The One Thing to Add to Your Gallery Wall This Spring Isn’t a Painting or Portrait

A sweep of empty wall space is prime real estate for creative expression. Beyond art prints, posters, murals, and paintings, though, that blank canvas can be the perfect spot for showcasing material magic. This season, we’re putting up mesmerizing textural pieces from artisanal brand Submaterial to create a one-of-a-kind sculptural focal point. 

Crafted by hand in New Mexico using natural materials (wool felt, cork, and more) and following conscientious manufacturing, the offerings add an elemental quality to a room—from wall art, screens, and ready-to-ship decorative mirrors and objects to bigger custom projects (think: a wraparound walnut fireplace column installed in time for a couple’s home wedding). 

Small or large, each work is meant to be a collaboration between you and the skilled Submaterial team, who come from backgrounds in architecture, design, and art. Here are some of our favorite materials—wood, felt, and leather—and how we might style a bespoke piece in our own spaces. 

Go With the Grain

An entire wall of wood paneling might be too much, but introduce one striking composition and the subtle grain starts to shine. Whether a mid-century–inspired screen in the living room that creates a dynamic room divider or a fragmented mirror in the hallway that catches the light in cool ways, these wood pieces elevate an everyday building material to gallery-worthy levels.

That Fuzzy Feeling

With a rainbow of different color and pattern options to choose from, creating felt wall art can quickly feel like playing with a kaleidoscope—each spin reveals a whole new vibe. From a wabi-sabi weave to a grid of squiggly shapes, these panels are soft but visually impactful. (Bonus: They have a sound-dampening effect, so we’d hang ours above the bed.)

Hide and Sleek

Durable yet refined, leather is less expected for an artwork, but—just like in furniture—the vegetable-tanned material in shades of buttery caramel or deep indigo brings a luxe touch to your space. A tableau of concentric squares adds new dimension to a gallery wall, while a leather panel placed solo exudes a talisman-like quality.