As the world continues to thaw from the restrictions and stay-at-home orders instituted in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us now find ourselves delighted by a change of scenery and excited to once more regain old habits.  Over the past tumultuous year, our homes have become the central — if not exclusive — sites for a variety of daily activities, ranging from working at kitchen tables to taking Zoom meetings from beds, from following yoga tutorials in living rooms to watching Netflix on couches.  Needless to say, domestic spaces have become increasingly valuable and prized luxuries for those of us fortunate to have a roof over our heads.  In many cases, they shelter us from unpredictable external forces, as well as provide safe and comfortable sanctuaries to which we are able to retreat and unwind.          

In the face of persisting uncertainty and flux, our homes continue to play a crucial role in our lives.  They indulge us with such benefits as security, control, privacy, a sense of belonging and identity, as well as a means by which to centre and ground our daily existence.  They function as an emotional refuge and place over which we are free to exercise control and express our creativity.  In short, regardless of which broad definition of “home” we ascribe to in each of our individual situations, the familiar and domestic environments in which we feel most comfortable are essentially extensions of ourselves, reflecting our stories and personalities, and thereby playing a vital role in our process of self-definition.  It is therefore imperative to maximize the potential of these domestic spaces to gratify, enrapture and encourage self-expression in the diversity of forms it may take.  As Julie Beck has stated in this article, “a home is a home because it blurs the line between the self and the surroundings, and challenges the line we try to draw between who we are and where we are.”  

The art that we bring into these safe spaces is far more than mere static decoration.  It holds the dynamic potential to re-energize and increase productivity.  It activates the “reward system” of the brain, thereby bringing about intense feelings of joy akin to love.  Surrounding oneself with works of art has further been proven to enhance problem-solving skills and boost creative success.  As art_works intern Brianna Howard has previously covered in this blog post, art can also heal by stimulating hormones and neurotransmitters.  Overall, art makes you feel good.  The implicit power that it holds over our lives is profound and overwhelmingly positive — best of all, it is a power that we at art_works firmly believe can be brandished by anyone and utilized by everyone.   

In a recent NPR podcast lead by Keisha “TK” Dutes, independent curator Kimberly Drew importantly touched on the significance of taking agency over one’s own space in the process of deciding what art is valuable.  She aptly specified that this is largely an individual exercise that naturally varies case by case.  After all, the art that is placed in one’s home contributes not only to the innate identity that one seeks to fashion for oneself, but also to the broader atmosphere and mosaic of stories that one displays to visiting guests and peers.  One of our clients, for instance, was especially drawn to a delicate and ethereal painting completed in coral and sage green tones by Soyoung Kim.  The beauty of each collection we work on is their characteristic singularity, which reflects very different selfhoods and personalities.    

The art with which we choose to surround ourselves should then speak to us on at least one of several levels — it can reflect important memories in a tactile and sensuous manner, it can contain an underlying message that we find to be especially valuable and insightful, or it can simply be an aesthetically pleasing fit to our particular design and decor.  Art is thus far more than that which the restrictive (and antiquated) institutional definitions proclaim it to be.  It can range from personalized framed holiday photos, to an intricate lithograph done by a local artist, to hanging patterned Persian rugs.  It can be found at a variety of different locales, including art fairs, auctions, festivals, museum gift shops, galleries, social media, flea markets, and so on.  A successful art collector of 2021 will take their time when amassing their prized art collection — they will develop a unique aesthetic taste by keeping their eyes open, refusing to settle on art that does not speak to them, and remaining open-minded and welcoming of the diversity of forms that art can take. 

What are some key takeaways and valuable habits to instill when acquiring art and fashioning your own art collection? 

• Break-away from the insular mould of elite collecting practices.  

• Don’t let budgetary concerns prevent you from surrounding yourself with meaningful art.  Remember that art comes in many forms and that there is something for every budget.  

• Embrace the rich creative potential of individuality and difference.  

• Engage in meaningful dialogues with other collectors, art practitioners and art advisors — perhaps even find art auctions and events that fund movements that are important to you.  

• Use your art collecting practices to educate future generations and stimulate your children’s creativity.  

• Reflect on the inherent messages or emotions that you wish to convey through the art showcased in your home.  

• Trust your intuition and confidently adhere to your taste.    

And lastly, perhaps most importantly: dismantle arbitrary consensus by focusing on what brings you the most meaning and joy.  After all, it is your personalized art haven.