The One Type Of Cool Art We Think Everyone Should Own (Or Make Themselves)

Artwork, above all, should hit you right in the heart. The pieces in your home should make you feel happy and seen because, well, it’s art that you specifically chose. Emily always says that art is worth investing in because it’s what really makes a home feel personal, interesting, and you can easily move it with you to your next place. But we know that choosing art, especially “cool art,” can feel super overwhelming because where do you even start?? I’ll give you some “good to think abouts” in a moment:) But if you look at almost any EHD home, there’s likely going to be at least one collage/mixed media piece somewhere. They’re the best – modern but nostalgic, playful but in a sophisticated way, usually have a 3-D element that makes it feel very elevated and textured, but above all, they are cool. So that is what I’m going to be focusing on today and explaining why certain styles are our favorite. But as promised, here are a few art buying rules:

• Consider your overall color palette! They don’t need ot be matchy-matchy, but they should make sense as a collection.
• Mix vintage and new (but make sure you have some vintage to add soul and real texture to the room). Here’s a post with Em’s vintage art buying tips!
• Mix mediums! Unless you are doing something specific, like Em’s seascape gallery wall, mix up the type of art you are hanging together.
• SCALE! Again, unless you have a very particular vision, make sure you mix up the scale of your pieces and don’t go too small. That’s how you’ll avoid them looking bitsy.
• For hanging, create different configurations on different walls (aka not every wall should be a gallery wall…but here’s how to make a great one:)).
• Don’t be afraid to mix frames as long as it’s all visually balanced.

Cool Art: Mixed Media/Collage Original Art

Emily is the reason why my love for cool collage art is so strong. Her collection is what my dreams are made of, and that very cool art piece above the cabinet in her LA house, which now lives in the farmhouse entryway, is from a LA local artist Kirill Bergart. His pieces are not inexpensive, but I’m manifesting that one day I’ll have one for myself:) Then, if you look again at the farmhouse entryway, Emily also has a MaryAnn Puls piece (more on her later) under Kirill’s, and then a beautiful collage paper piece by Marilyn Joyce on the far right. They are all very different from each other, but all within a similar color palette and perfectly complement her large, vibrant vintage painting. These pieces don’t have a “traditional farmhouse” style, which makes them all the more exciting stylistically to me! It feels fresh and yes, cool.

The two pieces on the left are also by Kirill Bergart, if I’m not mistaken, and are both in the farmhouse. See, easy to reuse, regardless of a home’s changing architecture. The neutral color palette is also very helpful, so here are a few options and shops to look at for your home.

1. Favorito 3 by Enye | 2. Blanc Géométrique Collection Paintings (6 Pieces) by Josh Young Design House

Ok, full disclosure, these first four pieces are on the higher end price-wise, but throughout the post, there are a ton of great options that are much more affordable. But back to these, I love love the wood on wood look of #1. It’s organic but modern and so versatile. The collection of six would make a powerful but quiet impact in a room. They seem so simple, but the mix of materials (paper and paint) gives them so much life!

1. Paper Landscape by Marilina Marchica | 2. Antique Romantic Figure in Ivory and Bold by Doris Schmitz

I should also mention that, except for one clearly marked graphic later on in the post, all of these pieces are originals! You can, of course, find a great printed collage, but there’s something so special about a mixed media piece showing off its layers, you know? These two pieces above are no exception, but the price tags aren’t low. Now, what’s amazing about shopping on Saatchi Art specifically (where both of these pieces are from) is that there’s typically a print option, which makes it soooo much more affordable! We’ve gotten many pieces from them and have always LOVED the art. I’m looking at one of mine from my last apartment as I type:)

1. Do You Feel the Power by Creating New Surfaces | 2. Paired Frames – Blossom – Alisa Galitsyna

The first piece with the photo of the woman was actually the catalyst for this post! I just fell in love with it the moment I stumbled upon it. It’s serious and playful at the same time, and with it framed right, it would be awesome. For the nature piece, it just calms me, but is still so interesting. Playing with scale is one of my favorite design tricks, and this photo does it within itself.

