A waggish art dealer once remarked, “A good painting needs a good frame, but a bad painting really needs a good frame.” Serious art collectors and critics agree that worthy artworks deserve worthy frames. It’s a simple but fundamental truth that a frame can make...
Oftentimes, museum and personal art collections are built around specific genres, be it Abstract, Classical Realism, Cubism, or any number of the other “isms.” But that’s beginning to change more and more. In a recent exhibit at the Tucson Museum of Art in Arizona, Chief Curator...
Loaning a work of art from your collection to a museum is the kind of generosity that kicks back. Collectors who lend frequently express that sharing something important and beautiful in their life is deeply gratifying. But there are other reasons to lend besides that...
With the ability to choose from thousands of paintings to purchase from highly respected galleries, museum shows, and art auctions, what factors influence a patron’s decision to commission a specific artwork? And conversely, why do some artists accept commissions while others do not? Galleries often play...
The prevailing mindset among most collectors is that sculptures are forever durable. Although bronze, wood, and even marble may seem less fragile than two-dimensional artworks, simple care and maintenance are a must in order to preserve a sculpture’s original beauty. Prevention is key when it comes...
You don’t have to live in California to know that America’s love affair with wine has blossomed into a serious relationship. We drank 805 million gallons of it in 2018, according to the Wine Institute of America, more than we’ve consumed in any year since...
Douglas Lay knows knots. He can look at the wefts in an old Persian rug and tell you which Central Asian country it comes from, which region of that country, and even the tribe or village. “If every second row of knots is twisted 45...
Each year offers new opportunities to create a more environmentally conscious world around us. With developments in energy efficiency coupled with a rise in green-focused lifestyles, new technology, and the challenge of keeping up with what’s conceptually in style, the science and art behind creating...
The gorgeous lady may be staring at you, but don’t feel self-conscious. She stares at everybody. If you are staying at Chicago’s Kimpton Hotel Allegro, you’ll inevitably meet Lady Lucent of Awakening, an 8-foot-tall self-portrait of artist Sarah Raskey that always surprises guests during check-in. [caption...
For many of us, a trip to Egypt to view the rich tombs of the pharaohs would be a dream come true. The same longing applies to other sites of important ancient history, remarkable architectural achievements, and centuries-old works by master artists. Museums and exhibitions,...