Absolutely Abstract to Painterly Impressionism—These Cakes Are True Works of Art

A couple of weeks ago, we shared the above cake from Buttercream Bakery on our Instagram and the response from all of our readers was off the charts! We weren’t surprised—as we too are completely smitten by this masterpiece of a cake…but it got us to wondering, are there more Impressionism-inspired cakes out there? So, we searched the treasure troves of the internet and got in touch with a handful of creative bakers who are all baking up true works of art, in the form of cake!

From absolutely abstract and brilliant brushstroke designs, to those inspired by the Impressionism movement, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite creations. And we’ve got to say, we are so on board with this art-inspired trend!

Behind the Look

cake: BakeSushaBake

Curious about this painterly design? The origins of this style are inspired by the likes of Monet, Renoir, and Van Gogh. Originally, these artists in the late 1800s were motivated by painting en plein air, meaning painting outside—rather than in their studio—therefore they had to move quickly to capture the light and the present moment. Because the moment was fleeting, their strokes had to be a bit more hurried, rather than precise lines or contours.

While Van Gough is usually considered a Post-Impressionist artist, as his artwork appeared almost a decade after some of Monet + Renoir’s iconic pieces, many people are familiar with Starry Night, and the loose stylized brushwork he applied.

Inspired by Impressionism

cake: Buttercream Bakery

And that takes us to these buttercream beauties! Buttercream is a much softer product to work with and it’s kind of similar to how oil paint works on a canvas: it doesn’t dry as quickly, can blend well with other hues, and is generally more forgiving. The artist can also create really cool textures with buttercream! Just like with oil paint, they can use palette knives to layer on the paint, opposed to employing brushstrokes. This allows the cake artist to create the painterly designs that we are falling absolutely head over heels for!

cake: Buttercream Bakery

cake: Buttercream Bakery

cake: Little Bear Cakery

cake: Cynzcakes

cake: Cynzcakes

cake: Cynzcakes

cake: Cakes by Far

cake: Sweet Bloom Cakes

cake: Sweet Bloom Cakes

cake: Sweet Bloom Cakes

cake: Belsize Cake Shop

cake: Belsize Cake Shop

cake: Belsize Cake Shop

cake: Pepper Peach

Absolutely Abstract + Brushstroke Beauties

cake: Cynzcakes

Doesn’t this look like something Monet would have created? You know…if he decided to take up baking. We are in love with these painterly designs—from those that highlight each and every brushstroke to those that take the paint swatches and go a little more abstract!

cake: The Silver Cake | photo: DHW Photography + Katherine Newman Photography | florist: Fleur Provocateur | styling: Apple and Bramble Events | stationery: Flick & Flourish

cake: Sugar and Sparrow

 cake: Greg Marsh Cakes | photo: Ella Florence Photography as seen on GWS in this Velvet Boho-Inspired New Year’s Eve Wedding

cake: Louisvillicious | photo: Firm Anchor as seen on GWS in this Confetti Love: Colorful + Stylish Terrazzo Tile Wedding Inspiration

So, what do you think? Are you all about this Impressionism-inspired style? Did you have a favorite artistic creation? Also, if you happen to know of a bakery or cake shop that’s creating serious works of art—let us know in the comments below!

Want to see other creative cakes? Check out these articles: 15 Jaw-Dropping Floral Cake Ideas for Your Wedding, and 14 of the Most Chic + Unexpected Black Wedding Cakes.