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One of the biggest cultural phenomena of the last decade, steampunk is now firmly established within the arts scene, enjoying mainstream respect at exhibitions and festivals all over the world.

Maybe you're interested in steampunk art as a collector. . . or maybe you think you might be a steampunk artist, and want to get your work in front of a steamy crowd!

Either way, here's what you need to know about steampunk art and the steampunk scene in general:

What is steampunk?

Steampunk is an art, fashion and culture movement inspired by the industrial revolution. A form of nostalgic futurism, steampunk imagines a future where technology never expanded past steam engines and tesla coils.

Photo by Phil Campbell

The steampunk aesthetic combines imagery from the industrial era-machine parts like cogs and rivets, clockwork, and laboratory equipment-with Victorian art and design and futuristic concepts such as robotics and AI.

The result: ultra-modern throwbacks designed to delight the imagination and invoke the romance and brutality of the Age of Steam.

Steampunk was originally a literary genre, a subset of science fiction, with the first authors of the genre considered to be Jules Verne and H. G. Wells. In the 1980s, works such as Tim Power's The Anubis Gates, and K. W. Jeter's Infernal Devices drew more attention to the genre, and over the last ten years the Steampunk trend has exploded, in movies, fashion, and art.

Steampunk strives for inventiveness over historical accuracy. Many modern technological devices are "modded" (modified) with retro-futuristic elements-such as electric guitars and laptop computers-drawing from the design elements and processes popular during the Victorian era.

Materials

Steampunk artwork often incorporates found objects, especially original parts from the Victorian-era re-imagined as art objects.

Steampunk jewelry by Vivianne Draper

The most prominent material is metal, with brass, copper, steel, iron and other industrial metals incorporated into jewelry, sculpture, and paintings. Wood, fabric (especially if it is printed with Victorian designs) and glass are also commonly seen.

Many artists combine the mechanical aspects of industrial machinery with natural elements such as animal skins, bones and driftwood to create an interesting juxtaposition.

Inspiration

Steampunk artists are predominantly inspired by the art, design, literature and technology of the Victorian era and early 20th century, along with the imaginative worlds of science fiction authors.

Steampunk art often explores commentary about the nature of art, science, and technology, and often has a satirical, dark, or dystopian view of the future.

Applications

Many steampunk artists explore themes of form and function, so a lot of steampunk art serves a dual purpose. Not only are they objects of art in their own right, but they might be made with objects that once had a function, remade and modified to have a new function.

16GB Mechanical Memory Key by Artype Design

Often, the function of a steampunk object will be a satirical take on modern technology-for example, a computer keyboard made with typewriter keys.

Steampunk art has a distinct and unique style, and many artists are finding that defining their work as steampunk has given them an instant, built-in audience. With new exhibitions and events are being held across the globe, right now is definitely a great time to be a steampunk artist!

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The World of Steampunk Art - EmptyEasel.com

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By Steff Metal in Research > Art MovementsOne of the biggest cultural phenomena of the last decade, steampunk is now firmly established within the arts scene, enjoying mainstream respect at exhibitions and festivals all over the world. Maybe you're interested in steampunk art as a collector. . .

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Vladimir Gvozdev is a Russian mixed-media artist born in 1966 in Moscow. Vladimir fuses various mechanical parts such as gears, wheels and pulleys with the anatomy of to create unique and charming creatures.

These fantastical steampunk animal illustrations are part of his project called "Machinery". Vladimir has many exhibitions in Russia, but his is collected all around the world.

Check out his for more great works.

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Steampunk Animal Illustrations By Vladimir Gvozdev | Designwrld

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Vladimir Gvozdev is a Russian mixed-media artist born in 1966 in Moscow. Vladimir fuses various mechanical parts such as gears, wheels and pulleys with the anatomy of to create unique and charming creatures. These fantastical steampunk animal illustrations are part of his project called "Machinery".

