Art Bears emerged as a bold and avant-garde British musical group in the late 1970s. The band was formed from the shards of another progressive rock band, Henry Cow, when disagreements over musical direction led to a split. Comprised of the core members Fred Frith (guitarist), Chris Cutler (drummer and lyricist), and Dagmar Krause (vocalist), Art Bears became a distinguished and influential entity within the experimental music scene. Their unique blend of angular, challenging avant-rock and expressive, politically charged lyrics set them apart from their contemporaries.

The band's discography, albeit brief, made a lasting impact on experimental music. Their debut album, "Hopes and Fears," was initially intended to be a Henry Cow record but was released under the Art Bears name in 1978 due to its marked stylistic shift. It was followed by "Winter Songs" in 1979, an album that delved into the folklore and bleakness of the colder season through a series of fractured and poetic musical vignettes. Their final studio offering, "The World As It Is Today," released in 1981, was the band's most politically explicit work, reflecting on social issues with a stark and unyielding fervor. Despite their short-lived existence, Art Bears' artful and uncompromising approach to music continues to inspire and resonate with listeners and musicians alike.