Guest Picks: Abstract Art Makes the Perfect Present
A perfect circle — on gold leaf, no less. I love how the gold peeks through the teal. I think it’s reminiscent of Kenneth Noland’s targets, but the gold lends somewhat of an Indian effect.
Here’s an abstract interpretation of contemporary architecture: namely, a surfer’s house. Can you imagine a house, no matter how modern, faced in these colors? This one speaks to me on a lot of levels, from its colors to the arrangement of rectangles to the fact that it’s a contemporary structure on stilts in the ocean.
OK, so I’m a sucker for sky blue. The cross-hatching is as appealing as the hue, which reminds me of a porch ceiling — kind of the porch ceiling and screen melded into one thought. Interestingly, it’s an oil pastel, not marker or pen. And the small size means I could fit it in pretty much anywhere. And believe me when I say that I’m short on wall space.
Again with the purple and red, but this time it’s a supremely soft lilac. The shade reminds me of the Prada gown Uma Thurman wore to the Oscars in 1995. Plus, that skinny zigzag line is intriguing.
I’m not usually a boat person. OK, I’m never a boat person, especially in art. But wow! Just a few simple lines and Siri Tenden creates a magical afternoon on the sea. And those greens. I’m tempted.
Here’s another bright one for the white walls in Delray Beach, Florida. Imagine this vibrant piece over the bed — the room wouldn’t need much else.
My inner geek is emerging. The soft colors and geometric forms pulled me in, and that the etched lines look like loose-leaf paper kept me involved. And is that a building in the corner? I feel like this really tells a story.
This photo reminds me of gazing at something under a microscope, something that takes on a totally new dimension of beauty when examined so closely. It is, in fact, a pink flower and seed head. So pretty.
As a Rothko fan, I find this hard to resist. The pairing of blush with yellow and a hint of aqua is unusual and yet soothing. Plus, the technique is deceiving, which is appealing: While it appears to have brushstrokes, especially in the center field, it’s actually an original monotype print. I love it.
OK, so this isn’t 100 percent abstract, but it’s hardly realism. It’s cute, totally suited to the print format. It’s amazing what one can render with the simple polka dot.
So these colors are a little bold for my house, and I don’t do red, but they’re still very appealing. Maybe I could hang it in my son’s orange bedroom on the Cape. The shapes have a real art deco character. Can you tell I have Miami Beach on the brain? I just got back from Art Basel Miami!
Britt Bass’s work is all over the Internet, and for good reason. Who can resist those colors? This is a giclée print, but I’d love to get my hands on the original painting to hang in my new South Florida condo, which I’m decorating in white with pops of color.
This color field painting reminds me of a traffic light, but in a South Beach kind of palette. I love the blurriness. Indeed this artist is from West Palm, but like any self-respecting artist schooled in NYC, he lives in Brooklyn.
Lulu DK is so cool, a total hippie chick — gorgeous, bohemian, fun — and I’m lucky enough to work with her through Matouk bedding (I write the blog, she designs bed linens). This is a print of an original work that’s a collage of torn up pieces of paper. I want to try making one!
Because Megan Donnelly works in Sausalito, I’m guessing the aqua ground is inspired by the marina. This is an abstract composition for sure, but I imagine the vignette on the bottom left to be a neighborhood scene. I love the colors and how the black lines ground it all.
I love the watery hue of the backdrop of this painting, which is actually meant to be the sky. The dots, which represent clouds, are laid out in an orderly manner (I love order!) but executed with a loose painterly hand. I’d be happy to hang this peaceful and relaxing piece anywhere.
These are the exact colors of my living room! It echoes the palette of my Angela Adams “Canopy” rug as well as my Jonathan Adler needlepoint pillows in the same color scheme. Even some of my art is emerald, cobalt and chartreuse, including a wild landscape painted by my mother-in-law, Judyth Honeycutt Katz, and a work executed in transparent colored tape by Pablo Manga. Yes, this would fit in rather nicely.
I’ve been hooked on Atlanta artist Sally King Benedict’s colorful artwork ever since discovering her paintings through interior designer Angie Hranowsky. This particular piece is more figurative than last year’s crop, with its hot pink sun and cute cacti.
I love the deconstructed composition of the box, along with the colors. But the fact that it’s a mixed media piece — pen, ink, tape and cut paper — makes it really special. The vintage frame is the perfect touch — in fact, the piece itself is vintage. Its small size and square format would easily allow me slot it into the gallery wall above my banquette.
This one reminds me of all the pastel-colored, geo-painted home accessories that are so on trend right now. It seems like it’s a small piece, but those appealing colors and whimsical shapes are over 3 feet tall!Next: Abstract Art for Every Style Interior
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