Retro Art

Retro is not the same as vintage. Vintage means old; retro means made now with a deliberate memory of a period, which is a design decision rather than an accident of age. That distinction matters when you are buying, because a retro piece is built to current standards and sizes while carrying the palette and forms of another decade.

The reference points here run from mid-century through the seventies and eighties: warm ochres and burnt orange, chrome and brass, arcs and sunbursts, sculpted forms and a good deal of figurative work. More than a quarter of the collection is figurative, which is unusual in our catalogue and is very much of the period, since mid-century interiors used the human form far more freely than contemporary ones do.

Mixed media leads the making at more than two thirds, with canvas, timber and polished steel behind. Just over half stands proud of the wall. Browse the related contemporary ranges in modern art and abstract art, and the figurative work in figure art.

Retro pieces work best where they are the only period note in the room. Against a full mid-century scheme they disappear; in an otherwise plain contemporary space they do exactly what they are meant to. Most run between 30cm and 130cm, which suits the alcoves and chimney breasts of the housing stock the style came from. See the wider ranges in wall art and wall decor.

Every piece we make is handcrafted to order by our artists, designed in Birmingham and made in our worldwide studios. Standard production takes around three to four weeks, and we offer free worldwide shipping. Get in touch if you would like help choosing a piece for a particular room.