The art of curating

Need help brightening up a drab workplace? Madeleine Reid provides professional guidance on what you should consider when purchasing artwork for your office. Decide on a theme: Your artwork should be more than purely decorative. A loose theme can help add cohesion to your collection and ensure it flows well throughout the building. A number of companies choose to tailor their artwork around their corporate values, or select pieces that reflect the history or location of their business.

Don’t be afraid to ask for advice
With so many talented artists across the UK, it can be hard to know where to start when sourcing artwork. An art consultant can help you narrow down your search and will compile a tailored portfolio of options to choose from. Art is subjective and there is no right and wrong, so ask questions. The more you learn about an artist’s background and processes, the more you will connect with their work.

Spend your budget wisely
One or two quality works of art can often have more impact than 10 mediocre pieces. Don’t be tempted to skimp on framing. If you’ve got a large office and a modest budget then consider supporting new talent by purchasing work by up-and-coming artists. If money isn’t an issue, then the best advice is to buy what you love, not what is on trend. Make sure the artwork you choose is going to motivate and engage your staff and visitors for years to come.

Look after your art
The best way to take care of your artwork is to have it professionally framed. We always recommend keeping artwork out of direct sunlight as it can cause colours to fade within just a few weeks. Similarly, artwork can be very sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity, so avoid hanging pieces on exterior walls or close to radiators. If you notice that a piece of art is deteriorating, you might need to move it to a more stable environment.

Get creative
There’s no point splashing out on new artwork if it’s then poorly hung and lit. A professional picture hanger will be able to offer imaginative advice on different hanging arrangements. Consider how a piece relates to your interior furnishings and think about how people will be viewing it. Place smaller pieces in areas where you can see them close up, such as corridors and stairways. And remember, nothing has to be permanent. Rotate your artwork regularly to keep your office looking fresh.

Madeleine Reid is Co-Director of Fawn Art Consultancy, which sells contemporary artwork for the home, workplace, healthcare and educational environments, hand-picked directly from the artist’s studio. For further details of its services, visit fawnartconsultancy.co.uk