In her new book, Art at Home, Rachel Loos reveals everything you ever wanted to know about living with art but were too afraid to ask…
My relationship with art, and in turn art at home, began some 30 years ago, with a gift of a photographic print entitled Fashion Models in New York taken by the celebrated photographer Norman Parkinson for the British edition of Vogue magazine.
It shows four models on a balcony with the city behind them. I loved everything about the image—the city of New York that was on my travel bucket list; the expressions of the young women, three of them gossiping together while another, slightly at a distance, looks on in amusement; and of course the fashion, in particular the long feather that rose stiffly into the air from one of the models’ chic hats, mimicking the skyscrapers behind it.
It was a lesson in the power of art, in whatever form, to make a connection, and to this day, photography remains a favorite medium of mine. Slim Aarons’ mid-century photographs of the rich and very beautiful at play, whether lounging by a pool in Hollywood or out on the ski slopes, are a joy to gaze upon—not just for the color and composition, but also for capturing the essence of that time.
It is this that I love about portraits in oils, too, whether it be by Hans Holbein the Younger, Lucian Freud, or Laura Quinn Harris—the ability of the artist to capture a person’s character, prompting us to imagine the sitter’s life and, if they lived in tumultuous times, what they saw and heard.
As well as telling someone else’s story, art can tell the collector’s tale, too, and this is part of what can make acquiring art such an enjoyable experience. Buying art that we love and feel a connection with is fun and exciting, but crucially, it goes a long way in helping us create a home that reflects our personality.
Today, we understand more than ever how important our home is to our peace of mind, and research has shown that we are happiest when we live in a dwelling that visually represents who we are. Art has never been as accessible as it is right now, as the past few years have seen a sea change in the way it is purchased.
Once, buying a limited-edition print or original artwork meant a choice between approaching a bricks-and-mortar gallery or auction. Today, however, the digital world has made the process of buying and selling art far more democratic. There are now numerous online platforms selling art, and artists are using social media to directly access their audience, putting pieces up for sale via well-publicized ‘drops’ and making themselves easily available to buyers.
So much choice can be overwhelming, though, especially as many people still find it daunting to buy art. As with fashion, one’s choice of art strays into issues of taste and judgment, especially when it comes to buying emerging or mid-range art (buy a Picasso and you’re buying a piece that, by virtue of its price tag, has a recognizable value).
It’s also a subject that many have little knowledge of, which is the reason I decided to write Art at Home. The book aims to empower readers, giving them the confidence to understand what they like and are drawn to, as well as offering advice and expert tips on buying, framing, and hanging art so they can enjoy the entire process. Of course, it is possible to commission an art consultant to help source art for your walls, but even if you do go down this route, it helps if you understand art and have developed your own relationship with it.
If you haven’t bought art before, how do you begin? How one buys an artwork usually falls into two camps: instinctively—falling in love with a piece and buying it, regardless of whether you have a place planned for it in your home; or practically—buying an artwork for a specific position in your living space.
Either way, it’s best to understand what kind of art you are drawn to, so take the time to do some research. Look at art in galleries, both physical and online—search #emergingartist on Instagram, for example, and you’ll find more than four million posts. Think about what you like and dislike.
Do you love landscapes that transport you to the countryside or the coast, or an abstract print that encourages you to daydream and switch off? Are you attracted to images of the natural world and botanical prints? Once you have an idea of what you do and don’t like, it is easier to buy with confidence, and if you’re buying on impulse, you’re more likely to choose a work that will fit into the decor of your home.
Do you consider the value of an artwork when buying? Do you think of it as an investment as well as a purchase, and if so, how do you know if what you are looking at is worth the price? One could say that an artwork’s value is what you are prepared to pay for it, and how much pleasure it gives you when you see it on your wall every day.
However, for a more analytical approach, you first need to consider the artist and where they are in their career. Works by established artists and mid-range artists (those who have painted for five to 10 years) are easier to value as they will have a body of work and a track record of sales that can be taken into consideration when assessing value. Emerging artists are far more difficult to predict as they are at the beginning of their careers, and yet to establish a value to their work.
