Blog
Architectural Art
04 . 04 . 2024
When it comes to the fusion of architecture and art, these four artists and makers do it well. Find out how they use everyday buildings and structures as fundamental sources of inspiration for their dynamic creations.
In an effort to compromise between his passion for creative expression and his family's desire for a stable career, Leon Ruiz initially studied civil engineering and architecture. However, he eventually pursued a formal education in fine arts with an emphasis on painting and found his niche in oil and acrylic.
Tell us about your work.
Leon: In my latest series, I capture urban vitality by immersing myself in the city's soundscape. As I paint, I listen to the recorded sounds of urban noise which influences the abstractness of each piece, creating a dynamic reflection of the city's essence. Throughout the year, I collect discarded books, magazines, and paper items. When blended with eco-friendly acrylic paint, these materials transform into textured papier-mâché.
Who inspired you to become an artist?
Leon: My journey as an artist was deeply influenced by my familial background and my exposure to art at a young age. Growing up in Mexico City, I was surrounded by relatives who were deeply involved in various aspects of art. My grandfather creates religious murals, my uncle is involved in collecting and selling historical art pieces, and my cousin works in restoring paintings and creating murals in significant locations like the Sistine Chapel.
What does your artwork represent?
Leon: My artwork represents a fusion of my life experiences, cultural heritage, and artistic exploration. My work often reflects themes of tropical landscapes and urban life that called to me as a child.
Each of Theresa Daniel's pieces has a story to tell and comes with a copy of the photo she used to create the design. Her vision is to create art that taps into personal experiences and aspirations, places people have been to or want to go to and places they've seen or want to see.
Tell us about your work.
Theresa: My work is a confluence of my love for travel, photography and beautiful designs. I take photos of local and international landmarks, street art, gardens, and architectural gems and create designs that I apply to glass and tile to make jewelry, wine stoppers, coasters and accessories.
Have you always been a creative?
Theresa: Yes, my entire career has been building and creating, but not always in what might be considered an artist way. I've created non-profit programs, law office start ups, even a vintage clothing store. Each required vision and the ability to create something on a large scale.
What is the inspiration behind your business name?
Theresa: My mother and my husband's mother were both incredibly creative - each in a different way. My mom was an amazing gardener; my mother-in-law a beautiful writer. Beau is what my mother-in-law called my husband, Basil. Lou is what my mom called me. Beau Lou Designs pays homage to the inspiration both of these women provided to me.
Sarah Forsythe is a designer, metalsmith, and educator that has set out on a quest to create sculptural jewelry and conversation pieces that redefine the term accessory and stretches the imagination.
Tell us about your creative process.
Sarah: My designs are hand crafted using metalsmith techniques such as forging, piercing, soldering, hammering, riveting, and more. By creating in this process, no pieces are exactly alike guaranteeing a one-of-a-kind work of art.
Why did you become an artist?
Sarah: For as long as I can remember I've found the process of creating art to be my passion. Art gives me a visual connection with our world. I find inspiration through travel and daily life experiences, may it be a sunset, architecture, a museum, a walk, the clouds, the weather etc. I like to believe that each piece has a bit of an experience attached to it.
What is a recent experience from your life that has sparked creativity?
Sarah: I was looking out the window of a plane and was intrigued by the patchwork of landscape patterns that I saw below. This inspired my design of necklaces titled "Aerial View".
Will Allen, also known as Bill, is largely inspired by great architecture, nature, and the various ways to bring motion into sculptures. He is enamored with the processes of metal manipulation and his sculptures have acute attention to detail that makes his works intriguing and playful.
What is your creative process?
Will: My creative process starts with drawings. I like to sketch out my ideas which are often attempts to abstract things. There's no right way to abstract things so I usually just keep developing designs until something appears visually and proportionally satisfying on paper. From then I go out to my garage and start building the piece. I usually have an idea of what kinds of stock will compose the piece but I let building process be fluid.
What led you to pursue a career as a maker?
Will: It started with an early interest in tools and the ability that tools give a person to make things both artistic and useful. I had an early interest in becoming an architect and in fact that is my day job today, working in an architectural office. From a creative perspective, the way I generate ideas and visualize them overlaps with my professional skills, my skills as a craftsman and my skills as a designer fuel each other.
Can you cite an instance from your own life that has sparked creativity?
Will: Seeing art nouveau architecture has been so inspiring to me. The style brings immense detail into mundane elements of a design. I love how every instance is an opportunity to be creative and everything can be made beautiful.
Connect with these unique artists and over 350 more, April 26-28!