Illustrator Reimagines Modernist Masterpieces in Stylish Architectural Drawings

Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory and Botanic Gardens of Baltimore

Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory and Botanic Gardens of Baltimore

If you are an art and architecture lover looking for the perfect print to decorate your home, the work of Studio Sander Patelski might be just the thing. Patelski creates vibrant pieces inspired by modernist architecture and design. His catalog includes stylized versions of iconic buildings like Case Study House No. 8 by Charles and Ray Eames and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum by Frank Lloyd Wright. He also recreates stylish modern interiors, fictional façades, and more conceptual compositions of colors and shapes.

Patelski's artistic process begins with a deep dive into his chosen subject matter. “When I come across a building or interior I like to do, I gather as much material as I can find,” the artist tells My Modern Met. “…I want to ‘understand’ the building or space as much as I can before I start the drawing.”

Kisho Kurokawa, The Nakagin Capsule Tower, 1972

Kisho Kurokawa, The Nakagin Capsule Tower, 1972

Patelski does not have a background in architecture. His series came from a shortage of freelance work and an abundance of time felt by many artists due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When this happened, the artist finally got the chance to draw the early and mid-century modern styles he had always appreciated. Though Patelski shares that his favorite piece is often the one he has most recently completed, the series allowed him to study the architecture of Juan O’Gorman. He is now especially fond of these drawings in his series. One O’Gorman inspired piece—Casa Estudio de Frida Kahlo—is included in this article.

After so many pieces, Patelski has developed a library full of interesting textures and overlays. “I use a lot of halftone patterns because they make the illustration more vibrant,” he explains. “Also I keep in the rough sketch. It’s always nice to see the drawing come to life when I start adding the shading, and start playing the colors.”

Patelski says that he will soon bring his two-dimensional drawings to a new medium starting with small sculptures inspired by his composition studies and fictional façades. Be sure to keep up with him on his website for new prints and this alternative medium in the near future.

Studio Sander Patelski creates wonderful art prints of modernist buildings, fictional façades, and conceptual compositions.

Juan O’Gorman, Casa Estudio de Frida Kahlo, 1929-1931

Juan O’Gorman, Casa Estudio de Frida Kahlo, 1929-1931

Pierre Jeanneret, The Gandhi Bhawan Panjab University, 1956

Pierre Jeanneret, The Gandhi Bhawan Panjab University, 1956

Charles and Ray Eames, Case Study House No.8, 1949

Charles and Ray Eames, Case Study House No.8, 1949

Frank Lloyd Wright, The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, 1956-1959

Frank Lloyd Wright, The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, 1956-1959

Composition No.24

Composition No.24

Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, forest house 1975, interior

Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, forest house 1975, interior

Marcel Breuer, Whitney Museum of American Art, 1966

Marcel Breuer, Whitney Museum of American Art, 1966

Fictional Façade No.7

Fictional Façade No.7

Composition No.2

Composition No.2

Studio Sander Patelski: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Studio Sander Patelski.

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Samantha Pires

Sam Pires is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met and one of the co-hosts of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. She is also a freelance architectural designer. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from NJIT and is currently earning a Master in Architecture II from the Harvard Graduate School of Design. Sam has design experience at multiple renowned architecture firms such as Gensler and Bjarke Ingels Group. She believes architecture should be more accessible to everyone and uses writing to tell unexpected stories about the built environment. You can connect with her online at @sampir.fi.
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