Biomorphic Art: Sculptures Imitating Nature’s Forms

Originating from the Greek word “bios” (life), and “morphe” (form), the term “biomorphic art” refers to abstract portrayals of the natural world. This artistic style, with subjects including humans, animals, and plants, thrived in the 20th century, and its works stand out in museums and galleries today. Keep reading to learn more about biomorphism’s rich history, including a breakdown of its distinctive features and a spotlight on the most well-known biomorphic artists.

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Caption: Biomorphic Abstract Painting – Charles Green Shaw, Sold for $17,000 USD via Ancient Objects (September 2016). 

The Origin of Biomorphic Art

Historians believe that art scholar Alfred H. Barr first coined the term “biomorphism” in 1936. He used it to characterize work featured in his exhibition “Cubism and Abstract Art,” housed in New York City’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). 

The term “biomorphic art” came to represent works centered on organic shapes and forms that are more complex than their reference material. Ultimately, biomorphism became a focus of several artists based in New York and Europe during the 20th century.

4. Characteristics of Biomorphic Art

The following are some of the most distinguishing features of biomorphic art.

1. Naturally occurring shapes and forms

Given their goal of capturing life, biomorphic artists feature naturally occurring shapes and forms in their work. For example, a work of biomorphic art might include or allusions to human activity, as in a Joan Miró piece to be discussed later.

2. Surrealist influence

Surrealism, an artistic style that originated in the 1910s and 1920s just before biomorphic art, is prominent in many biomorphic pieces. Because surrealists often find beauty in unexpected subjects and focus on the complexities of the unconscious, their work is naturally compatible with biomorphic imagery. 

3. Dada influence

While biomorphic art doesn’t always strike the same tone as Dada art, the surrealism that informed biomorphism was in turn informed by Dada. This art style, which emerged during World War I, features abstractions that often appear nonsensical and satirical. Although it might be a stretch to call biomorphic art satirical, some of its works may defy explanation at first glance.

4. Focus on automatism

Similarly to how surrealist art reflects the subconscious, automatism is the process of unconsciously, or automatically, creating art. Biomorphic artists often create their artwork via the latter, acting on instinct and creating images that represent their subjects in abstract terms. 

8 Biomorphic Artists and Selected Artwork

Below is a list of biomorphic artists across artistic media, as well as their best-known works of art.

1. Joan Miró (1893-1983)

Spanish painter and printmaker Joan Miró exhibited his first piece in 1911. He dabbled in the world of semi-abstraction and primarily depicted natural forms. Some of his best-known works include his 1924-1925 painting ‘Harlequin’s Carnival’ and 1941 painting ‘The Beautiful Bird Revealing the Unknown to a Pair of Lovers.’

Within Miró’s impressive catalog of biomorphic artwork is his 1938 painting ‘La caresse des étoiles’ (“the caress of the stars”). The painting’s vibrant colors run seamlessly into one another, emphasizing the organic nature of the composition. The abstract depictions of the subject’s faces are quintessentially biomorphic: reminiscent of living organisms, but far more complex than Miró’s original reference material.

2. Yves Tanguy (1900-1955)

Born in Paris, Yves Tanguy began sketching cafe scenes in 1922 after serving in the military for four years. His free-spirited attitude and bohemian lifestyle led him to begin creating images that pushed the bounds of conventional artistry. 

Tanguy’s otherworldly paintings quickly veered into surrealist territory, and, eventually, biomorphism. His best-known works include his 1927 painting ‘Mama, Papa is Wounded!’ and 1943 painting ‘Through Birds, Through Fire, But Not Through Glass.’

In his 1941 painting ‘Deux fois du noir,’ or ‘Twice black,’ Tanguy presents the viewer with vague abstractions that appear to resemble human bodies. While there is no concrete sign of life in this painting, the movement of garments seems to indicate the presence of human subjects. This unconventional portrayal of the group of subjects is directly in line with the principles of biomorphism.

3. Jean Arp (1886-1966)

From sculptor to painter to poet, German-French artist Jean Arp wore many hats during his creative career. He was an early member of Abstraction-Création, a group of artists who promoted abstract art in Paris and beyond during the mid-20th century. Some of his most renowned biomorphic works include his 1935 sculpture ‘Human Concretion’ and his 1950/1957 sculpture ‘Evolution of a Form: Human, Lunar, Spectral.’

