Designing for Connection: Artist Edition
BY EMMA GEARY - FEBRUARY 15, 2023
Photo Credit: Mason Lane Art Advisory
Oh, art. Such a small word for such a vast, beautiful part of our lives. Whether it’s a bright painting or a gorgeous handmade vase, every piece of art in a space has something unique to say. So, how can the art in your home tell a story? More importantly, how can it tell your story?
In the Designing for Connection Series, we’re exploring the concept of designing for connection through craft – from interior design, to art, to entertaining, to food. Today, we’re asking local artists how they use their work to connect with their inner selves, their audience, and the space their work inhabits.
Before we dive in, we wanted to hear from an expert in art curation. We turned to Kathy Ganley of Mason Lane Art Advisory, with offices in Minneapolis, Brooklyn and Toronto, to learn how her team helps clients fill their spaces with artwork that truly speaks to them.
Photo Credit: Mason Lane Art Advisory
Choosing what art to have in your home can feel overwhelming, but here are a few tips for making the process more enjoyable.
“One bit of advice I always give to people who may find themselves in a gallery or artist’s studio, is to ASK QUESTIONS! This can help you learn more about an artist and potentially connect with the art.”
“Tell me about this artist” is open-ended and allows for the gallerist to share their knowledge. Most gallerists are happy to talk about an artist they represent, with no expectation of a sale at the end of the conversation. The more you educate yourself, the more you recognize what you are drawn to beyond the surface of an artwork.”
While an art gallery can feel intimidating when you’re new to the world of art collecting, it’s an invaluable way to learn more about the artist from the people who are their best advocates. Gallerists are simply excited to share more, so let that curiosity shine!
Even if you’re not in the market for a higher-priced original piece, learning more about what you like and what artists speak to you is a great way to dive deeper into what you connect with from a design perspective.
“Without a doubt, connection is at the core of what we do at Mason Lane Art Advisory, and is key to finding meaningful art. So how do we foster that connection? By sharing the artists’ background, process, and mission with our clients, we can identify common themes, and collectively find what resonates with an individual. Aesthetics are clearly important, but it’s the connection to the stories that prompt art acquisition and bring long term enjoyment.”
As for the artists, we wanted to know: What elements of your work evoke the most connection? How do you want someone to interpret your work, and what do you want them to feel when they encounter one of your pieces?
Spoiler alert: COLOR and FORM are essential elements in bringing connection and evoking feeling in a piece of art!
Want to see the work of these artists in person? We are thrilled to showcase several original pieces from Minnesota artists in our newest space, The Clubhouse, coming in March 2023 - and to have these artists participating in our Spring & Fall Markets this year.
So with all of this wonderful art in the world, where do you start? We’d suggest supporting your local creative community first. Remember, almost 50% of each purchase from a local independent business is recirculated back into the community!
Here are a few Minnesota artists you need to know:
“I’m so drawn to the relationships between colors. In my perspective, the art form is there to hold color; not just that, but that’s their most important role. The exact same shade will have a wildly different energy depending on what the surrounding colors are. I love to play with that dynamic, and defining the relationship the palette represents (finding the right balance, basically) in each piece is the part of the work that feels most essential to me.”
“Color is a very powerful element in my work because it has so many ways of influencing emotion and our mental state, and I am conscious of that while creating each piece. I often use softened, cool greens and blues when creating work that I want to evoke a sense of calm within my viewer. When energy or uplifting is needed, I paint with almost every color of the rainbow, with an emphasis on red colors.”
“When creating work, I feel very connected to the medium I’m using at the time - paint or printmaking ink. The tactile feedback and movement of the paint from brush to paper feels like a natural extension, connecting my thoughts to the viewer.”
“When I create artwork I am sharing a piece of my life with the audience. My art practice is based on the concepts of curiosity and imagination–I am a color explorer. I use color theory to make the compositions sing, and my intention is to create art that is a mood booster by using color to communicate emotions. I strive to inspire the audience with moments of joy. When I am in my studio, and I see a smile across someone's face I know my art made a connection with someone else’s curiosity and imagination.”
“I see my work as an organic collaboration between myself and the materials involved in making each piece. That ongoing conversation between imagination/construction, artist/elements is fully immersed in the concept that there is elegance in simplicity and beauty in imperfection. Art and alchemy are in constant play as I extract the most essential and harmonious aspects.”
“There is so much noise in our world. So many voices fighting for our attention. I want my audience to feel a sense of calm when they view my work. I want it to make them pause and rest in the moment. I try to choose colors and simple compositions that will pull them away from the noise and to a place of joy.”
Emma Geary
Emma is a writer living in Minneapolis. When she's not checking out a new brewery with friends or blasting Taylor Swift in her car, you can find her dreaming up ideas as the Brand + Editorial Manager at LAB.
