Discover Ethereal Art for Halloween

When we think of the word ‘home’, we’re reminded of warmth, comfort and relaxation. But what happens when we use our interiors as a means of escape, or to transcend into another world completely? Stepping inside a home that showcases ethereal artworks isn’t just an arrival, it’s an adventure. 

With spooky season firmly upon us, an exploration into ethereal artworks seems apt. With subject matter ranging from the fantastical to the surreal, the way this style navigates the transition between light and dark has us completely captivated.  

Learn how to transport your interior to the realms of the otherworldly with an ethereal artwork.

What is ethereal art?

Sometimes called etherealism, this art movement is all about mystery. Often leaning towards the abstract end of things, an ethereal artwork aims to generate an emotive response. You might notice the portrayal of the real, natural world balanced with imaginary motifs, imagery, symbols or inferred meaning. Maybe spooky, maybe unsettling, but always beautiful.

To make it easy for you to find an ethereal artwork for your home, we’ve split the style into five different categories. Light or dark? Natural or fantasy? Join us on an exploration of ethereal art for Halloween. No tricks, just treats.

Fantasy

For many, living in a fantasy world has always held serious appeal, but after a tumultuous few years, escaping the realities of modern life is high on the agendas of most. An ethereal, fantasy artwork is a big tick on the list of must-haves for those wanting to inject their interiors with a sense of intrigue and wonder.

Joe Webb transports us into space with his fantastical ‘Take Five’, depicting a reading figure lazing about under the stars. One part retro, one part futuristic, this screenprint is the perfect artwork for avid readers and dreamers.

Dark

Major impending Halloween vibes. Those who love a little darkness in their interior design decisions will love a monochromatic print to add to their collection. Where ethereal artworks often play with the relationship between light and dark, we’ve scoured the shadowy depths of our marketplace for two pieces that favour arresting ethereal elements of the darker variety.

Dan Hillier is a name that should definitely be on your radar. His work takes inspiration from mythology and dream imagery, usually in black, white and grey hues. Full of unexpected ideas and intuitive iconography, this is ethereal, but make it edgy. 

We also love Martin Langford’s very Halloween-y ‘Ghost’. His work tends to focus on the relationship between man and nature with a sense of black humour. But, there’s always positivity there, too. This print would look unimaginably enviable in a cool salon hang or pride of place in a more minimalist interior.

Surreal

Take a walk into the weird and wonderful world of the surrealist art. Mixing ethereal with a dash of the surreal is a winning combo for anyone wanting to impress with out-of-the-box ideas and thought-provoking imagery.

Hop onto Caio Locke’s suspended train line for a trip to the stratosphere. An eclectic take on the cityscape, it’s hard to tire of finding new things to discover within the world he conjures. His collection might just hold the statement piece you’ve been looking for.

There is so much breadth within our surrealist collection. From rainbow cities to human fish. Shin Koyama uses red hues in ‘Kingyo 1’ to take our brains on a trip to a world where human heads meet fish bodies. And who would’ve thought it’d look this good? Watch as your guests double take at this artwork when it’s up on your wall.

Light

The use of light is hugely important in etherealism. It’s often this element that gives an artwork an ethereal edge either in a haunting or joyful way.

It’s all in the name with Amanda Horvath’s ‘Ethereal Light’. A wistful pink fog glows amongst spring leaves, with the full spectrum of greens utilised to show how the light shines through the forest growth. The central focal point gives the feeling of this forest being a portal to another world, inviting the viewer in and trapping them in this dream-like painting.

We love the idea of incorporating a piece by Lu Jun into a minimalist interior. The sweeping, smoke-like patterns offer a real sense of calm and a cavernous sort of light. In a light wood or white frame, this would look hugely impressive in a peaceful living room.

Nature

Flora and fauna are real staples of etherealism. There’s so much inspiration to be taken from nature and a minor twist or small alteration can transform a relatively straightforward artwork into something you just can’t look away from or stop thinking about.

It’s Juan Del Pozo’s use of colour that sways this oil painting into the realm of the ethereal. Taking a leaf of inspiration from the classic Impressionists, his ‘Avon Waterlillies’ has an unearthly edge, with bright, saturated colour that you might not be expecting in a traditional realist work.

The pink neon glow at the centre of Eric Robitaille’s ‘Drizzle and Supernova’ is both on-trend and timeless against the inky sage green backdrop. The detail in the swallow depicted is both impressive and enchanting, with etchings made into the paint to spell a secret message.  

With such diversity, it’s easy to see why adding an ethereal element to your art collection is ideal for the home. Equal parts relaxing and transportive, we hope you’ve been inspired by the fantasy, dream-like lands of etherealism. 

Main image: Dan Hillier, ‘Grene Leod’, screenprint, Liberty Gallery