The Formula for Impressive Wall Art: Large, Dynamic, No Frame Required

The ordeal of framing large paintings, prints and photos can squeeze an art budget like a tube of cadmium red under a bicycle tire. A 5-foot-by-4-foot poster can easily cost $1,000 to mount, for example. But if you think outside the quadrilateral and mix in big, dimensional works made from unusual materials—wood, metal, fiber—you save on framing, and your space gains a nuanced, unique vibe. “Art helps to express who you are,” said John Stivale, co-founder of New York design firm Stivale Graffam Home, adding that limiting yourself to “just one medium” makes that harder. Here, some standout options to consider.

Stir the Pottery

Weighty yet delicate, ceramic wall hangings can range from bohemian to modern, depending on glaze and style. “Ceramics feel organic and handmade, but the literal weight of the piece gives them a real presence,” said Chelsea Reale, co-owner of New York’s Sissy + Marley Interior Design. Witness John Sheppard’s wall hanging, above, which simultaneously evokes scorched desert and flaky pastry ($12,000, JohnSheppardStudio.com).