Arp’s 1958 sculpture ‘Homme vu par une fleur,’ or ‘Man seen by a flower,’ is especially emblematic of his biomorphic tendencies. His extreme abstraction of the man forces the viewer to stretch the bounds of how they would typically identify the human form. The result is a work of art that is quintessentially biomorphic.

4. Isamu Noguchi (1904-1988)

Sculptor Isamu Noguchi was born in Los Angeles. However, he traveled frequently throughout his career, eventually maintaining studios in Japan and New York. Noguchi was deeply affected by what he saw in each region he visited, from ink-brushing in China to marble in Italy. These experiences influenced his biomorphic works, including his 1937 sculpture ‘Radio Nurse’ and 1952 sculpture ‘Even the Centipede.’

One of Noguchi’s best-known biomorphic pieces is his 1959 sculpture ‘The Cry,’ which appears to be a minimalistic, bare-boned version of a human subject. This abstract version of a person crying in despair encourages the viewer to reconsider how artists might represent the human experience in complex ways.

5. Henry Moore (1898-1986)

English artist Henry Moore is best known for his sculptures, which were often bronzes. Unlike some of his biomorphic peers, Moore sought to create forms that were as progressive as his political views. Some of his most recognizable works include his 1952-1953 sculpture ‘King and Queen’ and 1956 sculpture ‘Maquette for Seated Woman.’

In the world of biomorphism, Moore’s 1970 reclining figure built at the Tel Aviv Museum is a standout. With these biomorphic forms, Moore invites his viewers to consider how this subject might be reclining. The viewer must imagine where the subject’s arms, legs, and vertebrae are, all without any guidance from Moore. These ambiguities make the sculpture especially engaging.

6. Georgia O’Keeffe (1887-1986)

While American artist Georgia O’Keeffe was best known for her focus on natural imagery, some of her more abstract work veers into biomorphism. As part of her mission to express her reverence and appreciation of the natural world, many of O’Keeffe’s paintings feature grandiose brushstrokes and vibrant colors. This style, featured in works such as her 1945 painting ‘Pelvis Series — Red With Yellow’ and 1924 painting ‘From the Lake,’ directly nods to biomorphism.

One of O’Keeffe’s most well-known works, her 1923 painting ‘Red Canna,’ is also notably biomorphic. Most viewers can identify the red canna flower as the subject of her painting. However, her loose brushwork creates a free-flowing, organic quality to the painting. Viewers are then free to make different interpretations — such as the scholarly argument that O’Keeffe’s canna paintings suggest female anatomy — or simply relish its ambiguity.

7. Barbara Hepworth (1903-1975)

British artist Barbara Hepworth was an especially unique figure in the world of biomorphic art. Even as a female sculptor facing adversity, she paved her way. The art community frequently referred to her as the greatest living female sculptor while she was at the prime of her artistry. Some biomorphic pieces that helped her earn such esteem include her 1934 ‘Mother and Child’ sculpture and her 1969 sculpture ‘Two Forms: Divided Circle.’

Hepworth’s 1971 sculpture ‘Summer Dance’ is another clear example of biomorphism. The synergy between the “dancing” forms suggests that two humans are having an exchange, even though Hepworth doesn’t allow us to make them out. Through this composition, she invites viewers to consider how — and why — they can pick up on human qualities without looking explicitly at a human.

8. Roberto Matta (1911-2002)

The only artist on this list to live into the 21st century, Roberto Matta was born in Santiago, Chile. He was one of the most prominent mentors for aspiring abstract expressionists and a figurehead for the movement as a whole. From the beginning of his career, Matta created multi-dimensional, fantastical artwork, including his 1941 painting ‘Invasion into the Night’ and 1943 painting ‘Black Virtue.’

In his 1959-1964 painting ‘La verbe être,’ or ‘The verb to be,’ Matta illustrates how biomorphic art can include experiments with dimension and perspective. While his subjects might not seem lifelike, Matta gives them autonomous qualities by placing some in the foreground and others in the background. The abundance of blurred linework and surrealist undertones, alongside the human-like subject at left, are biomorphic qualities.

Dive into the World of Biomorphic Art

While biomorphic art was most plentiful during the 20th century, art historians and museum-goers alike can still feel its impact on today’s abstract art landscape. If you’re interested in expanding your knowledge of abstract art and learning more about its history, you might continue exploring the world of biomorphic art. 

One of the best ways to expand your horizons and learn more about biomorphism is to browse the biomorphic art currently for sale at auction. You might learn more about your tastes in biomorphism — or even stumble upon the perfect piece for your home.