In case you haven’t heard Emily talk about MaryAnn Puls, let this be your introduction. Emily met MaryAnn when Emily was designing the first Portland project house. From then, Em and the team have been lucky enough to have her collage and mixed media work in our homes. Above the blue one on the right is her work!

This shot above is from the Portland Project’s office with six of her pieces. Each one so different but equally unique. Then that Christmas, Emily GAVE each of us (the team at the time, 2018?) a piece for our own homes. I was FLOORED. Below you can see how four of us styled them:)

While mine was in my last living room as well, she currently lives next to my fireplace, where I can look at it every day. On the right, Julie had her piece in her last bedroom in an awesome gallery wall.

In Arlyn’s last home, her’s lived in her dining room (top left corner:)) and Sara had her piece leaning on her beautiful mantel. If this doesn’t show the versatility of collage art, I’m not sure what will!. I believe MaryAnn sells through a gallery in Portland now, but here are some other online options of others’ works:

1. Yellow, Blue and White Hand by Alexandra Duprez | 2. Landlocked (Swim with the Fish) by Patty deGrandpre | 3. Units of Time by Alisa Galitsyna

If I had the right space, I would buy those hands in a second. They’re simple, and cool, and weird, and I love them. The surrealism of the landscape piece really draws you in, has some color, but isn’t too visually loud. It would live on its own or on a gallery wall. The last one looks really simple at first glance, but those red dots are hand-stitched with red thread onto vintage paper! Sometimes it’s hard to explain why a piece of art speaks to you, but when it does, we think you should go for it.

Above is my current bedroom🙂 When I was in Oaxaca last year, I went into a gallery called El Tinglado Gráfico and found that collage with the women on it. It was an instant yes. It was an original, was float-mounted inside the frame, and had a linen mat. I spent around $300 on it. When I first told Arlyn I bought a piece of art on my trip, she very quickly asked if it was a collage…I guess I have a type, sue me! When it came time to plan my vertical gallery, I was SO happy that my new piece meshed perfectly, adding in dimension and another material. Here are some others (that are much more affordable) that fall into a similar category as the one I have.

1. Original Surreal Paper Collage by Rottenman Editions | 2. New Moon by Desert Star Studios | 3. Original Collage by Miss Movin

How good are these? I find that collage art can be a little tricky. There are tons of great…and ones that are less great. We tend to go for ones that might have a little humor, but not as the feature of the piece. We also like a decent amount of negative space (not super busy). The ones above have faces/people on them, but I might avoid ones with a lot of people or faces. Of course, they aren’t hard rules because when you know, you know, but these are good places to start.

1. “Hein, Ma Vie?” Pochoir by Robert Motherwell | 2. Landscape Collage 69 by Jordan Sullivan | 3. Stitched Geode 1 by Christy Dehoog Johnson

If you aren’t into a collage with faces but are a sucker for that “EHD Blue Toned Life,” then these three could be for you. The one in the middle is a favorite and by an artist who has a whole collection on Uprise Art. Go check out more of Jordan’s work.

1. Watercolor Collage by Henri x Lydia | 2. Herbarium / F by Lyndie Dourthe | 3. Lean by Hannah Ackroyd

Now, if you crave art that’s on the warmer side of the color wheel, look at these! Each is different, but all so pretty. I actually found Lyndie Dourthe from Danielle Krysa’s art Substack newsletter. I believe it’s about $36 a year and so worth it for the daily eye candy in your inbox.

That colorful piece on Gretchen’s “new” guest bedroom wall was a joint birthday gift from Emily! Since all of our birthdays are in September and October, our fall retreat usually has a birthday moment. Emily commissioned the insanely talented Purl Samoheyl. He’s both an artist and a vintage seller, and we all screamed for joy when we opened these last year. These are made out of paper bags and paint, and all of them were so unique and special. Mine is currently in my hallway:) Let’s look at more shoppable pieces, huh?

1. Vertigo Series 04 by Chiara Criniti | 2. Division by Hugh Dewitte

I LOVE when a piece has some handwriting on it. It makes it feel cool and really free (maybe even a mishap, which makes it more unique). If a piece of art (especially a vintage piece) has handwriting on it, it may have to come home with me.

