a work of art that is shallow, pretentious, gaudy, without substance, or calculated to have popular appeal.
This is a derogatory term used to describe works considered to be deliberately trashy created specifically in order to pander to public demand and mass produced; works executed entirely for commercial purposes and not as an instrument of self expression.
Sentimentality or vulgar, often pretentious bad taste, especially in the arts: “When money tries to buy beauty it tends to purchase a kind of courteous kitsch” (William H. Gass).
of a display that is tawdry or vulgar
Used to describe items that are overly decorative or sentimental, kitsch may also have negative connotations—meaning tastelessness or bad taste in art. Things generally considered to be kitschy in popular American culture include ceramic figurines, black velvet paintings, rhinestones, and glitter. However, what is kitsch in one cultural context may not be in another.
Popular art demonstrating pretentious poor taste. The contemporary artist most commonly described using this term is Thomas Kinkade.
art that is considered to be overly sentimental, pretentious design. Work that is kitschy is usually mass-produced and met with critical disfavor. Interestingly, what is kitsch in one time period becomes art in another, an example being the work of Norman Rockwell.
Artwork completed in poor and/or undiscriminating taste.
A style incorporating elements from popular culture. Manish Arora is known internationally for his mastery of kitsch. Shahzad Kalim pulled off a very kitschy fun look last year.
Pretentious, low-quality work which is 'thrown together'.
Kitsch is a German term that has been used to categorize art that is considered an inferior copy of an existing style. The term is also used more loosely in referring to any art that is pretentious or in bad taste, and also commercially produced items that are considered trite or crass.