My world is rooted in imagination. Without it, my creativity does not exist. Abstract art, especially, always gets me thinking.
As I design interiors and create room schemes for my clients, it seems as though artwork is often the element that both ties the schemes together and creates the tension needed to make a space come alive. Often, we select abstract works to add dimension and interest to more traditional interiors. There’s something about the visual push-pull that comes from classic forms and furniture with traditional architecture against paintings that depict nothing obvious but say something subtle and are open to the viewer’s interpretation. I delight in the freedom that comes with including abstract art in my interiors.
Throughout my own home, I have collected several pieces that are clearly not figurative or naturalistic and are classified as abstract. The palette of my interiors is sometimes a calculated kaleidoscope of color and pattern, and abstract paintings can be the curveball in this path.
In my family room, above, I display a pair of paintings that rely on negative space to make their statements.
In my son’s room, I offset hand-painted skateboards with a pair with abstract studies that hang over the bed.
Abstract artwork serves many purposes in my client projects, too. If a pink, blue, and chartreuse bamboo chair cushion isn’t enough color, a painting that saturates a canvas with bold colors steals the show.
On the flip side, when solid elements are used, such as a blue sofa that’s quiet with neutral accents, a dynamic painting with wild movements and bright colors provides an intriguing focal point.
Abstracts are not always loose and carefree. They can define structure. Against a royal blue wall, with a bright white curved console, a painting of grassy vertical strokes stretches the canvas into graphic glory.
When rendered in a myriad of hues, abstract art provides movement and drama. But the works can be soft and subdued as well. A dark green wall is the backdrop for a gold a bar cart and a monochromatic work with soft, sky blue strokes.
Abstract artwork is often interpreted in many ways depending on how the viewer sees it. It invites us to imagine and define the meaning or mood it conveys. And the meaning can change each day and for every person who sees it. As you choose art for your own home, consider an abstract piece to live alongside landscapes, portraits, and still lives. They can evoke many emotions and bring so much joy.
