Everyday Artistry

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I consider myself a lazy artist—or perhaps that's not quite the right term. It’s more that I find beauty in the ordinary, in the often-overlooked details of everyday life. Just recently, on my way to meet a friend, I stumbled upon a quirky sign amidst some discarded rubbish that read, Art is everywhere. The scene struck a chord with me, capturing exactly how I feel. Art truly is everywhere, even where we least expect it, intertwined with the messy, imperfect aspects of our surroundings that our minds might not immediately recognise as art.

Seeing that sign beside the scattered rubbish made me reflect on all the unnoticed corners of life where beauty quietly resides, patiently waiting to be discovered: the lines on a weathered wall, the way light falls across cracked pavement, or the gentle patterns left by raindrops on a bus window. Even in the litter strewn about, there’s an unexpected composition, a narrative of chaos and order coexisting. These moments might seem mundane or even unattractive at first glance, yet they’re brimming with their own quiet artistry, inviting us to pause, to notice, to appreciate.

Interestingly, research seems to echo this instinctive pull towards finding art in the everyday. Studies in environmental psychology, for instance, suggest that our brains are wired to seek patterns and harmony in our surroundings, a concept known as biophilia, our innate desire to connect with beauty and nature. This instinct may explain why we often feel a sense of calm or satisfaction when we encounter natural symmetry or when the texture of an object simply feels “right.” By noticing beauty in small, fleeting moments, we reconnect with a fundamental part of ourselves.

Moreover, research into mindfulness suggests that pausing to notice the details around us, like the rust on a gate or the dappled shadows beneath a tree, brings profound benefits to our mental well-being. A study from the University of British Columbia found that people who took time to observe “awe-inspiring” or novel elements in their daily lives experienced heightened levels of positive emotions and greater overall satisfaction. This “art of noticing” brings a richness and depth to life that we often overlook in the hurried pace of our daily routines.

In this sense, perhaps “lazy” isn’t quite the right word for this kind of artistry. There’s something almost meditative about it, a way of seeing that transforms the mundane into a kind of personal gallery. Each chipped patch of paint, dancing shadow, or even a stray piece of rubbish becomes a quiet invitation to experience wonder. And maybe this is the true beauty of finding art in the everyday, not just in grand expressions or gallery walls, but in those small, often-unseen details that offer their own gentle stories to anyone willing to pause and listen.

Sources:

• Gaekwad, J.S., Moslehian, A.S., Roös, P.B., & Walker, A. (2022) ‘A meta-analysis of emotional evidence for the biophilia hypothesis and implications for biophilic design’, Frontiers in Psychology, 13, pp. 1-15.

• Psychology Today (2020) ‘Biophilia’, Psychology Today. Available at: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/biophilia (Accessed: [today’s date]).

• University of British Columbia (2020) ‘Simple acts of awe boost mood and well-being: UBC research’, University of British Columbia News.