Top 100 Modern Art Trends of 2012

From Dirt-Wall Abodes to Lush Living Tapestries

— January 17, 2013 — Art & Design
The year 2012 was one for eco-friendly design, with many modern trends aimed to improve the health of the planet. Instead of creating with just aesthetics in mind, artists and designers also tried to shed light on issues such as reducing one's carbon footprint. The Evergreen by Freund, for example, is a green wall tapestry that helps residents breathe with ease. It adds to the overall air quality and doesn't even require much upkeep. The design also contributes to air quality outside the home when windows are open.

DIY trends were also a huge hit in 2012, helping consumers see the value in reusing previously discarded materials.

For more analysis into how modern trends can help innovation in business, check out Trend Hunter's Modern Art Trend Report.
6.6
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
97
Secluded EMS Homes
Secluded EMS Homes
The Ambulance Garage House by Doepel Strijkers is an Orange Haven
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96
Artistically Corroded Furniture
Artistically Corroded Furniture
Ka-lai Chan's The Ordinary Family Collection is Volatile
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95
Reductive Women Portraits (UPDATE)
Reductive Women Portraits (UPDATE)
Heidi Lender Tips Her Hat to the Hard-Working Woman
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94
Color-Flooding Street Art
Color-Flooding Street Art
Ryan Dineen Renders Striking Graffiti Portraits and Murals
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93
Industrial Pipe Furniture
Industrial Pipe Furniture
DOSUNO Design's Open Tap Project Uses Repurposed Materials
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92
Logogram-Inspired Lodgings
Logogram-Inspired Lodgings
The Ampersand Hotel is Inspired by the Cultural District It Resides in
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91
Vibrant Child-Centric Furniture
Vibrant Child-Centric Furniture
InKidible Hopes to Expand Kids Perspective of Contemporary Art
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90
Unnerving Mythology Prints
Unnerving Mythology Prints
Senor Salme Renders Historic Melding Pop Culture Illustrations
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89
Domino-Like Furniture
Domino-Like Furniture
The KERAMOS Cabinet by Coprodotto is Colorfully Cute
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88
Sunny Side Up Furniture
Sunny Side Up Furniture
WamHouse's Table Egg is Inspired by a Breakfast Meal
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87
Slowly Sinking Bookcases
Slowly Sinking Bookcases
Raw Edges' Hole In The Floor is Full of Whimsy and Character
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86
Liquid Detergent Artwork
Liquid Detergent Artwork
The Skip Installation is White and Pristine
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85
Moon-Inspired Lighting
Moon-Inspired Lighting
MONOCOMPLEX's Scene #01 Floor Lamp is Eerily Romantic
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84
Dripping Wax Candlesticks
Dripping Wax Candlesticks
The Elas Candle Holder Changes Form to Fit Different Taper Widths
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83
Dangerously Disheveled Sculptures
Dangerously Disheveled Sculptures
London-Based Artist Chris Jones Debuts Haunting Recycled Series
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82
Unsteady Legged Seating
Unsteady Legged Seating
The Trippin' Series Plays with One's Visual Perception of Stability
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81
Repurposed Fridge Furnishings
Repurposed Fridge Furnishings
Van der Kooij Endless Collection is Robot-Made from Old Appliances
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80
Chromatic Chasm Architecture
Chromatic Chasm Architecture
This Istanbul Disaster Prevention Center Has a Vibrant Volcanic Form
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79
Immersive Brand Projections
Immersive Brand Projections
Antilop Creates Coca-Cola Future Room for Santralistanbul
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78
Lifestyle-Challenging Illustrations
Lifestyle-Challenging Illustrations
The Bartosz Kosowski Collection of Satirical Minimalist Prints
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77
Stacked School Structures
Stacked School Structures
The Basque Culinary Center is Simple Outside and Spicy Inside
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76
Multifaceted Industrial Furnishings
Multifaceted Industrial Furnishings
The Acciaio Series 2 Explores the Geometries of Surface
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75
Funambulist Children's Furniture
Funambulist Children's Furniture
Flip for Kids Encourages Dynamic Physical Development
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74
Squeezebox Planter Partitions
Squeezebox Planter Partitions
The Herb2 System Provides Privacy, Decoration and Fresh Air
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73
Fantastically Folded Architecture
Fantastically Folded Architecture
The Jameson House Mixes the Old with the New
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72
DNA-Inspired Furniture
DNA-Inspired Furniture
The Mutation Series by Maarten De Ceulaer is Excitingly Experimental
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71
Burnt Lumber Furniture
Burnt Lumber Furniture
Wood Casting by Hilla Shamia Boasts a Metal Base
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70
Unorthodox Urban Condos
Unorthodox Urban Condos
The Kariouk Associates 'Redeveloper Apartment' is Space-Efficient
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69
Volcanic Island-Inspired Abodes
Volcanic Island-Inspired Abodes
Planning Korea's Cocoon House is Architecturally Sculptural
