How to know what art you like despite trends and noise

February 7, 2022 / Christina Garcia

Remember like, 7 years ago when Matisse prints gradually began flooding social media and dressed the walls of stylish rooms? Having a poster of his iconic cut-outs became a staple. The curvy shapes were everywhere—book covers, branding, fashion, wrapping paper, cafe interiors. This memory sticks out because I saw Henri Matisse: The Cut-Outs retrospective at the MoMa and was, like so many, enamored by this period of Matisse’s artwork and process. Over time, as I began to notice how ubiquitous the prints were becoming, I second-guessed my connection with them.

This situation feels familiar, doesn’t it? It begs the question, how do I find artwork that’s unique and special to me despite trends and noise? And alternatively, can I still love a trend (in this case, Matisse cut-outs) but discern whether the love for it is long-term?

What I’m trying to explore here is one’s deeper understanding of knowing what they like to thoughtfully collect art vs. spending to fill wall space.

If you want some help to define your style, I can attempt to assist by walking you through the ways I experience pieces and decide to make an acquisition. Over time this process has helped me articulate a pattern in my likes/dislikes that tends to be a north star guiding my purchases.

I should mention that the acquisition, in this instance, was just a postcard from the exhibition—low stakes!

So! Let’s say something catches my eye. Nice… there’s my first sign that I simply like how it looks. The rest goes something like this.

Who

Who created or designed this? Most times, just in simply reading a bit of context, I connect deeper with the artists, namely those whose experiences or ideas resonate with my own. They might support a cause that’s important to me, or they simply inspire me.

In the case of Matisse, I admired the way his artistic ambitions carried him through his final years when he was stricken with cancer and limited to a wheelchair. His exploration of color and shapes during a time that many would consider to be paralyzing not only continued but flourished. That jived with my own aspirations of finding meaning in every moment of living.

I guarantee this step will enrich the way you experience the artwork and be an infallible initial filter.

What

What was the artistic process like? What was the chosen technique or material? What does it suggest?

Yes, I adored the Memory of Oceania at first glance, but learning what led him to arrive at the final composition only made me admire it with more wonder. It was inspired by a photograph he took from his window on a vacation to Tahiti in 1930. Suddenly the tropical motifs began to reveal themselves. Ahh, that shape makes sense now!

As a Miami native with Cuban roots, this is appealing to me for obvious reasons. But only you can discover themes you are attracted to.

Where

Where would I want this piece to live? Here’s where I begin to apply some functional principles. I try to envision the space and the feeling I want to articulate. Oftentimes, I even take a lot of inspiration from the outside environment itself or consider different artworks for different rooms depending on the desired ~vibe~ in each.

If we’re looking at the cut-outs, most are super lively, vibrant and dynamic. This might be overthinking it, but I typically like to dress a wall of a room where I seek an energetic spirit with emotionally energetic pieces such as these. With the bold visual weight they carry, I also might choose a cut-out print for a space where I want a strong focal point.

Considering how you will actually experience a piece as it spends time with you in your space is helpful in thoughtful discernment and will help you avoid being stuck with something that doesn’t stir something in you long-term.

Why

The simplest question is, “Why do I want it?”

Am I trying to fill a space or does it give me butterflies? Am I trying to copy a picture of a room I like, or does this print really speak to me?

Sometimes it’s tricky to differentiate between these conflicting motives. I have historically gotten carried away admiring a space and tried to recreate it, which just meant I went through a lot of short-lived “phases” during my journey of discovering my own style.

My advice? Just sleep on it. If it’s really special to you, it will stamp itself in your brain forever. Beyond all the practical reasons to own an artwork, often that alone is enough.

It’s been 8 years, and the Matisse cutouts still live rent-free in my mind.