Artist Skillfully Details Paintings to Look Like Real Ornate Rugs

Contemporary Art Painting by Jason Seife

If you hadn’t seen artist Jason Seife painting these intricate designs himself, you'd think they were actually rugs. Using an impossibly small brush and acrylic paint, the Miami-based creative depicts the elaborate details you’d normally find on Persian rugs. From floral motifs to fancy flourishes, Seife puts his own spin on these familiar patterned tapestries by incorporating hues that aren’t typically seen in the large floor coverings.

Seife’s attention to his craft is beyond impressive. His ability to recreate the mesmerizing symmetries pays homage to the “dense history and meaning behind the imagery” while also allowing him a starting point for exploring his own inner self. According to the Robert Fontaine Gallery, Seife uses the meticulous process as a way to express his state of mind at the time of creation.

Since we last marveled at Seife’s contemporary art painting, he has started to move from a flat surface and into three dimensions. In a collaboration with Nike, he adorned a pair of Air Force 1s with his complex patterning. The result transcends the sneakers from clothing to an art object—something you’d want to display rather than wear.

Artist Jason Seife uses decorative painting to create intricate art inspired by Persian rugs.

Decorative Painting by Jason Seife

Contemporary Art Painting by Jason Seife

Decorative Painting by Jason Seife

Decorative Painting by Jason Seife

Decorative Painting by Jason Seife

Decorative Painting by Jason Seife

Decorative Painting by Jason Seife

Contemporary Art Painting by Jason Seife

Contemporary Art Painting by Jason Seife

Contemporary Art Painting by Jason Seife

Contemporary Art Painting by Jason Seife

Contemporary Art Painting by Jason Seife

Contemporary Art Painting by Jason Seife

In a recent collaboration with Nike, Seife translated his contemporary art painting onto a pair of Air Force 1s.

Contemporary Art Painting by Jason Seife

Jason Seife: Instagram
h/t: [Booooooom]

All images via Jason Seife.

Related Articles:

Quirky Designer Hand-Crochets Rugs in the Shape of Your Favorite Foods

Optical Illusion Rugs Make It Look Like There Are Bottomless Holes in Your Home

Quilled Paper “Carpet” Mimics the Exquisite Details of an Ornamental Rug

Traditional Rugs Recreated with Technological Glitches by Faig Ahmed

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met and Manager of My Modern Met Store. She is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art where she earned her BFA in Illustration and MFA in Illustration Practice. Sara is also an embroidery illustrator and writer living in Seattle, Washington. She runs Bear&Bean, a studio where she stitches pet portraits and other beloved creatures. She chronicles the creativity of others through her website Brown Paper Bag and newsletter, Orts. Her latest book is Threads of Treasure: How to Make, Mend, and Find Meaning Through Thread, published in 2014. Sara’s work has been recognized in Be Creative With Workbox, Embroidery Magazine, American Illustration, on Iron and Wine’s album Beast Epic, among others. When she’s not stitching or writing, Sara enjoys planning things that bring together the craft community. She is the co-founder of Camp Craftaway, a day camp for crafty adults with hands-on workshops in the Seattle area.
Become a
My Modern Met Member
As a member, you'll join us in our effort to support the arts.
Become a Member
Explore member benefits