Get complex matplotlib layouts by generating gridspac from a "layout array"

matplotlib_axes_from_gridspec_array.py

import numpy as np
from matplotlib.gridspec import GridSpec

def matplotlib_gridspecs_from_array(arr):
    arr = np.array(arr)
    h, w = arr.shape
    values_in_arr = sorted(set(arr.flatten()))
    result = []
    grid = GridSpec(h, w)
    for v in values_in_arr:
        xx, yy = ((arr - v) == 0).nonzero()
        result.append(grid[xx.min(): xx.max() + 1,
                           yy.min(): yy.max() + 1])
    return result

def matplotlib_axes_from_gridspec_array(arr):
    fig = plt.figure()
    gridspecs = matplotlib_gridspecs_from_array(arr)
    axes = []
    for gridspec in gridspecs:
        axes.append(fig.add_subplot(gridspec))
        
# Returns 3 axes layed out as indicated by the array
axes = matplotlib_axes_from_gridspec_array([
    [1, 1, 3],
    [2, 2, 3],
    [2, 2, 3],
])