Fruit Fridge Magnets Are Just Kitschy Enough

Most people probably wouldnât consider fridge magnets fine decor. When a school teacher from Cardiff, Wales named Tony Lloyd made local news

But with the rising rejection of cold and sleek interiors in favor of bright, geometric, maximalist decor

Fridge magnets have actually only existed since the late â60s and early â70sâand fruit magnets were some of the earliest available. Our fascination with fruit as a decorative motif, however, is as ancient and enduring as art making itself. Youâll encounter it in ancient Pompeiian frescoescontemporary art galleriesbowls of plastic stand-inspatterned tablecloths

So why do we love looking at fruit so much? Maybe itâs because fruit is appealing by designâevolutionarily crafted to entice animals with bright colors and juicy flesh for the purposes of seed dispersal. Or maybe itâs the pure simplicity of form. After all, fruits are some of the first things a child can easily draw from memory.

Whatever the reason, these fruit magnets are undeniably eye-catching: the bright colors, the pleasing geometry, the general cheeriness. Of course, all are not created equal. Some can be overly cartoonish

Fruit magnets add a little wink to your decor, giving a nod to kitsch without veering too far into the realm of the ridiculous. A sleek kitchen can feel sterile or uninhabited, and especially after a dreary couple of years where gray on gray interiorsfun again. They may be tacky, but thatâs okay. Because as art history proves, everybody loves fruitâor at least they love looking at it.