Sculptural Art that Creates an Illusion

Some of the most interesting art for your home is created with unexpected or nontraditional materials. Homedit found great examples of these art ideas in Miami during Art Basel. All of these artworks create illusions. When viewed from a distance, the finished artwork appears to be one thing, but from a closer perspective, it is an entirely different thing. A closer look leads viewers to marvel at the artist’s manipulation of the components in such a masterful way.

These orbs may remind you of colorful sea urchins, with their spiny surfaces projecting from the wall. But take a step closer and you’ll see that artist Andres Schiavo has fashioned them from the finely sharpened points of colored pencils. Schiavo’s works are composed of both jumbled points, like these, as well as precisely arranged geometric compositions.

Sharpened pencil points are truly an unusual material.
Sharpened pencil points are truly an unusual material.
The close-up view shows the intricate arrangement of the pencils.
The close-up view shows the intricate arrangement of the pencils.

Hanging up a shirt as art? Before you judge, take a closer look at the garment and the illusion is revealed. “Another Long Day” by Andrew Myers is a wall sculpture made from meticulously placed screws. The undulations of the fabric, shows and highlights are all created through the angle and height of the screw. Myers’ recent works are portraits that use up to 10,000 screws, each of which is manually placed and painted.

Myers' screw sculpture is also comprised of oil paint, a white automotive paint background, and a white metal frame.
Myers’ screw sculpture is also comprised of oil paint, a white automotive paint background, and a white metal frame.
These utilitarian items become something special when arranged into place.
These utilitarian items become something special when arranged into place.

In the same vein, sculptor Marcus Levine uses over 200,000 nails to create his meticulous pieces. Levine works on large, white wooden panels, hammering nails at varying heights creating amazing depth, dimension and texture. All his designs are done free hand and he does not trace any design onto the board.

The details shading in the work are so precise it is difficult to believe it's composed of nails.
The details shading in the work are so precise it is difficult to believe it’s composed of nails.
The close view looks like a random scattering of nails.
The close view looks like a random scattering of nails.

This piece appears to be a subtly colored abstract work, but upon closer inspection, you can see the painstakingly painted multicolored nails. Venezuelan-born Cesar Andrade, who lives and works in Paris, started creating his works related to grids, colors and shadow play when he moved there in 1968.

Andrade is a poet and musician, as well as an artist.
Andrade is a poet and musician, as well as an artist.
The overall image of the work belies the complexity of the colors and construction.
The overall image of the work belies the complexity of the colors and construction.

An image of vibrant fruit by Christian Faur like like a pixelated print but is actually composed of hand-cast crayons. These are then stacked in wooden frames to create images that the artist writes “uniquely balances the qualities of both photography and sculpture.”

Faur's work includes photorealistic landscapes and figurative images.
Faur’s work includes photorealistic landscapes and figurative images.
The color arrangement is spectacular.
The color arrangement is spectacular.

Undulating rows of colored sticks are the stand-out feature of this piece. The painted sticks were set into the black resin after much trial and error by the artist. The resulting piece is dramatic and engaging, thanks to the feeling of movement viewers get from it.

The sense of movement dominates the piece.
The sense of movement dominates the piece.
An explosion of color is striking against the shiny black background.
An explosion of color is striking against the shiny black background.

Statements — inspirational, provocative or anything in between– are popular themes for artwork at all price levels. This textural piece looks humorous until you look a little closer.  It becomes a social statement when you notice that it is made from empty pill capsules.

A textural, funny saying, yes?
A textural, funny saying, yes?
Move closer and you can see that there is more to the piece.
Move closer and you can see that there is more to the piece.

Federico Uribe’s work defies description. The collages are woven, assembled and constructed from all sorts of unexpected materials. From coins to bullet casings and piano pieces, Uribe seems to paint with the materials. While the works are mainly two-dimensional, many of his works are 3D sculptures of animals. from a distance they transfix, and a closer view makes the desire to touch in almost irresistible.

Bullet casings never looked so good!
Bullet casings never looked so good!
The defined texture and subtle coloring are alluring.
The defined texture and subtle coloring are alluring.
The orientation of the scale-like pieces are key to the textures in the work.
The orientation of the scale-like pieces are key to the textures in the work.
Uribe's piece consists of copper coins in various states of age and patina.
Uribe’s piece consists of copper coins in various states of age and patina.
Uribe transformed the inner workings of pianos into this phenomenal portrait.
Uribe transformed the inner workings of pianos into this phenomenal portrait.
A closer look at the piano hammers that make up the figure's hair.
A closer look at the piano hammers that make up the figure’s hair.

German-born Günther Uecker uses regular steel nails is his medium to cover boards and furnishings with hundreds of nails. His works look a bit chaotic but are evocative. Abstract, but reminiscent of real forms, the texture draws the views in despite its spiky nature.

Uecker has been one of the leading artists of the European Avant-Garde movement since 1945.
Uecker has been one of the leading artists of the European Avant-Garde movement since 1945.
Plain nails, combined with paint and the board's fissure make for an exceptional piece.
Plain nails, combined with paint and the board’s fissure make for an exceptional piece.

London artist Jack Tanner chose to use acres as his medium of choice after someone gave him a bag of repurposed screws. Tanner creates these “optical explorations which combine both the movement of physical form and color,” he writes.

The feeling of movement and change is created through the spacing of the screws.
The feeling of movement and change is created through the spacing of the screws.
Tanner precisely places all the screws to fashion the impressive pieces.
Tanner precisely places all the screws to fashion the impressive pieces.

From a distance it’s difficult to tell if this piece of art is a collage, a painting, or a photograph. Move closer and the thousands of small paper rolls are revealed.

Called "Harmony," the piece is subtle and textured.
Called “Harmony,” the piece is subtle and textured.
Tiny rolls make up the color gradations.
Tiny rolls make up the color gradations.

Joe Black’s and-painted plastic toy soldiers on aluminum with resin coating. The colorful abstract piece looks like a textural painting, with bold coloring around a dark center. Black describes his Pop Art work as “revealing the unexpected,” writes Artsy.

Large and engaging, it's hard to believe it is compose of tiny plastic toys.
Large and engaging, it’s hard to believe it is compose of tiny plastic toys.
Each little man is hand painted.
Each little man is hand painted.

Matt Donovan’s work made of LEGO are based on geometric patterns and resemble pixelated pieces. A far cry from the creations most all of us made as children, the artist’s work are colorful, geometric and lots of fun.

"Bubblegum" looks like a collection of cartoon bubbles.
“Bubblegum” looks like a collection of cartoon bubbles.
Three dimensional angles are accented by the varying color pattern.
Three dimensional angles are accented by the varying color pattern.
A closer look at the precise construction.
A closer look at the precise construction.

Korean artist Ran Hwang uses materials from the fashion industry, to create large scale works, particularly buttons. The painstaking and meticulous works yields complex, startling works. This large creation is “The Beginning of Bright.” Another fantastic portrait using buttons of Andy Warhol by Augusto Esquivel.

This is composed of paper Hangul Buttons, Pins, and beads on plexiglass.
This is composed of paper Hangul Buttons, Pins, and beads on plexiglass.
A closer look at the components.
A closer look at the components.
Many of Hwang's pieces feature delicate cherry blossoms.
Many of Hwang’s pieces feature delicate cherry blossoms.
Paper buttons of many sizes are used to create texture and dimension.
Paper buttons of many sizes are used to create texture and dimension.

These are just some examples of the creative and stunning works that artists are creating with unusual materials. Artworks like these that create an illusion are particularly interesting and will give viewers a lifetime of features to contemplate.