Art advice
Matchmaking Art: How to pair artworks
It can be difficult to know how to create harmony between your art collection. Here are some tips for making sparks fly with perfect artwork pairings.
Erin Peacock
Tuesday 22 November, 2022
Finding the perfect artwork to pair with another is either a collector’s dream, or a nightmare. Curating your space around you should be fun and personal process, so we’re here to demystify the pairing process. Perhaps you’ve fallen in love with an artwork, but are lacking direction. Or, maybe you’re blessed with a whole blank wall to fill and need some guidance.
So, whilst it’s key to remember that showcasing your personality and individual aesthetic is the most important part, we’ve got some expert tips that can help you along the way.
Subject Matter
Got a wall or blank space to fill? A great option here is to buy a matching set, or multiple pieces from the same artist. If artworks have been paired together already by the artist, you’re sure to get a cohesive feel with your purchase. With the tricky choice of pairing made for you, all you need to do is find one artist that you love!
Fine art photography offers an immediate solution to pairing by subject matter. Photographers often present a collection based on place, whether from a trip somewhere around the world, or closer to home. Richard Heeps is known for his saturated colours and, having seemingly snapped every corner of the globe, his work lends itself perfectly to pairing by place, palette or subject.
Crafty with colour
Finding artworks that complement and relate to each other in theme and colour is a fantastic way to create synergy in your collection.
An abstract lover might think about using the strokes, colour and texture of an individual artist to create a bold, statement pairing. Kate Banazi’s vibrant screen prints offer inspiration to the maximalist collector, where the subject matter includes layers upon layers of complementary shapes for both cohesion and impact.
Inspired by texture
So much of how we create and interact with our space is about the textures that surround us. Perhaps you lean towards wood and natural fibres, or you may prefer a smoother, more modern finish. Either way, this relationship with texture doesn’t need to end with our furnishings.
We love the way this watercolour painting from UK Ramzi Musa echoes the colours and shapes of French artist Safia Hijos’ ceramic wall sculpture, but the textures are satisfyingly different. With the light, free flowing movement of Musa’s painting paired with the striking impact of the sculpture, you have the best of both textural worlds!
Mix and match
Size Matters! When it comes to sizes of art, it’s best to have a variety of larger and smaller pieces together. You might want to create an eclectic feel with asymmetrical pairings of artworks, or create clusters of art with large, salon-style arrangements.
Both approaches enable you to mix pieces of different sizes and styles, as well as contrasting frames.
Stay in the frame
With all the fun and decision making it involves to select a new artwork, don’t forget the art of framing!
Good frames will enhance the impact of your artwork, and ensure it remains the focus rather than providing a distraction. Whilst salon hangs work well with a variety of frame styles, keeping things simple and consistent is an excellent way to create harmony between two or three pieces.
Hand selecting frames is also a good way to coordinate your artworks with the broader feel of the room. By considering the colours and textures already in your home, you will be able to select a frame that enhances the personality of your space even further.
And there’s plenty more on framing here!
Pairing artworks can be so much fun, and by making smart decisions you can really let your aesthetic shine.
Main image:Kate Banazi, ‘Colour Rush 1’, screenprint, 61cm x 81cm, Gina Cross Art + Design
