What is Futurism?

Futurism was an artistic and social movement that began in the early 20th century in Italy. It emphasized themes associated with concepts of the future, including technology, speed, violence, and youth. It was also associated with  objects such as the car and the airplane. It was a Italian phenomenon. The Futurists practiced in every medium of art, including painting, sculpture, ceramics, graphic design, industrial design, interior design, theatre, film, fashion, textiles, literature, music, and architecture. Key figures of the movement include the Italians Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, Umberto Boccioni, Carlo Carrà, Gino Severini, Giacomo Balla, Antonio Sant'Elia, Tullio Crali and Luigi Russolo, and the Russians Natalia Goncharova, Velimir Khlebnikov, and Vladimir Mayakovsky. An important piece of art in Futurism is Balla's painting, Abstract Speed + Sound. Futurism influenced other art movements such as Art Deco, Constructivism, Surrealism, and Dada.