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Most programming isn't implementing the specific most efficient algorithm. Usually it's mostly architecting, bricklaying, and tweaking.

Is like telling a story that is only correct if you get all the facts said, but there are so many styles to tell the same story, and people can’t agree in what’s best, there is always someone coming up and saying ... actually I can tell the story better to make it more enjoyable and easier to understand.

They have to put some label on it, if it doesn't fit engineering or science then art it is.

Not all programming is art, just as not all painting is art.

And some math formulas are considered beautiful, and art is in the eye of the beholder, so even the optimal solutions might be art to some.

Subjectivity is mostly an aspect of fine art (and some coarser ones, depending on your definition of 'fine'.) Originally, art was a more general concept, making something artificial by using skills that don't just come naturally.