Collages and mixed media are also one of those things that can be super personal in a really cool way. Emily and Brian had two cats for many years, and while this collage by Danielle Krysa isn’t of their cats, it’s such a fun and playful way to honor them. It’s especially cool because it contrasts with that stunning Farrow & Ball traditional wallpaper. The circle one is “a special piece from Danielle Krysa with a collage of Brian, and I incorporated into it.” Yes, the same Danielle from the Substack I mentioned. These are two examples of how personal this kind of art can be.

Cool Art – Mixed Media/Collage Prints

1. Italy Dots II by Renske Herder | 2. Against Your Waves by Seb M. | 3. Birthright by Athena Petra Tasiopoulos

This is the only section that’s just prints. We all want original art, but there’s nothing wrong with a great print (especially if they are printing on good paper – check in on that when buying). I truly think all of these are so exciting to look at, but all have very different feelings to them.

Cool Art – DIY Mixed Media/Collage Prints

If the idea of this art type of art being personal to you really lights you up, we’ve been known to DIY these styles before:) The ones above in Bower’s living room were a beautiful result of a (maybe wine-fueled) night where she, Velinda, and Julie put their endless creativity to good use!

In Gretchen’s first reveal of her bedroom (now her guestroom), she added a piece of art she had painted a few times with some added cool texture! It works so perfectly and looks so freaking cool.

Cool Art: Mixed Media Fiber Art

I’m straying A LITTLE from true mixed media art with these examples – Arlyn’s amazing embroidered pieces from Samantha Gluck and below with Em’s embroidered Jane Denton X and O pieces. Sam’s work gives off a collage energy which I love!

And Jane’s work is also so incredible and needed to be shown again (collage-inspired or not:)). I think the real message here with this type of art is that it has dimension and texture and will inherently give that to a space it’s in, too.

1. One April Day by LeStudioBleu | 2. Suffolk No by Linden Eller

The way I can’t stop staring at that pillow piece. I’m just in love with it. So unexpected on a wall and so incredible. The second piece is also so beautifully layered, but still quiet.

1. Wabi Sabi Abstract Art by Chantal Custeau Art | 2. Abstract Nature Portrait Mixed-Media Mono Print by Rottenman Editions | 3. Woven II by Keiko Pogany

I will also take all of these. The first set are paintings on canvas that give off a soft but moody feeling. The next is hand-printed and dyed linen fabric! How gorgeous is that, and not something that’s going to be on everyone’s wall. So cool. The last piece is woven and feels like it’s organic mid-century modern. It’s chic and soft.

Cool Art: 3D Wall Sculptures

Ok, yes, I’ve really lost the plot now, but is anyone actually bummed there’s more cool art to look at, even if it’s not collages? I didn’t think so. For example, how unreal is that piece Angela Chrusciaki Blehm made? And actually, when I just went to her site, she has A TON of vibrantly colored collages. What serendipity.

Having at least one piece of 3D art in your home is going to look awesome. And while a lot of us may have to save up a little longer for an MQuan piece (like the one in the bedroom above), here are a few other options in the meantime.

1. Head in the Clouds by Hanna Ilczyszyn | 2. On Any Sunday by Valerie Wilcox | 3. Angel in Turquoise and White by Kimia Amini

I have a deep love affair with special, one-off tiles, and you may see some in my bathroom or kitchen in the future. The first and third ones in this little roundup are so good! They could easily stand alone on a small wall. The middle wood piece is incredible. The price is hefty, but it’s a good size and, like I already said, is incredible. The shapes, the colors, the movement, 10/10.

So what do you think? Are any of you thinking a collage or mixed media piece might really up your art collection? Are you convinced they look great with any style? Are you planning a DIY hang this weekend to make your own? Whether you want to make one yourself or not, please check out the sites and artists I linked throughout the post because artists deserve to be known and celebrated:) Happy art hunting!

Love you, mean it.

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Ryan Liebe | From: Our Updated Living Room