Selecting art for your home can be daunting. Maybe you already have an extensive art collection but aren't sure how to make it fit with the other elements of your space. Or maybe you're an aspiring collector but aren't quite sure where to begin. To frame or not to frame? Gallery wall or singular statement piece? Which piece goes in which room?
Here's how art-savvy designers select art for their clients' favorite spaces - and for their own homes, too.
THIS IS PERSONAL
Studio London, art by Kendra Dandy (left) and Lex Marie (center), photo by Venjhamin Reyes
When Travis London of Studio London in Miami, Los Angeles, and Savannah sets out to curate a collection of art for his clients, he gets deliberate. He wants the art to not only speak to the client, but also harmonize with the design of the spaces. The goal? To keep the art meaningful.
London is a self-proclaimed lover and advocate of commissioning personal portraits. "I myself commissioned three portraits for my home in Miami by different Black women artists whose work I love," he said. "Commissioning a piece not only makes it deeply personal and unique, which is the truest form of luxury, but you can also go into detail regarding the colors you want to truly compliment the design of the room the portrait will go in. Commissioning portraits is a centuries-old tradition of aristocracy and creates a family heirloom for generations to come."
ART OF THE MIX
Carolina Gentry's Home Gallery Wall, Pulp Design Studios, photo by Cody Ulrich
Beth Dotolo and Carolina Gentry of Pulp Design Studios in Seattle, Dallas, and Los Angeles have a knack for the art of the mix - the marrying of influences from a variety of media.
"When the Pulp team starts to curate a collection of art for clients, we don't just look for paintings," Gentry said. "We create a mix of art from drawings to sculpture to photography and 3-D works. The most important key is balance and symmetry. Map out your gallery wall by placing the pieces on the floor and then create a template."
The design duo tends to make selections based on clients' preferences and personalities, often commissioning works in their preferred palette and size.
Kips Bay Dallas, The Wise and The Wicked Texas Interior Design, Pulp Design Studios, William McLure art above chaise, S. Harris Pulp fabric on stools, photo by Cody Ulrich
The best advice is to select pieces that you love, that really speak to you," Dotolo said. "You're going to gravitate to the colors you love and the styles that will work with your home."
Pulp's go-to artists of the moment? Amy Opsal, William McLure, and Samantha McCurdy.
(Check out Pulp's collection for S. Harris - a work of art in its own right.)
LIGHT THE WAY
Beth Meyer Design, art by Jennifer Rivera, dk Contemporary Gallery, photo by Robert Peterson
Atlanta-based designer Beth Meyer of Beth Meyer Design offers simple advice for how to choose art: Buy what you like. After all, our art lives with us each and every day.
Aside from choosing the right size and scale, and hanging art at the right height (not too high), Meyer suggests adding art lights for those extra special pieces.
"Light fixtures for art are really starting to get creative, versus the old designs of a traditional portrait light," she said.
"Also, if you have the opportunity to have a recessed art light in the ceiling, that's great. That's feasible when a home is under construction or being remodeled. I like to think through the floor plan in the early stages and make places for art opportunities. Then I decide what type of lighting for the art I would like to see."
More Meyer advice: don't be a wallflower. Think ceramic vessels, sculpture, and the mix - Meyer loves mixed media, encaustics, and abstract modern art in traditional spaces for a touch of the unexpected. "I do like to mix it all up," she said.
Among Meyer's favorite galleries are dk Gallery, Pryor Fine Art, Anne Irwin Fine Art and Gregg Irby Gallery. She keeps her eyes open for emerging artists like Jared Knox and Laura Deems, too.
ROOM WITH A VIEW
"Untitled (Dear half 5-4-1927)" by Daisy Patton, photo courtesy of the artist, photo sourced from Cairo, Egypt, private collection
When selecting art for a space, Margarita Bravo, the creative force behind her eponymous interiors firm in Denver, Miami and Montecito, starts with purpose.
"Is it meant to be a conversation starter? Maybe an eye-catching focal point for a room" Or perhaps you're looking for something more practical like a functional wall hanging or sculpture," Bravo said. "Once you have an idea of what you want the artwork to do it will be easier to narrow down your choices."
Bravo's approach to art curation is driven by design as well as personal meaning.
"I often choose pieces that will complement a space but also make it stand out," she said. "For example, in a living room I like to use larger pieces that have neutral palettes and pops of bold color."
Bravo likes to use pieces that are more abstract or unconventional for dining rooms. In bedrooms, she opts for more calming images with muted colors and textures. When it comes to bathrooms, she curates bright, cheerful pieces that invigorate the space. Home offices are for art that is inspiring and energizing.
Bravo tends to procure art from K Contemporary in Denver, which represents works by the likes of Hunt Slonem, Andrew Jensdotter, and Daisy Patton, with her mixed-media paintings that explore identity and family.
What are your favorite ways to harmonize art with what you love most about your home? We'd love to hear from you - tag us on social to join the conversation. #sharris