Four Mathematical Artists!

To quote Danica McKellar, "One of the most amazing things about mathematics is the people who do math aren't usually interested in application, because mathematics itself is truly a beautiful art form. It's structures and patterns, and that's what we love, and that's what we get off on." Mathematics and art have always been linked. Studying mathematics requires a creativity that resembles art, and artists often borrow concepts from mathematics in their art. Here are a few artists who have been inspired by mathematics in their works!

MC Escher

Relativity by MC Escher (Source: Vogue Australia)

Escher was interested in several fields of mathematics, including both Euclidean and non-Euclidean geometry and topology. He explored several of these ideas in his pieces. Tessellations and Mobius strips are among his mathematical explorations. Although he never considered himself a mathematician, he was well-regarded by and mingled with mathematicians at the time, and even conducted research into tessellations!

Leonardo Da Vinci

Vitruvian Man by Leonardo Da Vinci (Source: WikiArt)

The original Renaissance Man, Da Vinci is most well known for the Mona Lisa. However, his interest in math and science appeared in his art and many of his sketches. The Vitruvian Man (pictured above) shows what Da Vinci believed to be the geometrically ideal man. Additionally, he used mathematical concepts such as the golden ratio and played with linear perspective in The Last Supper and the Mona Lisa!

The Writers of Futurama

From "The Prisoner of Benda" by Ken Keeler (Source: Buzzfeed)

We have talked about Futurama and math before on this blog and writing may not technically be art, but several of the writers of this cartoon were well versed in mathematics. Several of them, including the show's creator David X. Cohen, published papers in mathematics, and mathematical concepts have been presented on the show, including a theorem created for the show!

Ada Dietz


From Algebraic Expressions of Handwoven Textiles by Ada Dietz (Source: Flickr)

Dietz was a math teacher who decided to apply what she taught in her crafts! Her best known work is the monograph titled Algebraic Expressions of Handwoven Textiles, which is an instructional book showing how to incorporate algebra into woven crafts. To learn more about her methods and to see her designs check out this site !