Art’s Secret Language: Mathematics

Introduction: More Connected Than We Think

Maths and art are often seen as opposites — one logical, the other expressive. Yet, when you look closely, they share the same foundations: patterns, structures, and rhythm. My own paintings often surprise me with how mathematical they appear once finished. Shapes repeat, patterns emerge, and proportions seem to find their own balance. Here are three examples from my work that reveal this hidden connection.

Geometry in Abstract Form

Painting 1 (turquoise with oval forms)
In this piece, oval and rectangular shapes sit side by side, layered against a glowing background. The simplicity of these forms reminds us that geometry underlies so much of art. Circles, rectangles, and lines are not just mathematical objects — they are building blocks of beauty. Even in abstraction, proportion and balance guide the eye, much like the golden ratio has done for centuries.

Patterns and Grids

Painting 2 (pink with green blocks and ovals)
This work leans heavily into repetition and rhythm. The pink grid structure contains repeating green and blue blocks, punctuated by oval shapes that break the order. Patterns like these echo mathematical tessellations, where shapes interlock seamlessly to create harmony. The balance between order and disruption here mirrors the way maths describes both stability and change.

Rhythm and Repetition

Painting 3 (pink and purple with flowing forms)
This piece feels almost musical, with oval and rectangular forms flowing across the canvas like notes on a score. Rhythm in art functions much like rhythm in music: repetition with variation. This principle lies at the heart of mathematics too, from fractals in nature to sequences in number theory.

Conclusion: Listening for the Language

Mathematics and art are not rivals but companions. Numbers and formulas give shape to beauty, while colours and textures breathe life into structure. What begins as geometry becomes expression; what begins as calculation becomes harmony.

When I paint, I don’t set out to follow equations — yet the patterns appear, the rhythms align, and balance finds its place. It’s as if the canvas is speaking in two tongues at once: art’s voice and mathematics’ secret language.