Art advice
Meet The Collector: Kavita Cola
Fashion stylist, art collector and interiors lover Kavita Cola shows us around her eclectic, art-filled home, including many Affordable Art Fair finds...
Katie Bone
Friday 30 June, 2023
Meet fashion stylist, art collector and interiors lover Kavita Cola as we take a look around her London home and art collection. Kavita joined us at our recent fair in Hampstead Heath, picking up a few new gems to add to her collection. We spoke to her about her love of art, and top tips for budding collectors.
Read on to take a sneak peek at Kavita’s art collection, including many Affordable Art Fair finds…
Tell us where your love for art began
Art has always held a special place in my heart. I took a Fine Art foundation course at Chelsea School of Art, and later continued my studies at Central Saint Martins. I was particularly into artists like Egon Schiele and Francis Bacon, whose influence still resonates in my life today.
Do you remember the first artwork you bought?
I’ll never forget my very first art purchase. It was a Tracey Emin print called ‘I’m walking around my world’ which I bought from the Royal Academy of Art shop, and I proudly displayed it in the living room of my first flat. I came across Emin’s work as a student and was totally mesmerised by her extraordinary ability to elevate artistic expression. The print holds a special place in my heart – not only because it was my first purchase, but because it evokes memories of my art school days.
“For me, the decision to buy art is based on emotions – those unexplainable feelings you have when an artwork speaks to you.”
Kavita Cola
You’re a style and fashion whiz! Can you describe your home style? What type of pieces do you look for?
Nowadays, my husband and I develop homes together. He works more on the construction side and then I look after the interior design aspects of a renovation. For me, comfort reigns supreme because a house should always feel comfortable, inviting, and cosy if it’s going to be lived in! Our style blends elements of country aesthetics with an eclectic touch, embracing a mix of muted tones and bold colours. We love pops of colour and accent pieces.
You’ve picked up a few artworks at our fairs over the years. What do you enjoy about the Affordable Art Fair experience?
I have always been a fan of the Affordable Art Fair and come along regularly to the London editions. Many people associate art with an elite, expensive world for a select few, but Affordable Art Fair breaks down those barriers completely. It’s such an inclusive and welcoming environment where you can feel confident in your art buying decisions. I also love the curated guides and on-hand advice to help you get started on your art journey.
“I really enjoy finding art in immersive environments like Affordable Art Fair – there’s so much to see!”
Kavita Cola
We bought a couple of pieces at the Hampstead fair in May, including some of Dan Jamieson’s hate plates from Air Contemporary, which my husband and I found very amusing, and a piece from Degree Art gallery by Lana Matsuyama. I just really loved its colours and texture – but am yet to hang it! We also visited the dog photobooth and had Dosa, our dachshund, immortalised with a professional artist shot! We had the loveliest time!
Can you tell us more about your art collection?
Absolutely! Among the artists we admire is David Shrigley, whose artworks proudly hang on our walls. ‘Gap in the Clouds’ stands out to me with its moody, blue tones, while ‘I Endorse Everything’ and ‘Don’t’ bring a playful and fun vibe. I love their boldness and the messages each print carries. Oh, and let’s not forget about our lovely little Patrick Thomas print, a delightful purchase from the Affordable Art Fair which adds an extra splash of joy to our collection.
‘Mingling’ by Jessica Yolanda Kaye is another piece we love – her work explores how people think, feel, and interact in a stylish way. We also have this stunning blue screen-print by Jonathan Scofield from his Summer Poems Series. The colour lifts the entire room!
Jaipur Pink by Terence Finch is an artwork in our collection which holds a special place in my heart. It has a welcoming message which reads ‘Come aunty, have some chai’ in Rajasthani, and ‘Mewar’ is an area near where my husband and I got married. Art for us is also a way to connect with our identity as British Indians, and many artworks in our collection have been chosen to pay homage to our heritage.
“Art for us is also a way to connect with our identity as British Indians, and many artworks in our collection have been chosen to pay homage to our heritage.”
Kavita Cola
Thinking of pink, we couldn’t resist commissioning this striking flamingo with Ham Interiors’ in-house artist. Its presence adds a unique focal point to our space, just like the magnificent tiger artwork in the dining room we commissioned. This tiger never fails to catch people’s attention. It will come with us wherever we go!
What’s your approach to buying art? Are you impulsive, or a research buff?
Definitely impulsive! For me, the decision to buy art is based on emotions – those unexplainable feelings you have when an artwork speaks to you. I think you should buy what you love. Sometimes overthinking an art purchase can rob it of its magic. I really enjoy finding art in immersive environments where there’s so much to see. It’s a more inspiring way to make decisions, rather than being confronted by stark white walls you need to fill, which can be daunting!
Where do you look for art? And do you have any top tips for starting an art collection?
Obviously I’m a fan of art fairs like the Affordable – there’s so much to see, you can really immerse yourself in it. My top tip is to go with what you love. If you’re not sure where to start, go to a lot of fairs, museums and gallery exhibitions, so you can start to learn what you like. When I was younger, I used to collect postcards of my favourite artworks from exhibitions and put them all over my walls, which helped me to hone what art I liked in my home. And, if you’re in the early stages of buying art, prints are a great option, because they’re affordable.
You’ve commissioned a few artworks – what are your top tips when approaching an artist for a commission?
First and foremost, make sure you genuinely love the artists’ work. Artists often have a distinct style, and you don’t want to be dictating the piece too much – it’s important to let the artist lead on their creative process, so my advice is to find an artists whose work you love so you can trust them to produce something unique and special for you. A couple of our commissions were made by artists who then became friends, so they knew us well – which makes it all the more special.
Thanks so much to Kavita for chatting to us and sharing her home art collection! Follow her on Instagram for more inspiration on art, fashion and motherhood @kavitacola