The 21st Century’s Biggest Art Trend is Not a Style. But Once You See It, You’ll Notice It Everywhere

Emily Watlington | Art in America | 24th May 2026

Systems art draws attention to the vast web of linkages that underpin modern life. Such art takes many forms, such as Burtynsky’s “industrial sublime” photography, or documents about intelligence gathering networks. These networks seem to be presented as undesirable, perhaps because they reduce our scope for “expressiveness”. But in an age of social media, is that right? With globalisation and the reality of climate change, isn’t such art sounding a little 20^th century?