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68
Colorfully Perforated Furniture
Colorfully Perforated Furniture
The PEEP Storage Units Allow Natural Light to Seep Through
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67
Dirt-Wall Abodes
Dirt-Wall Abodes
The Caterpillar House by Feldman Architecture is Made from the Ground It Sits On
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66
Sunken Furniture Surfaces
Sunken Furniture Surfaces
Rising Table by Robert van Embricqs is Organically Intricate
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65
Sliced-Off Furniture
Sliced-Off Furniture
The CUTLINE Collection Balances Between the Hidden and Visible
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64
Minimalist Sci-Fi Athenaeums
Minimalist Sci-Fi Athenaeums
The Vennesla Library and Culture House Belongs in the 22nd Century
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63
Modular Toy-Inspired Shelving
Modular Toy-Inspired Shelving
Clark Art Center's Jacob Bookcase is Playfully Practical
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62
Sci-Fi Cat Beds
Sci-Fi Cat Beds
The Feline Tardis Contraption Lets Your Cat Explore Space and Time
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61
Delicate Skeletal Necklaces
Delicate Skeletal Necklaces
Miyu Decay's Bat Skeleton Necklace is Eerie and Charming
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60
Arboreal Lattice Ledges
Arboreal Lattice Ledges
The Esedra Domino Shelf Draws Branchlike Shadows Indoors
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59
Drawbridge Herbage
Drawbridge Herbage
Volet Vegetal Creates a Tiny Terrace for Upper Floor Apartments
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58
Masked Bunny Sculptures
Masked Bunny Sculptures
Artwork by Darla Jackson is Darkly Endearing
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57
Boxed Interior Abodes
Boxed Interior Abodes
The Melander Architects Design Maximizes Living Space
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56
Plywood-Clad Cottages
Plywood-Clad Cottages
The Stealth Barn Minimizes Its Material Palette for a Modern Look
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55
Artistic Environmental Sidewalks
Artistic Environmental Sidewalks
Jody Xiong Creates a Green Crosswalk to Spread Awareness
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54
Peculiar Plumbed Tables
Peculiar Plumbed Tables
The MT 01 Table Comprises a Spindly Frame of Galvanized Pipes
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53
Textured Underwater Portraits
Textured Underwater Portraits
Fish Heads by Tim Tadder Captures Submerged Individuals
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52
Luminescent Life-Replicating Prisms
Luminescent Life-Replicating Prisms
The 'rAndom International Future Self' Exhibit is Beautiful
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51
Creepy Comic Illustrations
Creepy Comic Illustrations
Murray Somerville Renders Surreal Fantasy Drawings
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50
Pop-Out Plywood Bands
Pop-Out Plywood Bands
Les Ouvrieres Wooden Rings Come in Their Original Stenciled Panels
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49
Structure-Wrapped Interiors
Structure-Wrapped Interiors
In House Wing, Architecture and Furniture Design are Uniquely United
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48
Transformative Art Installations
Transformative Art Installations
The Hong Seon Jang Labyrinth Exhibition Alters Mundane Materials
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47
Inflatable Steel Furniture
Inflatable Steel Furniture
Zieta Prozessdesign Creations are Contemporarily Cartoonish
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46
DIY Melting Wax Paintings
DIY Melting Wax Paintings
The Lauren Conrad Crayon Art Project is Ideal for Modern Art Lovers
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45
DIY Upcycled Jean Coasters
DIY Upcycled Jean Coasters
The Brit & Co. Cocktail Napkins are Hip and Stylish
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44
Crumbled Concrete Lighting
Crumbled Concrete Lighting
The Minimalist 'Like Paper Lamp' Has Kinks and Crinkles
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43
Nature-Shaping Monuments
Nature-Shaping Monuments
Andy Goldsworthy Creates Art that Develops a Life of its Own
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42
Stunning Shoreline Fortresses
Stunning Shoreline Fortresses
The Beach House Q has Stress-Free Surroundings
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41
Heavy Hovering Dwellings
Heavy Hovering Dwellings
The Casa en Pocafarina Seems Impossibly Suspended in Solid Concrete
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40
DIY Butterfly Wreaths
DIY Butterfly Wreaths
The ‘A Beautiful Mess’ Feather Garland is Easy to Make
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39
Deluxe Domestic Playground Equipment
Deluxe Domestic Playground Equipment
Svvving Luxury Swings Bring Fun to Fancy Homes
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38
Surreal Scandinavian Snapshots
Surreal Scandinavian Snapshots
These Photos by Billy Bonkers will Make You Look Twice
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37
Dripping Figurative Paintings (UPDATE)
Dripping Figurative Paintings (UPDATE)
The Silvia Pelissero Illustrations are Visually Striking
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36
Body Art Portrait Books
Body Art Portrait Books
London Tattoos by Alex Macnaughton Explores Unique UK Ink
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35
Side-Stacked Storage Systems
Side-Stacked Storage Systems
The Bookcase 45x Balances Impossibly from the Cubbies' Corners
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34
