Q.
How do we display the art we have for the best impact on the art and the room?
A.
Really, as most curators and artists will tell you, anything goes. It’s whatever you like. But then, they seem to know better than us, don’t they. So take it from them: “First, hanging your art level and lighting it well is vital,” says Diane Riley, director of Bird Fine Art in West Hollywood, which carries work by Warhol and Lichtenstein. “Use a leveler tool to hang your art straight, so that the center of the piece is at eye level,” says Riley. “Then,” she adds, “light it either with a track light pointed toward the piece, or with an individual art light.” (Even Ikea sells some.) Where you place it depends on the room and the art: “Some things just scream ‘over the fireplace’ or ‘perfect for a dull corner area,’” says Riley. And, she says, mixing styles, textures, and colors is not only okay, but recommended. For example, contemporary art can lighten up an antique room; tribal art or antique pieces can give a modern room more weight; and a bright, bold piece works well in a quiet white room, so the art itself pops. But avoid the mortal sin of great art: “Don’t try to match your art to the exact colors of your furniture or rugs,” says artist Gustavo Albero, who paints by the name Gusto. “If this is real art we’re talking about, not a poster from Wal-Mart, you don’t want it to blend into the room and disappear. You want people to notice it. So treat it like it’s special, and show it off.” That said, picking up one small color or brushstroke from the art and using it elsewhere can make a room feel complete. “My art starts with bold black drips,” says Albero, “and I have seen people display them well by picking up a hint of black elsewhere in the room -- like with a black lamp or vase -- and then letting the bright colors in the painting stand out on their own.”
-- Amy Spencer
See More: Style Solutions