Decorative & Applied Arts (Page 2)

150 Years Of Decorative And Applied Arts have brought forth a plethora of artistic movements and styles that have shaped how we perceive and appreciate art today. From the ornate designs of the Art Nouveau movement to the sleek lines of Art Deco, decorative art reflects society’s values and tastes. On the other hand, applied art has focused on the functionality and practicality of design, with examples ranging from furniture to fashion.

Throughout history, artists have used various mediums to express their creativity, including ceramics, glassware, textiles, and metalwork. The influence of decorative and applied art can be seen in many aspects of our daily lives, from the architecture of buildings to the products we use. As we continue to evolve as a society, so will our appreciation for these art forms.

'Brownies' stained glass window by Selwyn Image

The Art and History of Stained Glass

Stained glass, evolving from ancient practices to modern applications, transforms light into vivid forms and patterns, enriching spaces in religious and contemporary architecture alike.Read More →

Cover of Designing the V&A: The Museum as a Work of Art (1857-1909), published by Lund Humphries Publishers Ltd

Designing the V&A: The Museum as a Work of Art, 1857–1909

Julius Bryant’s Designing the V&A examines how architecture, engineering and decoration transformed the South Kensington museum into a work of art.Read More →

Craft workbench with wooden bowls, leather, woven baskets, and hand tools

A Guide to Australian Decorative Arts: Techniques and Materials

Australian decorative arts encompass ceramics, textiles, furniture, jewellery, glass and designed objects. Explore their history, materials, techniques and influential Australian designers.Read More →

Model DKR 2 wire chair designed by Charles and Ray Eames in 1951

Model DKR 2 Chair (1951) by Charles and Ray Eames

Designed by Charles and Ray Eames in 1951, the Model DKR 2 chair combines a welded steel-wire shell, Eiffel Tower base and removable upholstery in a landmark of post-war furniture design.Read More →

Abstract illustration representing influential designers of the 20th century

Top 10 Influential Designers of the 20th Century You Should Know

An editorial introduction to ten influential twentieth-century designers whose work transformed architecture, furniture, industrial design and visual communication.Read More →

Design News Weekly: Costume, Craft and the Meaning of Home

Five design stories exploring Freddie Mercury’s costumes, Paul R. Williams, architectural memory and contemporary timber craft.Read More →

designer

Designers by Discipline: Eight Fields of Design

Explore eight major design disciplines—from architecture and ceramics to industrial, interior and textile design—with representative designers and archive links.Read More →

Snow Ski Wine Racks by Michael Bellino made from reclaimed skis and holding wine bottles

Snow Ski Wine Rack by Michael Bellino

Michael Bellino’s handmade Snow Ski Wine Rack transforms a reclaimed ski into a compact three-bottle holder, combining sporting nostalgia, practical storage and sustainable design.Read More →

The Night Hawks by Edward Hopper

The Light in Nighthawks

Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks captures four figures in a brightly lit diner after midnight. A personal reflection on the painting’s architecture, electric colour and quiet emotional distance.Read More →

Alkanna tinctoria flowering plant, whose roots produce the traditional red colourant known as alkanet dye.

Alkanet Dye: A Traditional Red Colourant for Wood

Alkanet dye is a natural red colourant obtained from the root of Alkanna tinctoria, a perennial plant native from eastern Central Europe to the Mediterranean.Read More →