Some patterns transcend decoration to become culturally iconic: think William Morris’s ‘Strawberry Thief,’ Maija Isola’s bold ‘Unikko’ poppies or Orla Kiely’s playful ‘Stem’ motif. Designs like these demonstrate that patterns do more than embellish; they command attention and define entire design movements. Whether gracing summery tablecloths or your favourite tote bag, the right pattern elevates everyday objects into fashion statements. Get to know six contemporary artists who are pushing pattern design forward:
Yayoi Kusama
Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama blends pop art and surrealism to create instantly identifiable patterns, most famously her mesmerising polka dots that multiply across canvases and entire rooms. Since 1977, she has chosen to make her home in a Tokyo psychiatric facility while maintaining a studio nearby, transforming her experiences with hallucinations and obsessive thoughts into art that captivates millions. Kusama’s work radiates whimsy, drawing viewers into her universe of infinite repetition.
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Bridget Riley
British visual artist Bridget Riley pioneered the Op Art movement in the 1960s through patterns that make flat surfaces appear to pulse and vibrate. Using intricate geometric shapes and alternating colours arranged in repetitive patterns, Riley produces optical illusions of movement and three-dimensional effects. While her early art favoured black-and-white compositions, she introduced colour into her work in 1967, creating hypnotic stripe paintings.
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Ibrahim Mahama
Dubbing his practice “time travel,” Ghanaian artist Ibrahim Mahama repurposes the residues of colonial infrastructure to produce new narratives. His signature material — jute sacks once used to transport cocoa and other goods — becomes pattern through repetition: each sack bears patches and traders’ names that map its many transits. When stitched together into vast patchwork quilts, these accumulated traces create fascinating patterns that document the invisible systems of global exchange.
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Adelaide Cioni
Cioni’s work engages with “the origins of drawing and that visual or aesthetic relation we have to objects.” The Italian artist builds patterns from the simplest building blocks imaginable: circles, crosses, triangles. She paints or hand-stitches these elemental shapes onto fabric, often using handwoven linen or wool. The resulting designs become what she describes as visualisations of rhythm.
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Minjung Kim
South Korean artist Minjung Kim, born in Gwangju, trained in calligraphy and watercolour from childhood before studying oriental painting formally. She’s known for intricate ink works on paper that combine burning, layering and gluing techniques to create complex patterns. The effects shift dramatically: some pieces feel vibrantly playful while others exude a careful, meditative energy.
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