One of the most common phrases heard in galleries, museums, and studios around the world is: “I just don’t get it.” People stand before a canvas—perhaps one filled with vibrant sweeps of color, jagged geometric lines, or heavy, brooding textures—and they feel as though there is a secret code they haven’t been taught to crack. They assume that because they don’t see a “thing”—a tree, a face, a bowl of fruit—they are missing the point.

But here is the secret that every artist knows: there is no “point” to miss. Art is not a math equation with a single correct answer. It is a conversation. And in that conversation, the viewer’s perspective is just as important as the artist’s intent. This is the core of subjectivity, and understanding it is the key to truly enjoying the world of creative expression.

What Does “Subjective” Actually Mean?

To understand why art is subjective, we first have to define the term. An objective fact is something that remains true regardless of who is looking at it. For example, “this canvas is 24 inches wide” is an objective statement. You can measure it, I can measure it, and the result will always be the same.

Subjectivity, however, is based on personal feelings, tastes, or opinions. If I say, “this painting feels energetic,” that is a subjective statement. Someone else might look at the exact same painting and say, “this feels chaotic” or even “this feels overwhelming.” Neither person is wrong. Both experiences are “true” because they are filtered through the unique life experiences of the individual.

The Filter of Life Experience

When you look at a piece of art, you aren’t just seeing paint on a surface. You are looking at that art through a “filter” made up of everything you have ever experienced. Your upbringing, your culture, your current mood, and even your physical surroundings all influence how you interpret what you see.

Think of it like a Rorschach inkblot test. Where one person sees a butterfly, another sees a dark cloud. Their brain is simply reaching into its own library of memories and associations to make sense of an abstract shape.

In art, this happens constantly. An artist might use a specific shade of deep blue because it represents the peace of a twilight sky to them. However, a viewer who once had a frightening experience at sea might look at that same blue and feel a sense of coldness or dread. The artist didn’t “fail” to communicate peace, and the viewer isn’t “wrong” to feel fear. The art became a mirror, reflecting the viewer’s internal world back at them.

The Myth of “Good” and “Bad” Art

Because art is subjective, the traditional labels of “good” and “bad” are largely social constructs. While we can objectively measure technical skill—such as how well an artist understands color theory or how precisely they can render a realistic figure—technical skill does not determine the value of the emotional connection.

You might see a flawlessly painted, hyper-realistic portrait that leaves you feeling completely cold. On the other hand, you might see three simple lines on a raw canvas that, for some reason you can’t quite explain, move you to tears.

Is the realistic portrait “better” art? From a technical standpoint, perhaps. But from a subjective, emotional standpoint—the standpoint that actually matters to the human soul—the three lines were the “better” piece of art for you. Subjectivity is what allows us to bypass the “rules” of art and find meaning in the unexpected.

Why Abstract Art is the Purest Form of Subjectivity

Abstract art is often the most polarizing because it removes the “anchor” of reality. In a landscape painting, the subject tells you how to feel: “This is a beautiful field; feel peaceful.” In abstract art, the artist provides the “Geometry of Emotion”—the structure, the energy, and the color—but leaves the “Subject” blank.

This is a gift to the viewer, though many see it as a challenge. By not giving you a recognizable object to focus on, the abstract artist is inviting you to participate in the creation of the meaning. You are no longer a passive observer; you are a co-creator.

When you look at an abstract canvas, your brain immediately goes to work trying to find a pattern. It looks for rhythm, tension, and balance. Because there is no “correct” answer, you are free to find whatever you need in that moment. One day, a painting might represent strength and resilience to you; a year later, looking at that same painting, you might find a sense of quiet surrender. The art hasn’t changed, but you have. That is the beauty of a subjective medium.

The Role of the Artist’s Intent

If art is entirely subjective, does the artist’s intent even matter? Absolutely. The artist provides the “frequency.” They set the stage. If an artist creates a work out of anger, using sharp, jagged strokes and jarring, clashing colors, they are projecting a specific energy.

However, subjectivity means that the artist cannot control the outcome of the message. Once a painting leaves the studio, it belongs to the world. The artist’s job is to be honest with the canvas; the viewer’s job is to be honest with their reaction. Sometimes the two align perfectly, and the viewer feels exactly what the artist felt. Other times, the viewer discovers something in the work that the artist never even realized was there. Both outcomes are valid.

Learning to Trust Your Own “Internal Signal”

The biggest obstacle to enjoying art is the “External Critic”—the voice in our heads that tells us we need to read a book or take a class before we can have an opinion. Subjectivity tells that voice to be quiet.

To truly engage with art, you have to learn to trust your own “internal signal.” When you walk through a gallery, notice which pieces stop you in your tracks. Don’t ask yourself, “Is this famous?” or “Is this expensive?” or “What does the plaque say?” Instead, ask yourself:

• “How does this make my body feel?”

• “Does this remind me of a specific place or time?”

• “If this painting were a sound, what would it be?”

By asking these questions, you are engaging with the art on a subjective level. You are bypassing the intellectual gatekeeper and going straight to the emotional core.

Why Subjectivity is Essential for Culture

Imagine a world where art was objective. Every painting would have a manual. Every song would have a single definition. If that were the case, art would eventually become a closed loop. We would run out of things to say.

Subjectivity is what keeps art alive. It is the reason why people still go to see the Mona Lisa or sit in front of a Mark Rothko for hours. It’s not because the art is “finished,” but because every new person who looks at it brings a new perspective, a new “filter,” and a new meaning. Subjectivity ensures that art is an infinite resource.

Final Thoughts: The Freedom of the Canvas

Ultimately, the fact that art is subjective is the ultimate freedom. It frees the artist from the burden of being “understood” by everyone, and it frees the viewer from the burden of “correctness.”

As an artist, I build the “geometry.” I lay the foundation, I choose the tools, and I follow the signal in my brain that tells me when the work has reached its own internal balance. But once I sign that canvas, I am handing it over to you. What you see, what you feel, and what you take away from it is entirely yours.

There are no wrong answers. There is only the experience. And in the world of art, that experience is the only thing that is truly objective: the fact that you felt something.