A Designer’s Guide to Art Curation

My greatest loves are my kids and my furry friends — but art is pretty high up on the list. As a designer who believes that creativity and beauty can elevate every aspect of life and personal wellness, art has always been a major part of my life. Over the years of collecting pieces for myself and my projects, I’ve learned what works in a space and for a certain client. So what’s the secret to choosing art? I’m glad you asked.

I definitely lean more toward contemporary art, which in simple terms is art made recently by living artists. A lot of this comes from my love of supporting and buying from local artists. There’s magic in the human connection that’s created when sourcing locally and learning about each artist’s passions and experiences. The same can be said for sourcing art while traveling. Learning about a culture through art is an invaluable experience, so you’d be hard-pressed to find me returning from a trip without a piece or two to add to my collection.

In all aspects of design — and in life in general — the most important facet to me is connection. When a piece makes my heart skip a beat and takes my breath away for a moment, I know it’s the one for me. It is a very emotional process, and when I’m sourcing for clients, my goal is to give them that same reaction. I truly believe that art is an experience, and you can and should include curated but varied artistic experiences throughout your home.

• Commit to spending time at galleries, museums, and art fairs. You may think you don’t have the time or “the eye,” but there’s no right or wrong way to experience art. Spending time with art — even art you’re not sure is your style — is a great way to find what resonates with you — and what you should ultimately include in your space.
• Learn more about different styles and techniques. Once you’re spending more time with the pieces themselves, you may notice patterns. Do you have a penchant for watercolors, or does the intensity of charcoal stop you in your tracks? Once you find your thing, it’s time to dive in — chat with the gallery owners, mingle with artists at street fairs, and soak in all that you can.
• Set an intention. Not every piece will say the same thing, and not every personal collection needs to be cohesive. Determine what you want to feel and convey with your art, and let your purchases be led by that. If you’re not sure where to start, a great intention is simply to create joy or inspire.
• Don’t limit yourself to a single medium. I love wall art, but you should never overlook sculptures or other design pieces. Three-dimensional works of art make wonderful additions to a collection and also make for beautiful display pieces within a home.
• Open yourself up to art — everywhere. Some of my favorite pieces cost $15 and were purchased on the side of the road while traveling. Art curation is not just for the wealthy, and there’s no price point that acts as a barrier to entry.

Whether you’re designing with an existing collection or curating for a new space, the goal is always to let the work speak for itself. Art carries stories, and using it in your home adds dimension and personality to your space. My favorite pieces — whether they were sourced by me or brought in from clients’ existing collections — feature rich backstories and histories. To best display these pieces, I design with their stories in mind.

For example, one of my favorite pieces I’ve designed around is in the AKD Art-Centric Abode. Created by a French artist living in Myanmar, the piece — and the frame around it — were made with recycled magazines. No need to hide this unique medium in a more traditional frame or place it on a shelf! This piece deserved front-and-center treatment.

I also love the Tribeca Loft project, which features the clients’ own art collection, collected while traveling over the years. Many of their artifacts had been bubble-wrapped and hidden away, and we wanted to find creative ways to show off all of their gorgeous pieces. We worked with an art installer to craft customized wall shelves to display the artworks as they should be — prominently, and in unison with other found objects.

If you take one thing away from this post, let it be this: art is personal, and there’s no right or wrong way to choose it or to display it. It’s a joy to find work that speaks to my clients (and to myself!), and I always recommend that others open themselves to the happiness and connection that art provides.