Doyle: Choong Kam Kow acrylic *Untitled,* 1970

Jay Johnson - There’s a discussion in the design industry centering on clients who are afraid to invest in artwork for their homes. Interior designers know that art and accessories will help finish off a project, adding “jewelry” to the interiors. With bare walls, homes usually lack personality and point of view. You can’t really professionally photograph an art-free interior. One Instagram designer begins each of his reels by saying that he wants to go into a home and in 5 or 10 seconds know all there is to know about who lives there. If your home isn’t fully expressing your personality, it could be due to a lack of art.

IWI sometimes encourages art-shy clients to decorate with placeholder pieces, inexpensive art items from a variety of vendors like Leftbank Art that are meant to look good and hold a space until it gets switched out for a more personal artwork. Alternatively, we encourage clients to save money on investment art by going to auctions. Some auction houses sell vintage art directly, without going through the auction process. Others will gang up works by known and unknown artists with inexpensive to more stratospheric estimates. But note that art at an auction will often sell for less than buying an original work directly from a gallery or artist rep. Look for regional auction houses that have art auctions throughout the year. Also seek out lots where you can pick up multiple works for little money. For instance, look at the food themed art from various artists (see below, from Wright) - you can frame these and hang them together in a kitchen or over banquette seating. A little money can give you an instant “look” and add loads of personality to your space. Click on the images in this post to see examples of what we’ve found currently on offer.

Auction Art

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