10 Examples of High-End Artwork Recreated with Code

They say that code is poetry. While that may be the case, code can also be used as a building block for other artforms as well. Combining code with more traditional artistic talents can result in something spectacular to behold.

This fusion of visual art powered by the latest web technologies takes things to new heights. Here, art is more interactive. It’s also responsive to screen size (try doing that with a painting).

The following are examples of the traditional and digital coming together to form something beautiful.

Progressive Self Portrait

Sometimes, parallax scrolling effects can be a bit overdone. But this self portrait is one of the most unique and spot-on uses you’ll ever see. Here, scrolling reveals progressive iterations of the artwork. When the final portrait is loaded, move your cursor (or tilt your mobile device) to rotate the image and view an incredible 3D effect.

A Poly Portrait

Here’s a different take on the self-portrait. This one uses a low-poly technique combined with animation to both reveal and hide the drawing. The look is a bit reminiscent of early 3D video games from back in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Art Is Meant for Shredding

The artist known as Banksy famously sold a piece of artwork that shredded itself. Here’s an online tribute that lets you do the very same to your own images. While paying out the nose for something that self-destructs may not be everyone’s taste, at least this version won’t cost you a thing.

Spray It with CSS

A recent trend that has become popular involves recreating famous works of art for the web. Often, as is the case with this Roy Lichtenstein pop art painting, everything is done with pure CSS. This is a great example of just how powerful CSS has become.

A Portrait of Francine as a Member of KISS

The highly-detailed portrait of Francine was an internet sensation – and for good reason. The shading and the level of accuracy is pretty mind-blowing. Since then, a number of others have put their spin on the original. Here, Francine is reimagined with KISS-like face paint and eerily follows your cursor around the screen.

Waiting for a Starry Night

Great art often compels you to search for those tiny details hidden within. In that spirit, this pen uses Particle animation to draw Vincent van Gogh’s “The Starry Night” pixel by pixel. While the rendering isn’t 100% accurate, it does provide an appreciation for the amount of work that goes into the process.

How Do You Feel?

At its core, art is an expression of feeling. Therefore, emoji must be art – right? As in the Banksy shredder example above, this emoji painting is a reflection of the era we live in. Just as these expressive little characters are popping up on our screens each day, the same is reflected in this work of art.

A New Perspective

Finally, art has been known to challenge our way of thinking. It can also force us to see things in a different way. That’s literally the case here, as hovering over this image offers up an amazing 3D zoom effect. It makes you feel part of the scene, which is one of the most exciting features that can be built with code.

Making Art Come to Life

Code isn’t always the most appreciated form of art. Quite often, it stays in the background and ensures that things just work. In that way, it can be a thankless vocation.

But when you use this behind-the-scenes powerhouse to enhance something visually, it comes to the forefront. It’s no longer an afterthought. Instead, it takes center stage along with the visuals to show us the full range of what is possible.