The number of times an artwork is reproduced also comes into play. A poster printed many times will have less value than a handmade, original limited-edition print that is signed and made just a finite number of times (the edition). There are editions in photography, too, with each size printed having its own edition. With an original, its value comes from being a one-off, and while there may be artworks in a similar style, they will not be the same.
When considering an artwork for a room, you need to think about how it will affect the space, especially if it is a statement artwork. Its size will also influence the mood—and a work that is full of color and drama will create an energetic and vibrant feel, whereas one with a more muted palette will help to establish a relaxed atmosphere.
All of this means you need to consider how you want to feel in a space before you choose art for it. A living room, for example, can be enjoyed in many ways. If you wish it to be a place to unwind, it’s best to choose a soothing abstract artwork or a peaceful landscape. If it’s primarily an entertaining space and you wish for a greater sense of energy, opt for an artwork with bolder colors and graphic prints that will lend a room vibrancy. You can also use art to add a touch of playfulness, choosing works that make you smile.
The bedroom, on the other hand, is a space in which to relax and have a restful night’s sleep, so loud artworks that fill the room with energy are usually best avoided. Instead, choose art that is calming and escapist such as landscapes and seascapes, or abstract art in muted colors or combined with diluted pops of color.
Working remotely has made the study a key space in the home, and here the same questions apply. Do you want it to be a tranquil place in which to work in peace, or would a graphic print with inspirational words that help you power on when faced with a challenge be more suitable?
You can hang art on any wall of a room, and even on all of them, but the easiest way to begin is to consider its focal point—where your eye is naturally drawn when you walk in—as this will give you a center from which to start. In a room with a mantelpiece, this will be the wall above it.
Large pieces of furniture can also help give you a focal point: in a living room, it’s often the wall above the couch; in a bedroom, it’s the wall above the headboard. If your space doesn’t have an obvious focal point, opt for the largest empty wall, as hanging art there will draw the eye and allow you to design the rest of the room around it.
Buying art that we love and feel a connection with is fun and exciting, but crucially it goes a long way in helping us create a home that reflects our personality.
Once you have decided on your focal point, look around the space and consider where else you could hang art; the narrow section of wall between windows, perhaps, or above a console, sideboard, or credenza. Behind a door is a lovely way to add an unexpected pop of interest to a room.
However, when populating your walls, ensure you maintain a hierarchy in the artworks so when you walk into a room, your eye still falls to your focal point before traveling around in a way that feels comfortable. If the artworks fight each other for attention, the room could feel unbalanced.
Today, you can adorn your walls with all manner of objects, not just traditional artwork. Ceramics, and plates in particular, have come out of the closet and onto walls, and are found not just in kitchens but also in hallways, living rooms, and bathrooms. In fact, the plate wall is a decorative display used by many renowned interior designers, including Kelly Wearstler, who decked the foyer of the Viceroy Hotel Santa Monica with them.
The ever-popular gallery wall has been extended to become a memory wall—a collection that can include art but also objects that reflect moments in your life, such as a ticket to a concert or a map that reminds you of a special place. One of the homes in the book features mounted boxes of shells and sand from places the homeowner has traveled to.
A collection of objects can also create a wall that is rich in texture and interest—one of my favorite walls in the book is decorated with an eclectic mix including mirrors, lino-cut prints of animals, dried seaweed, antique keys and padlocks, and a single black feather. The variety of shapes and materials makes for a wall that is utterly arresting and draws you in to examine it in detail.
Straw hats, mirrors, signs, clothing, even decorative moldings—anything is possible, and only limited by your imagination.
Ready to flex your artistic insticts? Browse properties with gallery space for displaying art at home, and read more from the Spring/Summer 2024 issue of Christie’s International Real Estate magazine here.
Art at Home by Rachel Loos (Ryland Peters & Small) is out now
Banner image: Chris Tubbs