Haunting Hippie Portraits
Haunting Hippie Portraits
Dirk Kikstra Lenses Social Rebellion for the Ones2Watch
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33
Open-Plan Garage Abodes
Open-Plan Garage Abodes
Harley in da House Lures Vehicles into the Living Room
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32
Geometric Bicycle Brackets
Geometric Bicycle Brackets
The Bike Valet Embodies the Art of Efficient Apartment Storage
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31
Slatted Herbage Storage
Slatted Herbage Storage
The Standard Numero 4 Vegetalise Affords and Orderly Arrangement of Plants
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30
Modern Mechanized Furniture
Modern Mechanized Furniture
The Astrolab Dining Table Extends Via Remote Control
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29
Lush Living Tapestries
Lush Living Tapestries
Evergreen by Freund is a Wall-Mounted Moss Panel that Helps a Home Breathe
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28
Concealed Compartment Phone Covers
Concealed Compartment Phone Covers
The iLID MK-1 iPhone Wallet Declutters Your Pants Pockets
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27
Man-Made Waterfall Architecture
Man-Made Waterfall Architecture
The Shore Vista Boat Dock is Serenely Sweeping
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26
Romancing Hipster Illustrations
Romancing Hipster Illustrations
Thomas Pitilli Renders Drawings of Lovey Dovey Pop Scenes
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25
Elegantly Urban Shelves
Elegantly Urban Shelves
The sheLLf Bookcase by Ka-Lai Chan is an Intricate Design
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24
Imaginative Recreational Workspaces
Imaginative Recreational Workspaces
The LEGO Denmark Office Has a Slide and Building Stations
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23
Minimalist Cubed Havens
Minimalist Cubed Havens
The Gomez Residence by Marta Gonzalez Architects Has an Open Concept
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22
Expandable Furniture
Expandable Furniture
Reinier de Jong's REK Coffee Table Grows and Shrinks as Needed
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21
Macabre Princess Cartoons (UPDATE)
Macabre Princess Cartoons (UPDATE)
The Thomas Czarneck Photos Give a Twist to Fairytale Endings
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20
Realistic Royal Cartoons (UPDATE)
Realistic Royal Cartoons (UPDATE)
Jirka Vaatanien Continues to Recreate Disney Princesses
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19
Piped Paperback Storage
Piped Paperback Storage
Industrial Bookshelves Bind Your Library into the Structure of Your Home
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18
DIY Inspiration Posters
DIY Inspiration Posters
The Brit & Co. Real Life Pinterest Board Replicates the Online Network
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17
Eccentric Tetris-Style Sofas
Eccentric Tetris-Style Sofas
To Gather Presses the Piecing of Odd Modules Together
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16
Movement-Inducing Wall Stickers
Movement-Inducing Wall Stickers
These Halloween Wall Decals are Perfect for Any Party
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15
Origami-Inspired Seating
Origami-Inspired Seating
The Star Chair by Michael Samoriz is a Crafty Addition to Any Interior
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14
Creativity-Charged Cafes
Creativity-Charged Cafes
BASE camp by Nest One is a Cutting-Edge Workspace
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13
Social Surrealist Illustrations
Social Surrealist Illustrations
Koren Shadmi Renders Technologically Critical Illustrations
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12
Portable Crate-Like Cabins
Portable Crate-Like Cabins
The Whangapoua Sled House is Designed for Adaptable Beachside Living
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11
Effortless Prefab Retreats
Effortless Prefab Retreats
The Coodo 'My Home' Residences Come Furnished and Poised for Placement
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10
Glowing Sci-Fi Bicycles
Glowing Sci-Fi Bicycles
The WinCycle 001 Was Designed as Muscle-Powered Tron Transport
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9
Cantilevered Wooden Cabins
Cantilevered Wooden Cabins
Utriai Residence Holds an Impossible Position Lifted Up from the Lawn
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8
Floating Balcony Pools
Floating Balcony Pools
The Aquaria Grande is Sculptural and Luxurious
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7
Transparent Digital Timepieces
Transparent Digital Timepieces
Tokyoflash Aeon LCD Watch Integrates a Fascinating Futuristic Face
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6
DIY Globe Chandeliers
DIY Globe Chandeliers
The Inspireramera Pilates Ball Lamp Tutorial is Cleverly Cute
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5
Compressed Contemporary Campers
Compressed Contemporary Campers
Heather's Compact Caravan is Efficiently Reduced to Requirements
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4
Wing-Widened Campers
Wing-Widened Campers
The Odorico Pordenone Caravan Expands to Offer Provide Spaciousness
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3
Minimalist Cycle Storage
Minimalist Cycle Storage
The Very Nice Bike Rack Puts Precious Rides on Display in the Home
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2
Hell's Angels Portraits
Hell's Angels Portraits
Andrew Shaylor Lenses Badass Bikers Across America
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1
DIY Glowing Containers
DIY Glowing Containers
The 'From Panka with Love' Blog Shows How to Make Glow-in-the-Dark Jars
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