When Hanging Small Art is a Big Problem
Small art can be a little tricky to hang when you want it to stand-out and express your individual taste. Are you in a bit of a small art pickle?
Recently, Artfinder, one of the largest online art sources, asked Shannon Kaye, our Director of Business Development, for her expert tips for incorporating small scale artwork into home design for their Artbeat zine.
You can read about her career cred and detailed advice in Kaye’s interview with Artbeat, or just breeze through the hight points here.
A cluster of Ray Beldner’s collages fill an opening between large scale works to complete a grouping of ethereal art pieces in blue and orange.
1. Curate small art to your advantage
Hanging smaller art pieces with similar themes gives strength and focus to a room. Consider grouping still life pieces or landscapes. My favorite new piece is a small landscape painting called ‘Estuary’ by Lynne McDaniel I bought at stARTup Art Fair.
Business Development Director Shannon Kaye and Fair Director Ray Beldner’s art collection includes works by friends, local artists, favorite designers, Shannon’s own decorative wall and pillow designs. It’s a high/low mix that suits their taste and lifestyle.
2. Create special moments
Another way to use small art pieces to your advantage is to create vignettes. The power of vignettes is that they organize how we look at and move through a space. On my coffee table I have an oil paint ‘parfait’ called ‘Midnight Snack’ by Maya Kabat next to an equally playful Pilea Peperomioides (houseplant) and some color reference books.
Creating vignettes and group similar pieces organizes the room visually.
3. Turn storage into a stage
Even the most practical of storage spaces can include small sculptures and other decorative pieces to give them more style. And here’s another bonus: when people see art on shelves and cabinets, they tend to keep them more organized and take better care of the practical stuff too. Win-win!
Feeling inspired by small art?
Here are some small works from our artists.
Join us at 1599 Tennessee Street for our Happy Hour Preview: Friday, September 28, 6–9pm for food, wine, and music. The fair is also open Saturday, September 29, 11am–6pm and Sunday, September 30, 11am–5pm.
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