← Art Terms
Plastic

Plastic

Materials & Substrates

A term applied to many natural and synthetic materials with different forms, properties, and appearances that are malleable and can be molded into different shapes or objects.

Featured Works

116
Prototype for Chaise Longue (La Chaise)

Prototype for Chaise Longue (La Chaise)

Charles Eames

1948

LEGO building bricks

LEGO building bricks

Godtfred Kirk Christiansen

1954–1958

Boxes

Boxes

Gene Hurwitt

c. 1965

Valentine Portable Typewriter

Valentine Portable Typewriter

Ettore Sottsass

1968

Empty Chair or The Last Colonial

Empty Chair or The Last Colonial

Alfonso Ossorio

1969

Smart Car ("Smart & Pulse" Coupé)

Smart Car ("Smart & Pulse" Coupé)

Micro Compact Car Smart GmbH, Renningen, Germany, and Hambach, France

Designed 1998 (this example 2002)

Digital Compact Disc

Digital Compact Disc

Sony Corporation, Tokyo

1970s

Tumblers

Tumblers

Earl S. Tupper

1954

Storage Boxes with Lids

Storage Boxes with Lids

Gene Hurwitt

1966

The Rocks, Seating from The Multiples Series

The Rocks, Seating from The Multiples Series

Piero Gilardi

1967

Blow Inflatable Armchair

Jonathan De Pas

1967

Serving Bowl

Serving Bowl

Kenneth Brozen

1963

Alamillo Bridge and Cartuga Viaduct, Seville, Spain

Alamillo Bridge and Cartuga Viaduct, Seville, Spain

Santiago Calatrava

1987-92

Viipuri City Library, Viipuri, Finland (now Vyborg, Russia) (Scale model, 1:50)

Viipuri City Library, Viipuri, Finland (now Vyborg, Russi...

Alvar Aalto

1927-35

Landlok Erosion Mat

Landlok Erosion Mat

Synthetic Industries, Chattanooga, TN

1990

Telephone (model F78)

Henning Andreasen

1977

Storage Boxes with Lids

Gene Hurwitt

1966

Pitcher and Creamer

Pitcher and Creamer

Earl S. Tupper

1946

Pitcher

Pitcher

Koen De Winter

1976

Polystrip Flexible Cable

Polystrip Flexible Cable

A. L. Pugh

1957

Offices for Willis Faber & Dumas Ltd., Ipswich, England (Scale model, 1:200)

Offices for Willis Faber & Dumas Ltd., Ipswich, England (...

Foster Associates

1970-75

Ice Tups Popsicle Mold

Ice Tups Popsicle Mold

Earl S. Tupper

1955

Leisure Studio, Puolarmaari, Espoo, Finland (Scale model, 1:20)

Leisure Studio, Puolarmaari, Espoo, Finland (Scale model,...

The Group

1990-92

Golgi Structures, project

Golgi Structures, project

Fumihiko Maki

1967

Infradito Nail Varnish Container

Infradito Nail Varnish Container

Maurizio Ficcadenti

1994

Church of the Three Crosses, Vuoksenniska, Imatra, Finland (Scale model, 1:100)

Church of the Three Crosses, Vuoksenniska, Imatra, Finlan...

Alvar Aalto

1955-58

Addition to the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, New York, (Scale model, 1/16" = 1')

Addition to the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, N...

Charles Gwathmey

1984-92

Mediatheque, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan (Scale model 1:150)

Mediatheque, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan (Scale mode...

Toyo Ito & Associates, Architects

1995–2001

House for Venice Biennale project, Venice, Italy (Scale model, 1/4" = 1'0")

House for Venice Biennale project, Venice, Italy (Scale m...

César Pelli

1976

Chapel of St. Ignatius, Seattle University, Washington (S...

Steven Holl Architects

1994–1997

Shimosuwa Municipal Museum, Shimosuwa-machi, Nagano Prefecture, Japan (Scale model 1:150)

Shimosuwa Municipal Museum, Shimosuwa-machi, Nagano Prefe...

Toyo Ito & Associates, Architects

1990–1993

Casa de Retiro Espiritual (House of Spiritual Retreat), Córdoba, Spain (Scale model, 1:100)

Casa de Retiro Espiritual (House of Spiritual Retreat), C...

