Collections, as opposed to an individual art piece, offer unique considerations when displayed in our homes. The individual items forming a collection will always share a common theme; sometimes emotional and sometimes physical. Physical themes might be subject matter, art medium, shapes or colors. An emotional theme would be the journey taken by the collector in finding in individual pieces. One can only imagine the joy in searching out bookplates, ocean landscapes, embroidery, botanicals and other “finds”! A good collection becomes greater than the sum of its individual pieces.
When showing off our collections we want to consider which room in our home will best reflect our art. Here, a grouping of ocean art adds elegance to a bathroom. A collection of wine labels will add character to a wine bar. Abstract art will impart a particular mood to a living room or study. The beauty here is that there are no hard and fast rules. Our collections impart our personalities and our joys, wherever we place them.
As we hang the parts of the whole we want to remember that the collection in its entirety is the art. Frames around the pieces will unite the collection when using similarities in color and design. When hanging the pieces we consider asymmetrical or symmetrical design patterns. Here we share a few examples.
An asymmetrical grouping of artifact abstractions enhances an African Mask, another artifact.
A collection of digitally maneuvered images from the world of Linda Pope is displayed in a symmetrical design around a Christianna Hunnicut sculpture serving to enhance both the mystery of the sculpture and the art images.
