Lisa Congdon’s new work at Hijinks Gallery has a decidedly wintry theme despite opening on Fourth of July weekend. For those who don’t know Congdon’s backstory, she didn’t begin making art until she was in her 30’s and is entirely self-taught – attributes she considers essential to who she is as an artist.
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“I’ve always been attracted to barren, arctic landscapes in general, and I think that watching the documentary (Heima by Sigur Rós) was the tipping point for this new body of work…” – SF Examiner via Hijinks blog.
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Images from Gallery Hijinks and My Love For You.
If anyone makes it to the show please report back!
Say you’re not super knowledgeable about art, but you do know you love _______ (enter famous artist here). Perhaps you’ve lamented the fact that your love of Picasso won’t help you in the pursuit of living with art, but I would disagree! With a bit of guidance you can start to develop your taste on current (and affordable) art based on your preferences of “famous” art.
Here’s how this series works: each time I match a major artist of the 19th or 20th c. (e.g. Henri Matisse, Mark Rothko, Keith Haring) with current independent artists who share the artist’s style, subject, etc. Although there’s nothing wrong with museum prints, you’ll no longer have the excuse of not knowing any current, affordable artists you like!
If you love Klimt for his feminine, detailed portraits such as Mada Primavesi…
…then you should definitely check out Amanda Blake (top row), Elizabeth Bauman (middle row) and Vivienne Strauss (bottom row).
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If you like Klimt’s indulgent, sensuous work like Water Snakes II…
…then you might also like Audrey Kawasaki‘s paintings (below) which are also female-centric and erotic, but with a modern, manga comic twist.
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If you like Klimt’s romantic work like his world-famous painting, The Kiss…
…then you might like Australian artist, Eveline Tarunadjaja‘s girly, romantic work.
If you like Klimt’s darker, more abstract work like Jurisprudence…
…then you might also like the work of Stella im Hultberg with its similar stylistic elements and beautiful but edgy feel.
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And, if you like many people you love Klimt’s landscapes like Birch Forest…
…then you should check out Lisa Congdon‘s graphic landscapes.
Please feel free to leave suggestions for future artists.
Previous cheat-sheet: Georgia O’Keeffe
November 12th, 2009 · 1 Comment
Lisa Congdon, a painter on our List, has a stunning home in the Mission District filled with vibrant art and decorated with incredible care. Congdon’s home was profiled on Apartment Therapy and is an AMAZING inspiration for collecting and display art at home.
Congdon’s art collection consists of a few large, statement pieces, like the painting above the couch, and many medium and small pieces. Lisa not only displays her art beautifully but has also developed a unique style of mixing framed art with delicate little tchotchkes and graphic elements such as block letters and numbers.
Inspiration from Lisa Congdon’s art-filled home:
1. Carefully select your statement pieces and feature them prominently (e.g. Lisa’s living room)
2. Don’t be afraid to mix art of different media, size, color and style. Aim for a grouping that adds punch but doesn’t feel messy or chaotic
3. Installing a shelf or ledge is a great way to display artwork, especially if you like to switch out pieces frequently
4. Sets in odd numbers like 3 or 5 look great (e.g. Lisa’s bedroom)
5. Don’t be afraid to experiment and develop your own approach; there is never just one “right” way to display art!