Emilio Ambasz

1976-79

Generator, project, White Oak, Florida

Generator, project, White Oak, Florida

Cedric Price

1978-80

Timer (model 152)

Timer (model 152)

Rodolfo Bonetto

1960

Air Flow Desk Fan

Air Flow Desk Fan

G. Byrn Company, Copenhagen

c. 1965

Ericofon Telephone

Ericofon Telephone

L.M. Ericsson Telephone Company, Sweden

1949–1959

Coiffeur/Set (model HLD 3/31)

Reinhold Weiss

1972

Combi Electric Shaver

Gerd Alfred Müller

1957

Asteroid Lamp

Asteroid Lamp

Ettore Sottsass

1968

PS 2 Stereo Turntable

PS 2 Stereo Turntable

Dieter Rams

1963

Lemon Squeezer

Lemon Squeezer

Gino Colombini

1958

Storage Boxes with Lids

Storage Boxes with Lids

Gene Hurwitt

1966

Drinking Cups

Drinking Cups

Earl S. Tupper

1946

Spring-Band Pliers

Spring-Band Pliers

George Ygfors

1974

Spring-Band Pruning Scissors

George Ygfors

1974

Cubitainer Recessed Plug and Closure Containers

Thomas W. Winstead

1955

Cubo Ashtrays

Cubo Ashtrays

Bruno Munari

1957

Bowl

Walter Zeischegg

1967

Motocross Helmet (model MX-Pro)

Michio Arai

1985

Soriana Lounge Chair

Afra Scarpa

1970

Sound-Level Indicator (model SL-120)

Sound-Level Indicator (model SL-120)

Henning Andreasen

1978

Armchair (model 932/2)

Mario Bellini

1965

Telephone (model F78)

Henning Andreasen

1977

Telephone (model F78)

Telephone (model F78)

Henning Andreasen

1977

Telephone (model F78)

Henning Andreasen

1977

Spalter Electric Vacuum Cleaner

Spalter Electric Vacuum Cleaner

Achille Castiglioni

1956

Desk Lamp

Desk Lamp

Peter Hamburger

1972

Primate Kneeling Stool

Primate Kneeling Stool

Achille Castiglioni

c. 1970

Nesting Tables (model 4905-6-7/5)

Giotto Stoppino

1966

Roof Prism Binoculars

Nikon (Nippon Kogaku K.K.), Tokyo

1977

Disposable Foldable Razor

Giorgio Berretti

1975

Disposable Foldable Razors

Disposable Foldable Razors

Giorgio Berretti

1975

Disposable Foldable Razor

Giorgio Berretti

1975

Disposable Foldable Razor

Giorgio Berretti

1975

Figure of Eight Chair

Figure of Eight Chair

Ross Lovegrove

1993

Pyramat Erosion Mat

Pyramat Erosion Mat

Synthetic Industries, Chattanooga, TN

1992

Oxnard House project, Oxnard, California (Scale model, 1/2" = 1')

Oxnard House project, Oxnard, California (Scale model, 1/...

Mehrdad Yazdani

1992

Chikatsa-Asuka Historical Museum, Osaka, Japan

Chikatsa-Asuka Historical Museum, Osaka, Japan

Tadao Ando

1989-91

Parc de la Villette, Paris, France (Four Follies intersecting North-South Gallery, scale model 1:100)

Parc de la Villette, Paris, France (Four Follies intersec...

Bernard Tschumi

1982-98

Convention Hall Project, Chicago, IL (Structural model of preliminary scheme)

Convention Hall Project, Chicago, IL (Structural model of...

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

1953–1954

Beocenter 7000 Radio-Turntable-Cassette Combination

Beocenter 7000 Radio-Turntable-Cassette Combination

Jacob Jensen

1979

Embassy of Finland, Washington D.C. (Scale model, 1:120)

Embassy of Finland, Washington D.C. (Scale model, 1:120)

Mikko Heikkinen

1990-94

Church on the Water, Hokkaido, Japan

Church on the Water, Hokkaido, Japan

Tadao Ando

1985-89

Spring-Band Blunt Scissors

George Ygfors

1974

Square Plastic System Demountable Storage Cubes

Joe Colombo

1970

German Pavilion, International Exposition, Barcelona, Spain (Scale model, 1:33)

German Pavilion, International Exposition, Barcelona, Spa...

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

1928-29

Saishunkan Seiyaku Women's Dormitory, Kumamoto City, Japan (Scale model 1:100)

Saishunkan Seiyaku Women's Dormitory, Kumamoto City, Japa...

Kazuyo Sejima & Associates

1990–1991

Nizo S 30 Super-8 Camera

Nizo S 30 Super-8 Camera

Robert Oberheim

1970

Braun Multipress Juice Separator/Lemon Squeezer (model MP...

Jürgen Greubel

1970

Landfair Apartments, Westwood, Los Angeles, CA

Landfair Apartments, Westwood, Los Angeles, CA

Richard Neutra

1937

The Manhattan Transcripts Project, New York, New York, Introductory panel to Episode 2: The Street (Border Crossing)

The Manhattan Transcripts Project, New York, New York, In...

Bernard Tschumi

1980

House IV Project, Falls Village, Connecticut (Multiple axonometrics)

House IV Project, Falls Village, Connecticut (Multiple ax...

Peter Eisenman

1975

Simulated Dwelling for a Family of Five Project (Scale model, 3/8" = 1')

Simulated Dwelling for a Family of Five Project (Scale mo...