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Nemo Gould - Kinetic Sculpture from Found Materials

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Steampunk art, fashion and culture has far outgrown its roots in retro science fiction, blossoming into an altered image of the distant past, filtered through a dream future world that might have been. Though firmly anchored in a gilded age when technology offered unlimited hope and promise, steampunk has transcended the limits of time and space by melding the modern with the moldering, brass with class, one might say.

1999's Wild Wild West was a film that did much to popularize Steampunk as a legitimate artform and one of the movie's most iconic images was that of evil Professor Loveless' gigantic steam-powered spider. Now renowned Steampunk artist Chris Conte has managed to get a leg - actually 8 legs - up on the competition with this supremely creepy Steam-Powered Arachnid. Professor Loveless would love it!

Star Wars remains one of the most popular inspirations for Steampunk art, perhaps owing to the timeless Good vs. Evil theme of George Lucas' serial space odyssey. Take this Steampunk Darth Vader Mask for instance, reworking Lord Vader in classic brass seems, if anything, to add an even more malevolent luster to sci-fi's most vilified villain. The hunnish Great War helmet spike is the crowning touch.

Just the concept of a Steampunk Spacesuit presents a plethora of logistical problems (steam in space?) but it's nice to dream, and the proto-steampunkers of the 19th century were great dreamers. Then again, there's nothing like steam heat to warm the cockles of a spaceman's soul as he/she traverses the cold depths of interplanetary space. The coppery costume depicted above, brought to you by the dreamers at Steampunk Costume Resources, looks perfectly at home amidst the rusty sands of the Red Planet.

Doctor Who was Steampunk even before there WAS a Steampunk, thanks to clanking Brit-props like the devilish Daleks. Sporting jumbo rivets aplenty and retaining their trademark "exterminate!" attitude, Mr Holden's model of a Steampunk Dalek was built especially for the Great Crystal Cyberdrome Exhibition of 2008. We are not amused... though suitably impressed.

What better way to escape from a pack of furious Daleks then by using your Steampunk Jetpack? This one, albeit existing only as a photoshop image posted at the Gnomon Workshop Forums, nevertheless embodies the true spirit of Steampunk while adding a welcome shot of sexiness. Put that in your brass bubble-pipe and smoke it!

Sticking with the Steampunk shoot-em-up theme just a little longer, we have the Steampunk Raygun - don't leave Arcturus 4 without it. Unlike many Steampunk creations, the "Goliathon 83 Infinity Beam Projector" is a production item that actually can be bought. Made by Weta (the talented folks behind those gnarly LOTR props), this gritty-looking, antique rust finished pistol weighs a hefty 10 pounds and costs a cool $700. That's a lotta bang for the Buck, Rogers.

Now that Steampunk case mods and keyboards have made the rounds, retrophile designers are moving on to computer peripherals to complete the online timeline experience. Unklian has taken on the task of creating the ultimate Steampunk Furnace Mouse, shown above in all its wood, copper and orange "hot coals" LED glory. It looks like a cyborg trilobite; just the thing you want to caress while scrolling through the next chapter of "Victorians on Venus".

The USB flash drive is another popular peripheral. These compact, convenient memory sticks have taken on so many forms that even a site named Everything USB is having a hard time keeping up. Into the fray now comes the Steampunk USB Drive. This lovingly hand-crafted digital data storage device was made in Russia, though not in the time of the Czars. Reminiscent of either Moriarty's snuff box or a samovar for super-intelligent naked mole rats, the main drawback of this Steampunk masterpiece is that it's the only one of its kind.

Steampunk objects are often objets d'art... that is, they don't have to actually DO anything, just look the part. Such is the case with the Steampunk Eye. A one-off creation snapped by an alert photog named Nullsleep during a cosplay convention in Tokyo, the Steampunk Eye exhibits the finely wrought detailing and hand-forged presence that characterize the best instances of Steampunk art.

