The Power of Patterns

Roy Lichtentein – Shipboard Girl (detail)

Patterns carry an incredible visual force. They can communicate cultural differences: for example, consider the variance between houndstooth, camouflage, and kente cloth patterns. They can adjust your mood, like the chipper polka dot or the rather sober pinstripe.

Because patterns have such a strong effect on us, they are an essential element in the world of art.

By bringing in repeating shapes, artists can create their own rhythm. They can also mix and match patterns — either to create an alluring combination or clash them in provocative ways.

Patterns in nature are extraordinary to explore…some of the most complex can only be seen with a microscope. These patterns have astonished and inspired scientists and artists for centuries…spirals, dots, curves and geometrics revealing the endless mystery, variety and beauty in nature.

Artists can also use the specific cultural associations patterns have, giving them a chance to make a commentary on society itself.  

How Artists Use Patterns

Artists, especially over the past 100 years, have explored patterns in depth. One of the most popular examples is Roy Lichtenstein. He blew up and adjusted frames from comic books. As he did this, he revealed Ben-Day dots, a way of printing color cheaply. He decided to keep them intact and to scale in his work, creating one of the most iconic looks in Pop Art history.

Inspired by her childhood hallucinations and visions, brilliant artist Yayoi Kusama incorporates the similar motif of the polka dot, using it to great effect in her popular sculptures and installations.

The compelling portraits of Kehinde Wiley often include backgrounds influenced by the British textile designer William Morris. These gorgeous patterns give his subjects