Matisse and Kusama’s Bathroom Project Page
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It began with a layered collage on a lined journal page, combining mustard yellow and soft pink with black-and-white Matisse line-art figures. (See image below-left).
Moon cut-outs, constellation charts, floral accents, and scattered magenta dots decorate the page. The contrast between cut paper shapes and organic forms became the starting point for exploring color, pattern, and composition in a retail display.
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I brought the bold colors, playful shapes, and layered patterns of my Matisse- and Kusama-inspired collage into a bathroom display. I love maximalism, so it was fun to fill the space with expressive color, pattern, and unexpected details, imagining how an everyday room could become immersive and full of personality. (See the image in the bottom-right corner of this section.)
How might I use the inspiration and digital collage images to design a retail display?
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For this small bathroom-themed retail display, I imagined a mix of everyday essentials and decorative objects inspired by Matisse and Kusama. Two styles of gridded towels and square coasters bring structure to the assortment, while floral towels and polka-dot soap dishes add softer, more organic forms. Contrasting candles and boldly patterned ceramics complete the playful mix.
To balance the bolder patterns, I chose solid-colored scalloped wall shelves, a scalloped woven basket, and a single-color, flower-shaped stool. Their curved shapes keep the display expressive while giving the eye places to rest. Instead of using neutral furniture as a backdrop, I chose a light purple cabinet as the anchor—a reminder that a practical space needn’t shy away from color. Together, the pieces create a cheerful, layered display that invites shoppers to imagine bringing a little of that boldness into their own bathrooms.
Image #1: A journal collage spread arranged on a ruled page. Collaged elements include black/gray moons and zodiac stickers. Pink and yellow moon and flower elements provide pops of color. Mini line‑art female nude images zig-zag down the page. A large translucent grid paper layered over zodiac constellations labeled in cursive. Torn paper, washi tape, and pink dot stickers add texture. A tiny note reads “Happier times are coming.” The palette mixes blush, mustard, and black for a dreamy, celestial vibe.
Image #2: A dense mood board of bathroom and home accessories inspired by playful modern art motifs. Cutouts include vases of dahlias, polka‑dot lamps, scalloped trays, pastel tiles, squiggly hooks, and floral towels. Large black line drawings of a woman’s face flow across the white background. Product swatches in pink, orange, chartreuse, and sky blue repeat throughout. The composition feels bright, whimsical, and maximal.
Image #3: A curated product collage features a lavender cabinet and a glossy pink pedestal sink. Two posters if artworks by Matisse and Kusama peek out of the top left corner. Scalloped wall niches, and pastel glass vases with ranunculus stems bring the poster images to life. Playful elements of dots, waves, and checker patterns in green, peach, and chartreuse are present throughout. The overall scene feels retro, cheerful, and bathroom‑ready with sculptural, graphic shapes.