David Jacob

1970

Table Lamp

Massimo Vignelli

1962

Alteka Office Building Project, Tokyo, Japan

Alteka Office Building Project, Tokyo, Japan

Peter Eisenman

1991

Tube Chair of Nesting and Combinable Elements

Tube Chair of Nesting and Combinable Elements

Joe Colombo

1969–1970

mono-Ring Flatware

mono-Ring Flatware

Peter Raacke

1966

Friedrichstrasse Skyscraper Project, Berlin-Mitte, Germany (Scale model, 1:200)

Friedrichstrasse Skyscraper Project, Berlin-Mitte, German...

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

1921 (model 1985)

Spacer Fabric for Athletic Shoes

Synthetic Industries, Chattanooga, TN

1986

Villa in the Forest, Chino, Nagano, Japan (Scale model, 1:200)

Villa in the Forest, Chino, Nagano, Japan (Scale model, 1...

Kazuyo Sejima & Associates

1992-94

The Museum of Modern Art, New York (Scheme 4, First Variation)

The Museum of Modern Art, New York (Scheme 4, First Varia...

George Howe

1930

Parabolic Spotlight with Base (model 33267)

Roger Tallon

1972

Fazenda Vargem Grande, Clemente Gomes Estate, Areira, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Model 1:200 (Scale model, 1:200)

Fazenda Vargem Grande, Clemente Gomes Estate, Areira, Sao...

Roberto Burle Marx

1979-80

The Atheneum, New Harmony, Indiana (Scale model, 1/8" = 1')

The Atheneum, New Harmony, Indiana (Scale model, 1/8" = 1')

Richard Meier & Associates, Architects

1975-79

Farnsworth House, Plano, Illinois (Scale model, 3/8" = 1'
)

Farnsworth House, Plano, Illinois (Scale model, 3/8" = 1' )

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

1945–1951

Lyons Airport Railroad Station, Lyons-Satolas, France

Lyons Airport Railroad Station, Lyons-Satolas, France

Santiago Calatrava

1989-94

Rooftop Remodeling, Vienna, Austria (Scale model, 1:25)

Wolf D. Prix

1984

Fin d'Ou T Hou S, project (Fourth and final stage)

Fin d'Ou T Hou S, project (Fourth and final stage)

Peter Eisenman

1983

Ricola Europe Factory and Storage Building, Mulhouse-Brunnstatt, France (Scale model, 1:50)

Ricola Europe Factory and Storage Building, Mulhouse-Brun...

Jacques Herzog

1992-93

Knut Hamsun Museum, Hamaroy, Norway (Scale model, 1:100)

Knut Hamsun Museum, Hamaroy, Norway (Scale model, 1:100)

Steven Holl Architects

1996

Eames House, Los Angeles, California (Scale model, 3/8" = 1')

Eames House, Los Angeles, California (Scale model, 3/8" =...

Charles Eames

1949

National Commercial Bank, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (Scale mod...

Skidmore Owings & Merrill

1977–1983

Terrarium Showroom project, California (Scale model, 1/16" = 1')

Terrarium Showroom project, California (Scale model, 1/16...

SITE

1978-79

Doldertal Apartments, Zurich, Switzerland (Scale model, 1:50)

Doldertal Apartments, Zurich, Switzerland (Scale model, 1...

Marcel Breuer

1936

Lemoine House (Maison à Bordeaux), Floirac, Bordeaux, France (Scale model, 1:50)

Lemoine House (Maison à Bordeaux), Floirac, Bordeaux, Fra...

Rem Koolhaas

1994-98

Parc de la Villette Project, Paris, France (Plan)

Parc de la Villette Project, Paris, France (Plan)

Zaha Hadid

1982-83

Residence for Herbert Green, Cherry Ridge, Pennsylvania (Scale model, 1/4" = 1')

Residence for Herbert Green, Cherry Ridge, Pennsylvania (...

Paul Rudolph

1968-72

Generator Project, White Oak, Florida, Computer Chip Containing Complete Generator Program

Generator Project, White Oak, Florida, Computer Chip Cont...

Cedric Price

1978-80

Tohoku Historical Museum project, Sendai, Tohoku, Japan

Asymptote Architecture, New York

1994

Kyle Residence, Houston, Texas (Section)

Kyle Residence, Houston, Texas (Section)

Joel Sanders

1995

Kyle Residence Project, Houston, Texas (Scale model, 3/16" = 1'0")

Kyle Residence Project, Houston, Texas (Scale model, 3/16...

Marc Tsurumaki

1991-92

Company Centre Nijkerk Project, Nijkerk, The Netherlands (Scale model, 1:200)

Company Centre Nijkerk Project, Nijkerk, The Netherlands ...

Ben van Berkel

1992

Center for Applied Computer Research project, Las Promesa...

Emilio Ambasz

1975

Cité de Refuge, Paris, France (Scale model, 1:100)

Pierre Jeanneret

1929-1933, model 1987

Detail of Roof Top for Waterloo International Terminal, L...

Nicholas Grimshaw

1990–1993

Plug-In City, project (Axonometric)

Plug-In City, project (Axonometric)

Peter Cook

1964