Art for the home - without leaving home (almost) Once, artworks were within reach of

Art for the home - without leaving home (almost)

Artworks were once within reach of wealthy people only, and in most homes the walls were decorated with cheap copies of famous works or with nondescript posters. Today you can find original, quality works at accessible prices and a mouse-click away

If there is one thing Covid taught us, it’s that we must invest in our home. We spent time at home, examined what we have and what’s missing, and realized it’s worth upgrading the home space. The data show a rise in spending across all areas related to home design – furniture, gardening, accessories and also art. Yes, this field too, which still deters many, is becoming more and more accessible thanks to ventures that make purchasing artworks simpler and cheaper.

A rise in buying art online
The process of making the purchase of artworks accessible is reflected in the fact that more and more artworks are bought online. "This is a global trend we saw from the first lockdown," says Sharon Toval, an independent curator and manager of art collections. "The galleries are closed and there’s a rise of about 15 percent compared with the corresponding period last year in buying works online. It’s surprising, because it’s hard to buy a painting without seeing it physically, but people are buying. This rise stems from compensation – people didn’t fly, didn’t go out, didn’t spend, so they invest in their home. And those who had money before were usually not hurt."

The effect on the artists themselves is more complex, he says: "Those who already have a name and reputation - rose in this period, and those who don’t yet – got less exposure. Mainly the mainstream managed to thrive."

Irit Hayon believes that art is an inseparable part of designing a space, and it doesn’t have to be expensive or unattainable. A few years ago Hayon founded the 1of135 gallery, which holds a huge selection of works by Israeli artists only. The name stems from the concept: for each work up to 135 prints are produced, numbered and signed by the artist. The gallery also has a one-of-a-kind department, where original works or works printed in single copies are sold. Prices in the gallery start at 300 shekels, and vary according to size, technique and framing method.

"Walls can talk. You just have to give them a topic for conversation," says Hayon. "The process of designing a space passes through several important stations of building a language. It begins with meticulous architectural planning, moves on to the furniture layout, the styling and the lighting. The right choice of wall dressing is like a period at the end of a sentence. It is what ties together and completes all the visual features in the space."

How to choose? Where to hang?
When choosing artworks for the home, Hayon suggests "starting from the heart of the home - from the central spaces where people are together, such as the living room, the dining area and so on. In these spaces you can choose whether to make a gallery wall with a cluster of works, or to hang one large work that will dictate the tone and character. After that, continue to the rest of the places in the home. It’s important to be attentive to beloved areas of interest, to a visual approach, preferences and requirements. It’s important to choose an artwork that will stir curiosity and creativity even years from now."

In recent years the gallery wall, on which a variety of works are hung, has become very popular. "With a gallery wall you can play, change, assemble and, above all, enjoy the process. You can build entire walls combining several works and create an eclecticism with depth and richness," says Hayon.

How do you do it right?

"When you decide to place a composition it’s very important to consider the size of the wall, its height, the viewing distance to it and even the light sources (natural or artificial lighting). So before you decide on a style, photograph the wall from a distance so that you can also see additional details around it (furniture, lighting or even windows). The photo will let you examine whether the works you chose add power to the space and strengthen the presence of the other items in the room, or whether perhaps they don’t speak enough.

"If you chose a combination of works, check which work is the anchor. It’s recommended to start with its placement and gradually integrate the others around it. Don’t crowd the works together or overload. You can space them unevenly or evenly, but gaps that are too large will create a certain sense of disconnection. The recommended gap is a few centimeters between one work and the next, a maximum of 5-7 cm. Try to find a recurring motif that turns the cluster into one impressive work. Relate to color and material. Think about colors, textures, material. Make a list of the existing versus the desired. Is the space cold and you want to warm up the atmosphere? Or the opposite? Does the space feel crowded or sparse? Do you want to add or to reduce?".

An interesting combination can include works in different techniques (photography, illustration, painting or typography), different sizes, different colors and different frames. "The right choice will create a feeling that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts," Hayon concludes.