The present invention relates to methods employing artificial receptors, such as combinatorial artificial receptor arrays. The present receptors include heterogeneous and immobilized combinations of building block molecules. In certain embodiments, combinations of 2, 3, 4, or 5 distinct building block molecules immobilized near one another on a support provide molecular structures that can be employed in the present methods. The present methods can develop artificial receptors that can then be employed to detect the receptor's ligand. The present methods can find compounds that disrupt one or more binding interactions.