In art and iconography, a motif is an element of an image. Motifs can occur both in figurative and narrative art, and in ornament and geometrical art. A motif may be repeated in a pattern or design, often many times, or may just occur once in a work.
Composite capital whose design includes acanthus leaf, and volute motifs
Saint Joseph sleeps through the Nativity, Cloisters Apocalypse, c. 1330
Gebel el-Arak Knife with Master of Animals motif at the top of the handle
12th century sheela na gig on the Church, at Kilpeck (England)
A pattern is a regularity in the world, in human-made design, or in abstract ideas. As such, the elements of a pattern repeat in a predictable manner. A geometric pattern is a kind of pattern formed of geometric shapes and typically repeated like a wallpaper design.
Snowflake sixfold symmetry
Aloe polyphylla phyllotaxis
Vortex street turbulence
Dune ripple