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The 7 Art Trends Interior Designers Are Loving for 2023
Get inspired 13 Feb 2023

The 7 Art Trends Interior Designers Are Loving for 2023

Throughout 2022, the Artsper team interviewed 20 influential interior designers and architects from around the world. From New York to New Zealand, Mexico City to Milan, Saudi Arabia to San Francisco, these designers know how to decorate a lasting space with art. But what kinds of artworks are they buying for the upcoming year? We investigated the seven art trends you must know for 2023, according to the world’s leading interior designers. Let’s get decorating!

1. Large-scale artworks

One of the easiest ways to draw attention to a room is through a large-scale artwork. Consider a bright and bold photograph by Thandiwe Muriu, as chosen by Lars Myren of Norway-based LM Design Studio. Architect Bernard Dubois opts for a more minimalist approach, with a massive, mind-bending work by Jean-Baptiste Bernadet. Nashville-based interior designer David Quarles places color at center stage in his designs, pairing bright wallpapers and textiles with colorful works like that of Pascal Milcendeau.

A design with a large-scale artwork by Diego Delgado-Elias © Matthieu Salvaing
A design with a large-scale artwork by Diego Delgado-Elias © Matthieu Salvaing

2. Monochromatic paintings

After the Korean Dansaekhwa movement popularized monochromatic paintings in the mid-1970s, interior design changed forever. For 2023, interior design art trends are turning blue! Yael Shmueli-Goetz of plainHjem design studio pairs a stormy blue painting with her natural interiors. Manhattan-based Tina Ramchandani chooses a clean, geometric painting by Arthur Hent whereas Mexico City-based Estudio MMX opts for something more whimsical in a circular blue acrylic painting.

Civilian Projects' Nicko Elliott and Ksenia Kagner’s interior design, featuring a blue painting © Brian W Ferry, art trends
Civilian Projects’ Nicko Elliott and Ksenia Kagner’s interior design, featuring a blue painting © Brian W Ferry

3. Artworks created by emerging Black artists

Black artists are taking the art market by storm, with their overdue recognition being acknowledged in recent years. Hardly a trend, but rather a force, this segment of the market is sure to grow and interior designers have an eye for what’s to come. Among the artworks designers are eyeing? Charlotte Yonga’s photographic portraiture (chosen by Reem Olyan and Jumana Qasem of Saudi-based REJO design studio) and Felandus Thames’ poignent sculptures (selected by Niya Bascom of Brooklyn’s Ishka Designs). David Quarles again opts for bright colors in his Nashville home, with Éric Odartey’s Peace of mind (2021) being among his favorite works on Artsper.

Ishka Designs' Niya Bascom's artwork in their "Whitehouse" project © Niya Bascom
Ishka Designs’ Niya Bascom’s artwork in their “Whitehouse” project © Niya Bascom

4. Design objects and furniture as art

Interior designers, more than anyone else, know how to use furniture as artworks themselves. The pieces they’re loving for 2023? This seventies-era steel and marble dining table, chosen by Raimana Jones of Atelier Jones studio and this warming womb-inspired lamp, picked by lighting designer Hervé Descottes. Vases are another practical household item that can be easily turned artistic. We’re particularly fond of this vase, which is a contemporary take on classic Chinese ceramics, picked by Milan-based 13.1 Architecture studio.

Dan Yeffet's designer lamps, "Hollow" for WONDERGLASS
Dan Yeffet’s designer lamps, “Hollow” for WONDERGLASS

5. Conversation-starters

2023 is expected to see some of the wildest interior design art trends yet, as proven by the picks of our designers worldwide. A conversation-starting work is one that will immediately catch the eye and demand observation. Another design object, this wild lamp picked by Civilian sums it up. For those looking to start a conversation around the backstory of a work rather than how outrageous it is, opt for a large-scale print of retro advertising, as done by Diego Delgado-Elias. His muted designs are brought to life by colors and artworks rooted in nature and the outdoors. Atelier Jones chose a whimsical circular work by Felipe Pantone, reminiscent of a sunrise.

A conversation-starting design by Nicko Elliott and Ksenia Kagner of Civilian, photo by Brian W. Ferry
A conversation-starting design by Nicko Elliott and Ksenia Kagner of Civilian, photo by Brian W. Ferry

6. Retro photography

Although photography is quite literally capturing a moment in time, the medium has proven itself to be timeless. And in 2023, it’s trending. Slim Aarons was a crowd-favorite among interior designers last year, and that interest isn’t going away. Brooklyn-based General Assembly chose a lesser-known Aarons summertime photograph as an artwork to-buy, whereas another Brooklynite, Niya Bascom of Ishka Designs, opted for a classic Malick Sidibé. Keeping in the New York theme, Nicko Elliott and Ksenia Kagner of Civilian selected a Diane Arbus portrait of a New Yorker resident in her apartment.

Slim Aarons, Coming Ashore, 1973, available on Artsper
Slim Aarons, Coming Ashore, 1973, available on Artsper

7. Raw materials in sculpture

One of the major art trends in interior design seen in almost every interview in the past year was the use of raw materials in sculpture. The addition of rough steel or smoothed wood can immediately make modern interior design feel grounded again. To do this, Britt Moran and Emiliano Salci of Milan’s Dimorestudio opt for a kinetic oak sculpture by Raphaël Zarka. Dan Yeffet‘s industrial design tendencies bring us to mixed media sculptural works by Tulio Pinto. In a different direction, Anna Haines‘ classicism invites bronze sculptures into 2023 designs and beyond.

Design and photo courtesy of REJO Design, showing use of natural materials in design
Design and photo courtesy of REJO Design, showing use of natural materials in interior design. Featured article image also courtesy of REJO.

And the most-loved artwork? A trend that will last…

There was one artwork that stood out among the rest, because it was chosen by three separate designers as a top-pick. Nzuri (2020), a white clay sculpture by Aude Herlédan was a favorite of David Quarles, Dan Yeffet and Britt Moran and Emiliano Salci of Dimorestudio. If you’re looking for a work that will last throughout 2023 and beyond, look no further. The designers who chose this work each have distinctive styles, proving that the sculpture will fit in your home no matter how your style evolves. Discover more interior designer-approved works on Artsper!

Aude Herlédan, Nzuri, 2020
Aude Herlédan, Nzuri, 2020, available on Artsper