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Art Imitating Life
Selecting artwork is a personal matter and should always reflect who you are.
First published in On-The-Town, December 2005 edition.

The appreciation of art is not limited to a special few. It is a part of the splendor of being human. When asked why they buy art, people respond in many ways: “It reminds me of a pleasurable time in my life.” “It reminds me of the direction I want my life to go.” Art can be a reminder of travels or of a specific experience. Artwork that affects us on a deep personal level enhances our imagination and creative sensibilities.

Art is valued by how well-known the artist is and the level of devotion that was put into the art. Frida Kahlo, one of Latin America’s finest artists, poured her life experiences into her art. She was known for her self-portraits saying, “I paint self-portraits because I am the person I know best.” In 1925, when 18, an accident left her a partial invalid for life. Her passion and brutal honesty is evident in all of her paintings. At first look, her paintings may be unsettling. However, what draws viewers is her offering of hope to those who are struggling, ill, or oppressed. Her paintings are so powerful that one feels as if Frida is speaking directly to them.

If you are buying your first piece of artwork, choose art that gets your own creative juices flowing and excites you. Don’t worry about what others like or dislike. Look at the turning points in your life. See how the artwork plays a role in celebrating and acknowledging those significant events. Your taste in artwork is a very mysterious and individual matter. It reflects your own life experiences and how you were illuminated by those events in your life. Don’t worry about whether the artwork will “match” your décor or the current trends; artwork lasts for many generations transcending the superficial. If you are drawn to a particular painting that embraces your own beliefs, you will find a place for it. Wherever you put your new art can become your own sanctuary where you are surrounded by the things that support where you have been, who you are now, and who you are becoming.

Artwork enhances all of our lives. It is just a matter of finding that perfect piece that jumps off the wall and says, “I belong to you.”