reasons to own art

There was a time not long ago when our every possession bore the imprint of its maker, yet these days nothing we own was made by human hands. Everything is extruded or stamped, designed by computer on some other continent, issued in hundreds of thousands, and we get one. Not only is nothing we own really personal, it’s about to be superseded by even newer technologies. A work of art, now more than ever, is the distillation of what’s been left out – it’s the tincture of humanity that makes houses livable, makes work environments more humane, that helps us find our better selves.

In the workplace, original art sets an example that can inspire more conscientious work in the shop and sanction more creative thinking in front offices. Art in reception areas and conference rooms projects a serious maturity that is noticed by customers, vendors, and even the competition. At home, works of art become old friends, reflecting the personality of their owner, while recalling the past more vividly than a drawer full of photos. They move from place to place with their owner, claiming each new dwelling as familiar territory, a personal sanctuary in a world of impermanence and change. Finally, works of art endure, so that even after generations, when everything else has been discarded and replaced, over and over, they will look the same, although the world might find them more valuable.