Origin of Social Sketching

The phrase “social sketching” has appeared informally in art circles for years, often describing group drawing activities or urban sketching meetups. Its roots can be loosely linked to ideas like Joseph Beuys’ social sculpture, the belief that art can shape society and earlier “social art” movements in 19th–20th century Europe that explored how art connects to everyday life.

What I am developing is a structured, research-informed field of practice I call Social Sketching. Building on my years of live visual documentation, I’ve shaped a method that captures participation patterns, decision-making moments, and interaction flows in real time. It sits at the intersection of visual documentation, ethnography, and facilitation — and continues to evolve through ongoing projects, fieldwork, and collaboration with practitioners.