I decided to ask this questions to my art classes and had them make some bad art. They were afraid to really say how they felt about it and really tried to be neutral in their explanations.
My Personal Opinion
Art is very personal just as the saying goes “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”. What one person finds beautiful another person might find ugly. For me it really depends on why the art was created and is it an authentic expression.
Bad art is boring and lacks imagination. It is unpleasant to look at. It appears incompetent. It is unoriginal and does not lend itself to serious critical evaluation. It does not represent anything worthwhile. And is easily overlooked. It conveys no sense of expressive individuality and is devoid of emotion. There is no challenging of the mind.
Good art is intriguing and inspiring - it is something I have never seen before. It makes me curious and ask questions. It is pleasurable to look at. It displays skill and virtuosity. It conveys novelty and creativity and is amendable to criticism. I am intellectually challenged and it provides an imaginative experience.
In a nut shell- Bad art lacks heart and good art is made from the heart!
PS- there is actually a art gallery in Boston that shows “Bad Art!”