High-end coffee machines have always sported a heaping spoonful of Steampunk style, posibly due to being built around miniature steam boilers. Planet Damage showcases this gleaming trio of Steampunk Coffee Machines from Elektra that have got everything a java-juiced steampunker needs polished stainless steel, copper & brass cases, organic curves and ornate details like Eagle finials that resemble the reverses of Civil War era American coins.

Timewarp through a wormhole to some bizarro Western Front and you just might find the Steampunk Lobster Tank. A real, steam-powered working model created with significant effort by the mind behind Crabfu, the formidable mini-panzer is based on a Tamiya 1/16 model tank kit. Modifications included swapping out the electric motor for a working Regner steam engine powered by a volatile butane/propane mix that provides about 20 minutes of motility. You can just imagine the Steampunk Lobster Tank leading megalomaniacal Count Thermidor's final assault on Newburg.

Steampunks and Pirates... seems like a complementary combination! No well-dressed, er, SteamPirate would be caught walking the plank without a Steampunk Pirate Bandanna from Ratchet's Shop. At just $7.50 a pop, the bandannas feature a unique paisley gear pattern... can we call them Disraeli Gears? - in a variety of color combinations. Ratchet accepts online orders payable via the usual methods, possibly pieces of eight.

Formal occasions call for more dignified couture but Steampunk fans can still add some retro energy to their ensemble with Steampunk Silver Cufflinks by Velvet Mechanism. Jewelry & accessories retailer Velvet Garden has hopped on the Steampunk bandwagon by blending vintage components and precious metals. These cufflinks and a matching unisex lapel pin are crafted from sterling silver and incorporate authentic watch parts that turn & tick like miniature machines.

(image via:
Lisa Black)

Lisa Black may be the world's only practitioner of Steampunk Taxidemy, an exclusive field if there ever was. Black's disturbingly disconcerting images meld the organic with the mechanic. Her Baby Crocodile even has working gears, making it a croc that no longer takes a licking yet most definitely keeps on ticking.

The story goes that over a century ago, the great-grandfather of artist Paul St George built an undersea tunnel which spanned the mighty Atlantic from London to New York. Forgotten by time (but not by the younger St George), the legendary tunnel was recently spruced up and refurbished in time to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Brooklyn Bridge. Installed at either terminus of the tunnel are hulking Steampunk Telectroscopes that allow viewers in New York and London to keep a monocled eye on their opposite numbers.

Large-scale design exercises like the Steampunk Telectroscope help introduce essential Steampunk style to the young and re-introduce it to the old. How to explain Steampunk's universal appeal? Sara Brumfield, a software designer from Austin TX who operates The Steampunk Home website, was asked to try and define the magical mixture of fun & funky Steampunk represents. Said Brumfield, "You get to pretend for a bit that you're in the 1920s or 1880s or whatever, and it can be so relaxing because, basically, you know how it turns out. So you're free to just enjoy it and let loose."

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15 (More) Creative Works of Steampunk Art, Design & Fashion

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Steampunk art, fashion and culture has far outgrown its roots in retro science fiction, blossoming into an altered image of the distant past, filtered through a dream future world that might have been.

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Sharon Gosling's top 10 children's steampunk books

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From Jules Verne to Philip Reeve, discover the best fantastical adventures with the pluckiest protagonists

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...you own Steampunk creations!

Are you a child? Have you been inspired by Steampunk to create something? It might be a costume, a drawing of a character, a Lego model or some goggles.

Check it's all fine and dandy with your parental adult and then send it to us at:

steampunkforkids@gmail.com

Or leave a comment on one of the posts!

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you own Steampunk creations! Are you a child? Have you been inspired by Steampunk to create something? It might be a costume, a drawing of a character, a Lego model or some goggles. Check it's all fine and dandy with your parental adult and then send it to us at: steampunkforkids@gmail.com Or leave a comment on one of the posts!