Fall Trends in Art

At Gregg Irby Gallery, we are always attuned to emerging trends among artists, collectors, and designers. This fall, as in years past, there is a collective embrace of warmth, nostalgia, new beginnings, and a deep sense of comfort. Contemporary art often mirrors these emotions, and this season, we've observed several key themes: seasonal and symbolic transformations, a revival of vintage motifs, nature-inspired works, and, of course, a rich palette of warm, muted colors. In this blog post, we will explore these fall art trends through the lens of original paintings featured at our Atlanta gallery.

Motifs of transformation

Autumnal art trends often explore motifs of transformation, symbolizing change and renewal. In A Glow at Sunset in the Garden by Australian artist Amy Wright, the vibrant colors of dried leaves—deep maroons, golden yellows, and fiery oranges— show a sort of shift from the lushness of summer to amber foliage of autumn. For centuries artists have used withered flowers and decaying foliage to evoke feelings of nostalgia and the passage of time, echoing Amy Wright’s self-described fascination with “capturing abandoned landscapes; the discarded, ignored and untamed.” Amy’s artistic talent lies in her ability to morph these wild, untamed landscapes into beautiful, imagination-bending compositions. Her layered patterns and attention to detail insert the viewer into the morphing landscapes. To the audience, this artistic and seasonal metamorphosis encourages reflection on personal growth, letting go, and embracing new beginnings.

A Glow at Sunset in the Garden by Amy Wright | 48×36 | mixed media on canvas

vintage revival & emphasis on animals in art

This fall, a significant design trend we’ve seen at our Atlanta art gallery is a call to the past. Incorporating art from this vintage revival is a great way to add character, depth, and timeless ambiance to a space. From colonial fox hunt scenes to Fredric Remington paintings, for centuries artworks depicting hunting dogs have been popular in the United States. As seen in “Life With Friends,” contemporary artist Carylon Cooper often paints this traditional subject matter, but with a sense of movement and dramatic color contrast that adds a contemporary flair. These hound paintings are particularly fitting for fall, which is when hunting season traditionally begins – making a connection to the outdoors and cycles of life in a sophisticated manner. By choosing to paint on a triptych (a standard painting medium in medieval art) and portray a timeless animal theme, this painting embraces the charm of the past and reflects the feelings of nostalgia that autumn often brings. Not only is Carylon Cooper’s painting a great option for those who love to find a balance between the old and the new, but collecting artwork such as Carylon’s is a wonderful way to both fulfill a love for vintage art while supporting working contemporary artists.

Life is Better With Friends by Carylon Cooper | 48x108 | oil on canvas, triptych

Color of the year

After years of neutral or all-white palettes dominating much of the design world, this fall we are seeing a shift towards moodier, richer color palettes. Designers, artists, and color experts have noted that rich, earthy colors are taking over this fall – in other words jewel tones are back! This stunning painting by Alabama artist AK Hardeman, Muted Roses and Twine, embraces many of the colors that paint companies have chosen as their Color of the Year for 2025. For example, Rumors by Behr is a sophisticated maroon with nostalgic, velvety tones that can be seen in various small details on the painting. The large, abstract roses in the painting have an elegant muted-eggplant color similar to Cinnamon Slate by Benjamin Moore, while other brushstrokes contain a reddish burnt brown similar to Raku by C2. Color is the central part of AK Hardeman’s artistic process and the inclusion of these rich, muted colors, along with the withering sense of the foliage, make this painting the perfect embodiment of fall art trends.

Muted Roses and Twine by AK Hardeman | 50x40 | mixed media on canvas

bringing nature indoors

As the weather starts to shift and people seek comfort indoors, paintings can act as portals to the outside world. Kay Flierl’s nature-inspired works, particularly her series of barn paintings such as Barn Country, beautifully embody this idea. Her artworks evoke a sense of wanderlust and connection to the outdoors, offering viewers a visual road trip—an escape to open fields, distant horizons, and rustic barns. In autumn, when staying indoors becomes more appealing, Flierl's landscapes provide an opportunity to explore the world beyond the windows, filling the space with a sense of adventure and natural beauty. By bringing elements of the outside world inside, one creates an environment that soothes the soul and encourages a sense of exploration and wonder, even while nestled comfortably at home. Kay Flierl’s paintings serve as reminders that the outdoors can still be a part of our lives, even as we embrace the coziness of autumn.

Barn Country by Kay Flierl | 36×48 | mixed media on canvas

warm-muted colors

During the fall at Gregg Irby Gallery, we often see clients and designers gravitate toward using warm, muted colors to reflect the season’s natural shift. Nashville-based artist Sarah Ella Cole paints in a neutral palette year round, but her art feels especially fitting during the fall season. As seen in Her Mind in Neutral , these earthy tones evoke a sense of coziness and introspection, mirroring the changing surroundings and the fading light. Sarah Ella Cole’s palette encourages a meditative atmosphere, where the cooler air contrasts with the warmth of the colors, creating a visual harmony that feels both classic and contemporary. As design trends are stepping away from cool grays to warm neutrals, fall is the perfect time to lean into the rich chocolate browns, soft taupes and tans, and bursts of orange that we often see in Sarah Ella Cole’s artwork.

Her Mind in Neutral by Sarah Ella Cole | 48×48 |mixed media on canvas

a sense of comfort

Fall is a time for seeking comfort indoors, cozying up with a book by a fire, and gathering around a table with loved ones. As an art gallery rooted in the South, it is rarely cold enough to require a lit fire, but many of our artists do live in chillier climates. Consider this painting, aptly named The Start of Autumn, by UK-based artist Andrea Curtis. With its sanguine reds, soft peaches, and pops of earthy colors, it makes the viewer feel as if they have just entered a toasty room after a cold day. The sense of comfort is furthered by the plush chair, tea cup, and decorative objects which call leisurely activities to mind. The flowers may be fresh, signaling the beginning of autumn, but the fire mantle behind them reminds us that winter is coming – the time for gathering inside with family is here. Just as Kay Flirel’s Barn Country is a window to the crisp outside season, Andrea Curtises still-life paintings are wonderful glimpses into the warm solace of home during the fall.

The Start of Autumn by Andrea Curtis | 43.5×43.5 | acrylic and collage on canvas