As we've seen so far in this lesson, patterns can be simple or complex, planned or unplanned, natural or artificial. But there's a special kind of pattern that has captivated designers and mathematicians for centuries, and can sometimes only be visualized in 5 dimensions! A tessellation is a pattern made up of geometric shapes that fit together perfectly, with no overlaps and no gaps. While some tessellations don't repeat (and therefore aren't really patterns), many tessellations use just one or two interlocking tiles that join like puzzle pieces to create fascinating pattern designs. This tessellation on the wall of the Alhambra in Spain is over five hundred years old.

By far, the most famous master of tessellations is an artist named M.C. Escher. Check out some of his creations below.