Stop trying to “get it.” Start trying to feel it.
First, this is just my opinion.
Abstract art tends to be one of those styles people either really love or really don’t. I’ll be honest—I feel that way about still life paintings of bowls of fruit. Not exactly my thing. And yet, even if I don’t gravitate toward that style, I can deeply appreciate it. I know how hard it is to paint realism. To capture light. To make a two-dimensional apple feel round and luminous and real.
Where people often struggle with abstract art is that there’s no obvious reference point. There’s no immediate “Oh! That’s a pear.” Our brains don’t get that instant recognition. And without that, it can feel harder to evaluate skill or meaning.
Abstract art asks something different of us.
Instead of identifying what it is, we’re invited to notice how it feels.
Appreciating abstract work is often more visceral. There isn’t a neat conclusion like “I love that rendition of a cow.” There’s sensation. Movement. Color. Energy. Quiet. Tension. Calm.
And abstract art itself spans a huge spectrum—from the immersive color fields of Mark Rothko to the bold, physical gestures of Helen Frankenthaler to contemporary nature-inspired abstraction like Cat Tesla.
If you’ve ever felt like you don’t quite “get” abstract art, I’d gently encourage you to try this:
Find a piece you’re drawn to.
Stand still.
Be present with it.
Let go of trying to figure out what it’s supposed to be.
Notice what you feel.
Then ask yourself: Why?
Maybe you’re drawn to a color—say, turquoise blue. Ask why.
Blue might feel calming. It might remind you of the ocean, summer, sea glass, or a favorite beach.
Ask again—why does that matter?
Maybe it connects you to childhood. To a honeymoon. To summers without school. To a season of life that felt lighter.
Ask again.
Is it the sense of freedom?
The feeling of safety?
The warmth of sunshine on your face?
A breeze on your skin?
A scent that carries you somewhere joyful?
As you follow the “why” a little deeper, you’ll likely begin to understand not just what kind of abstract art you like—but why you like it.
And most of the time, it comes back to this:
It’s about how it makes you feel.
There are no rules.
There’s just response.
Happy art-viewing.
