Elements of Design: Exemplary Works


Symmetrical Balance
1. 2. 3.
4. 5.

1. "Clothespin" by Claes Oldenburg
2. "Hung Piece" by Louise Bourgeois
3. "Gruby" by Magdalena Abakanowicz
4. "Four Wings" by Magdalena Abakanowicz
5. "The Kiss" by Brancusi

Asymmetrical Balance

1. 2. 3.
4. 5.

1. "Spider" by Louise Bourgeois
2. "Leda" by Brancusi
3. "Chunk" by Richard Serra
4. "Balanced" by Richard Serra
5. "Architect's Handkerchief by Claes Oldenburg


Radial Balance

1. 2. 3.
4. 5.


1. "Untitled" by Richard Serra
2. "Table of Silence" by Brancusi
3. "Sylvester" by Richard Serra
4. "Gathering Wool" by Louise Bourgeois
5. "Four" by Richard Serra


Scale

1. 2. 3.
4. 5.


1. "Spoonbridge and Cherry" by Claes Oldenburg
2. "Giant Saw" by Claes Oldenburg
3. "Giant Pool Balls" by Claes Oldenburg
4. "Binoculars" by Claes Oldenburg
5. The Great Pyramid at Giza



Proportion

1. 2. 3.
4. 5.



1. The Parthenon
2. "David" by Michelangelo
3. "Kritios Boy" by Unknown
4. "Figure" by Louise Bourgeois
5. "Untitled" by Felix Gonzales-Torres


Emphasis


1. 2. 3.
4. 5.


1. "Untitled" by Richard Serra
2. "Lair" by Louise Bourgeois
3. "Eyes" by Louise Bourgeois
4. "Christ the Redeemer" by Paul Landowski
5. "Cell XXIV" by Louise Bourgeois


Contrast

1. 2. 3.
4. 5.


1. "Untitled" by Donald Judd
2. "Torso of a Young Man" by Brancusi
3. "Thinking of Susshu" by Richard Serra
4. "Lipstick Monument" by Claes Oldenburg
5. "First Personage" by Louise Nevelson


Variety

1. 2. 3.
4. 5.


1. "The Store" by Claes Oldenburg
2. "Space of Stone" by Magdalena Abakanowicz
3. "Number 67" by Leonardo Drew
4. "Geometric Mouse" by Claes Oldenburg
5. "Cubi XVII" by David Smith


Repetition

1. 2. 3.
4. 5.


1. "Two Cheeseburgers With Everything" by Claes Oldenburg
2. "Space of Becalmed Beings" by Magdalena Abakanowicz
3. "Hand-Like Trees" by Magdalena Abakanowicz
4. "Endless Column" by Brancusi
5. "Big Figures" by Magdalena Abakanowicz

Rhythm

1. 2. 3.
4. 5.



1. "Nature Study" by Louise Bourgeois
2. "Labyrinthine Tower" by Louise Bourgeois
3. "In Respite" by Louise Bourgeois
4. "Flung Peels" by Claes Oldenburg
5. "5 Dancing Figures" by Magdalena Abakanowicz