Things are heating up with the approach of the summer solstice. On this day, we turn our (hopefully figurative) sights to the sun, which will weather its longest “shift” at its highest point far above our heads. But people have always had the sun on their brains. As an inextricable part of our existence, the sun has symbolized the harvest and fertility, the battle between good and evil, and reincarnation. The sun is also a recurring character in artwork, whether he’s flashing a toothy grin and black shades from a gas station sign or blazing down onto a pharaoh etched in a pyramid wall.

Even today, a sun bearing a human face is a popular motif. This imagery dates back to ancient civilizations, from the Mayans to the Egyptians, that wished to represent a sun god or embody some human aspect, like bravery or masculinity. The Half Face Sun Wall Art, with its verdi patina coating and crumbling visage, resembles a relic recovered from the site of a once-prosperous utopia. His thick brows and steady gaze profess machismo and self-assurance, the very leer of Apollo or Aten.

Though sun worship is as old as time, you can still express your admiration without appearing as though you had to ransack Machu Picchu to do so. An abstract sculpture won’t depict telltale rays or a beaming face but will rely on our innate fascination with the sun to get the point across. The high-end and contemporary Starburst Metal Wall Sculpture is a brassy core from which long, steel quills radiate, black and white accents creating the illusion of an intense glowing.

With such frequent appearances in creation tales, artwork, and other human activities, the sun can be found in all manner of decor styles. The Celestine Sun Moon Wall Art harbors a distinctly Mediterranean flavor. Here, vivid floral, star, and scroll designs tie the celestial and earthly realms together, just as the sun acts as the buffer between Earth and space.

Meanwhile, the arid Southwest style is never complete without at least some passing mention of the sun. The Santa Fe Sun Wall Art, imbued with the orange and golden yellow tones of a desert, makes use of a more earthy palette to portray this great star.

As the sun prepares to make its loftiest climb into the skies this summer, where will you be? Outside, soaking up the rays? Or indoors, taking sweet, sweet refuge in the air conditioning? Wherever you go, keep an eye out for unique sun pieces. You never know what might brighten up the place.