How Top Art Consultants Curate Contemporary Art Collections for Luxury Residences and Modern Spaces
In exploring the creatives who help to bring our modern homes to life, we spoke with Helene Brown and Tanya Kim of Fresh Paint Art Advisors, a woman-owned, women-led art consulting firm with a mission to transform our environments through art. With over 45 years of experience curating art collections for residential, commercial, and hospitality clients around the world, Fresh Paint were fundamental in providing select artworks for our Serenity project in Indian Wells, and we wanted to learn more about their process, perspective, and passion for connecting people and places with art.
Fresh Paint crafts personalized art collections from an extensive private inventory of over one thousand contemporary pieces, sourced through their network of artists, publishers, and galleries. They believe art is deeper than just how something looks. What really matters is how it makes you feel, and that is personal. So, their approach is personal too.
As Helene describes it, “It begins with listening…”. Whether working with homeowners, interior designers, or architecture firms, their process remains the same. They listen carefully to their clients to learn about each site’s unique architecture, energy, and light, and how the clients hope to experience art within them (it’s a similar approach to our own, where, “the lives that occupy the work, inspire the body of work”.). Site walkthroughs, reviews of floor plans, and continuing conversations further guide the process.
For clients who aren’t sure what type of art would work best in their space, or who find it difficult to connect deeply with anything presented through video and 3D renderings, in-person visits to the Fresh Paint fine art gallery, FP Contemporary provide a clarity that’s lost in virtual displays.
Photo courtesy of Fresh Paint Art Advisors
Photo courtesy of Fresh Paint Art Advisors
Photo courtesy of Fresh Paint Art Advisors
Their priority is connecting each project with the art that’s right for it. As Helene put it, “We aim to find the perfect piece for each client...”. To help in this, they can arrange onsite meetings for personalized recommendations on artwork placements, or loan pieces to clients for a few days, so they can “live” with them before purchasing. And often, the art makes the decision for them.
One client in the Hollywood Hills had a beautiful home completely bare of art. He borrowed a complete collection for a fundraiser party, and by the following morning, decided to buy it all. “He didn’t realize… what he was missing…”, Helene said, “ It just really changed his life.”. Tanya added, “Art changes the way people live in a space… It makes a home feel complete.”.
Photo courtesy of Fresh Paint Art Advisors
Photo courtesy of Fresh Paint Art Advisors
Photo courtesy of Fresh Paint Art Advisors
Photo courtesy of Fresh Paint Art Advisors
Photo courtesy of Fresh Paint Art Advisors
For our Serenity project in Indian Wells, the Fresh Paint team worked with Patty Evert, of Evert Fine Art, the project’s lead art consultant. Fresh Paint supplied Evert with several artworks that aligned perfectly with the vision for the home. One piece near the open plan dining room echoes the feeling of movement and speed in the luxury cars that are displayed just below, in a museum style garage that’s visible through the glass floor walkway.
Photo by William MacCollum
In the primary bedroom a bright, colorful piece hangs above the bedside fireplace and in the dining room gallery, a flame-like red sculpture sits illuminated in a built-in display.
Photo by Wiilliam MacCollum
Photo by William MacCollum
Other homes with modern art collections curated by Fresh Paint include luxury residences in Bel Air and Beverly Hills.
Photo courtesy of Fresh Paint Art Advisors
Photo courtesy of Fresh Paint Art Advisors
Photo courtesy of Fresh Paint Art Advisors
Photo courtesy of Fresh Paint Art Advisors
In addition to luxury residential projects, Fresh Paint also works in commercial and corporate settings, curating art collections for cruise ships, major global hotel brands, boutiques, design showrooms, multi-family residences, and other modern institutions. These projects come with their own creative challenges and rewards, including working with art committees (common with corporate clients), aligning selections with brand identities, and helping to elevate and enhance employee experience and workplace culture. “Working with corporations is really very gratifying because the people love it… They love having the artwork in front of them. The morale for the company is up, the creativity is up, people are happy looking at beautiful work.” Helene said.
Below, modern art filled interiors at cruise ships, hotels, and in a luxury showroom, all curated by Fresh Paint:
Princess Cruise Ship “Discovery”
Photo courtesy of Fresh Paint Art Advisors
Photo courtesy of Fresh Paint Art Advisors
Hotel Amarano, the Pendry Park City Utah, and Resorts World Las Vegas
Photo courtesy of Fresh Paint Art Advisors
Photo courtesy of Fresh Paint Art Advisors
Photo courtesy of Fresh Paint Art Advisors
Photo courtesy of Fresh Paint Art Advisors
Photo courtesy of Fresh Paint Art Advisors
Thomas Lavin Showroom at Pacific Design Center
Photo courtesy of Fresh Paint Art Advisors
Photo courtesy of Fresh Paint Art Advisors
Photo courtesy of Fresh Paint Art Advisors
For Larchmont Jewelers, a commercial client, Fresh Paint were given full creative control to curate an art collection that would span the entire boutique: a VIP Rolex dealership that includes luxury watches, fine jewelry, and a Ferrari room.
Photo courtesy of Fresh Paint Art Advisors
Photo courtesy of Fresh Paint Art Advisors
Photo courtesy of Fresh Paint Art Advisors
Photo courtesy of Fresh Paint Art Advisors
Photo courtesy of Fresh Paint Art Advisors
In the Ferrari room, a glossy aerodynamic wooden sculpture, Aria (Red), features the classic Ferrari red. Other rooms include metallic, glittery pieces, work by Asian American artists, and a piece in the bar area made of recycled car hoods.
Photo courtesy of Fresh Paint Art Advisors
Photo courtesy of Fresh Paint Art Advisors
Photo courtesy of Fresh Paint Art Advisors
To keep their inventory fresh and inspired, the Fresh Paint team regularly visit art studios, art fairs, MFA shows, and review a steady stream of artist submissions. “We are always looking for new work that inspires us...” Helene explained. And though they’re constantly bringing in new work by new creators, a core group of artists remains, who they’ve worked with for years. It’s a refreshing consistency in a world that feels like it’s changing so fast. If clients ever need help navigating the landscape of new emerging technologies, they’re here to help filter out the noise. AI, VR, and NFTs, Tanya says, “… [are not] a replacement for traditional art, but an expansion of the medium… They’re just tools… just like brushes in a toolkit”.
At the core of Fresh Paint’s practice is the belief that art heals, uplifts, and adds meaning to life, so it should be lived with, loved, and experienced. “Find the art that you love…” Tanya says, “If you find what you love, that's what makes you happy.”.
Check out some of the artists that make them happy: Donald Martiny, Ann Weber, and Yayoi Kusama.
Photo courtesy of Fresh Paint Art Advisors
Photo courtesy of Fresh Paint Art Advisors
Photo courtesy of Fresh Paint Art Advisors
Photo courtesy of Fresh Paint Art Advisors
To learn more, follow Fresh Paint at @freshpaintartadvisors and freshpaintart.com.