Etymology

artwashing

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Today it means: The use of art and artists in a positive way to distract from or legitimize negative actions by an individual, organization, country, or government, originally in reference to gentrification. Full definition →

First used 2010s
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The story

From art + -wash + -ing.

First known use, by meaning

  • from 2010s The use of art and artists in a positive way to distract from or legitimize negative actions by an individual, organization, country, or government, originally in reference to gentrification.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.