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Merging the precision of digital design with the soul of craftsmanship, the Shelly chair by Peter Donders stands as both a vision of the future and an ode to Art Nouveau. -
Oscar de la Renta reimagines stained-glass mosaics as “shattered-glass” gowns. -
Peter Donders’s Spherene sidetable, created with advanced 3D modelling. -
Dusty chair and table by Donders. -
Dorset-based artist Flora Jamieson’s Agapanthus Seed Head windows bring a contemporary elegance to stained-glass artistry. -
The ornate door of an Art Nouveau building in Paris by Jules Lavirotte, with sculptures by Jean-François Larrieu. -
A metro entrance by French architect Hector Guimard. -
Cover of German arts magazine Jugend (1986), by artist Otto Eckmann. -
Staircase at Hôtel Tassel in Brussels by architect Victor Horta.
In an era that craves warmth and whimsy, the fluid elegance and excess of Art Nouveau are breathing new life into contemporary design.
WORDS Jo Buitendach PHOTOS Paul Croes, Studio Leyssen, Courtesy of Joe Kram, Pline, Bellomente, Kansallisarkisto, Henry Townsend, Supplied
Swirling lines, whimsical florals and golden flourishes have been reimagined, with AI and 3D-driven design giving the century-old Art Nouveau style a sleek new twist. Decorative, daring and unashamedly curvy, this revival proves that excess, when done right, never goes out of fashion.
The essentials
Art Nouveau broke the rules long before breaking rules became cool. Between 1890 and 1910, it rebelled against the prevalent industrial sameness with flowing curves, organic forms and lush motifs pulled straight from nature. Known as Jugendstil in Germany, Sezessionstil in Austria and Modernisme in Spain, it shaped everything from buildings and furniture to jewellery and glassware. Think Hector Guimard’s Paris Métro entrances, Victor Horta’s sinuous staircases, Antoni Gaudí’s Barcelona dreamscapes, Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s geometry, and Alphonse Mucha’s romantic posters. Art Nouveau was about dissolving the boundaries between art and life, and making everyday beauty the ultimate luxury.
The comeback kid
Fast-forward to 2025, and Art Nouveau is having a major moment. Driven by a cultural swing towards maximalism and organic form, designers are rediscovering its curves, craftsmanship and character. Vintage finds are colliding with modern lines to create interiors that feel layered and personal; signature shapes and stylised florals are being reworked through new materials and tech; and AI and design apps spin out digital versions of Art Nouveau buildings and furniture that haven’t existed until now. The movement’s sensual energy is thriving in an era of remix culture, where experimentation meets luxury and nostalgia gets a bold new edge.
Modern makers and muses
Stained glass and Art Nouveau have always been soulmates. The movement’s flowing lines and organic motifs suit the glow of coloured glass perfectly. That influence lit up Oscar de la Renta’s 2024 autumn collection, where acrylic appliqué mimicked the shimmer of stained glass on fluid gowns. | oscardelarenta.com
In Dorset, artist Flora Jamieson restores historic stained glass but makes her mark with work inspired by nature, geometry and bold colour. Her pieces marry traditional technique with graphic clarity – old craft , new mood. | florajamieson.co.uk
Street artist Shepard Fairey, of Barack Obama “Hope” poster fame, frequently borrows Art Nouveau’s ornate borders and integrated lettering to frame his political messages, giving modern protest an elegance of a bygone era. | obeygiant.com
Belgium’s Peter Donders fuses traditional craftsmanship with 3D tech in his Cyber Art Nouveau series, echoing Victor Horta’s flowing lines in sculpted digital forms. His pieces, which feel both handcrafted and futuristic, are proof that craftsmanship isn’t going anywhere – it’s just upgrading its tools. | peterdonders.com
Across the Atlantic, Chris Wolston’s exhibition “Gilding the Lily” at The Future Perfect in New York turned Art Nouveau’s ornamentation into sculptural modernity, with sand-cast metals, woven tapestries and upholstered curves coming together in exuberant form. His first museum show opened at the Dallas Contemporary in November this year – the perfect stage for Art Nouveau’s next act. chriswolston.com | thefutureperfect.com
The new Nouveau style edit
Ornate. Organic. Overflowing with personality – the new Art Nouveau is confident, not coy. Think lush wallpapers, statement lighting and sculptural forms that flirt with nostalgia but live in the now. Start with the standout Fleur cabinet by Kare, with its floral motifs and jewel tones; add the Gloria table’s playful, almost organic presence; and finish with a Glitter Dragonfly scatter cushion – a subtle wink to the era’s fascination with iridescence. kare-design.com
The Flora 2-seater couch nails the balance of then and now. Its curvy, sculpted upper sits lightly on slim legs, the contrast between soft padding and cool metal layering modernity over unmistakable Art Nouveau curves. sofacompany.co.za
Light the scene with a Corrientes chandelier by Eichholtz – its flexible arms and sinuous silhouette bring an industrial touch to an otherwise romantic form. corefurniture.co.za
Channel Liberty-era glamour with St Leger & Viney’s collection of Liberty & Co fabrics, from peacock feathers to curling vines – perfect for anything from a scatter cushion to a statement sofa. stleger.co.za
And for walls? Cara Saven’s Guest List wallpaper is a subtle Asian nod, complete with golden cranes and serene greenery – a quiet kind of drama. carasaven.com
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