way for this art form to act as a catalyst in the movement for ecological preservation and a sustainable environment. Before the ’60s era, such impressions were touched upon by Claude Monet who explored the relation between nature and humans in his famous ‘London Series’ paintings. Present day artists have broadened their scope and reach by implementing genres such as, visual art, photography, sketches and artwork made from nature.

Sculptures and art placed in lobbies and atriums by corporate houses and hotels may look tasteful and have helped create a matchmaking service between companies and art consultancies, they do not benefit from the cost of the art when compared to the value given or the message sent out by it. With the development of eco-art projects, people would reduce wasteful spending and ultimately the hazardous footprint that they tend to leave behind. This would be a giant step towards sustainability.

Since many eco-artists create a location-specific mural or sculpture, their intrinsic valuation is tough. Therefore, earth artists have begun to create them in other forms. These works then serve a dual purpose of being an asset for the collector and creating and spreading the message of environment conservation.