In 2016, art attorney Brian Ludlow realized there was a gap in the art world.
Individuals could buy works for their homes (and eventually sell them), but there was no practical short-term solution—the residential art rental market simply didn’t exist. Brian co-founded Creative Art Partners to do just that. The company eventually expanded its clientele to commercial clients, leasing pieces to Four Seasons hotels and Rolex stores, and diversified to sales as well as rentals. In the process, it acquired a collection of over 15,000 contemporary works from around the world.
Though Creative Art Partners is now responsible for placing works in major public spaces like the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, private homes are still the company’s bread and butter—and interior designers from Jake Arnold to Sebastian Zuchowicki have been known to use its services.
“Great design and great art are inextricably linked,” he says. “When it comes to choosing what piece goes in which room, we start by finding out the room’s primary use. Based on all the data we get from working with thousands of collectors, there is a general consensus of what people want in their bedroom versus their entry.”
Here, Brian shares his best tips for finding the right art pieces for every room in the house.
Entryway
Since the entryway is guests’ first impression of the home, most people like to make a bold, inviting statement. “We gravitate towards works that immediately catch your eye, cause pause, but then welcome you further into the space,” Brian explains. “This might be something that is larger in scale, strong in color, or depicts movement that helps direct you inside.”
Dining Room
Dining rooms are dedicated to long, convivial meals filled with quality dialogue, so the art should “evoke conversation among guests and support the general goal of the room—to entertain, converse, and be present,” Brian says. Courageous pieces tend to be most effective, so he often “helps clients step outside their comfort zones and be bold in their decisions.”
Kitchen
Though kitchens are regarded as the heart of the home, they don’t usually have a lot of free wall space for hanging art. If there is a void between all the cabinetry and open shelving, Brian recommends displaying works that complement their surroundings. “We love including smaller-scale pieces with soft colors that play off of wood tones, marbles, or other materials present in the space,” he notes. “If you are drawn more towards representational art, it can be a great opportunity to lean into sophisticated still life works or photography.”
Living Room
In the living room, Brian encourages clients to “express their personalities and showcase artworks that are engaging and command the room.” That often means exhibiting pieces that create tension with the interior design direction of the space. “It’s in the contrast where we typically see the most dramatic rooms and best results,” he reveals.
Bedroom
Brian knows that selecting bedroom art is a big decision. “It’s the first thing a client sees in the morning and the last thing they see at night,” he acknowledges. “Clients either want works that evoke calmness and aren’t overly challenging or they look for something that is energetic and demanding. There are, of course, artworks that can accomplish both, but we typically start our process with one of the two goals in mind.”
Powder Room
According to Brian, the powder room is often overlooked as a spot for significant art—but it shouldn’t be. “If you entertain a lot, then the powder room actually can be one of the most viewed and memorable art moments in your home,” he insists. “It’s also a space where great interior designers often make ambitious color and finish choices, so there is a lot to reference for art.” For that reason, he suggests playful works that might make your guests chuckle when they step away from the party.
