You wouldn’t know it to see my home, but my favorite style of displaying art is in a collage arrangement. I love the interaction of texture, the play of colors, the interesting elements that draw you into the display. My husband isn’t a fan of collages of any type so I’ve restrained my natural preference. However, we have lots of wall space in this new house so I’m going to start adding a little collage element here and there (and see if he even notices!).
What is a Collage Art Display?
Collage: “an assemblage of diverse elements in unexpected juxtaposition”. So if you have a wall of framed art hung in a nice even grid but then you introduce a mask or shelf with accessories or wall vase with flowers, you’ve created a collage.
Photo via Coastal Living.com, 2010 showhouse
Anything with dimension and a new texture (not smooth glass in a frame) will contribute to a collage feeling in your wall display. This carved wood piece adds great dimension and texture without overwhelming the pictures.
Photo via Casa Sugar.com
This black shape on the white wall contains all the elements of this collage: pictures, shadowboxes, a clock, a metal flower and a birdcage. Note how all the pieces are very similar in size, keeping the arrangement orderly.
Photo via SparrowsNest1.blogspot.com
Another display on a black wall – black really offers a ‘pop’ off the wall and showcases art by high contrast – much stronger even than on a white wall. Did you notice that hidden in this collage collection is the home thermostat? Genius!
Photo via Funky Junk Interiors.com
A true collage with nary a picture anywhere in sight….it’s just an interesting collection of vintage and textural pieces that appeal to the owner. Aren’t the stairs a clever way to recycle wood signs? You can see the project at Funky Junk.blogspot.com.
Photo via Miss Mustard Seed.blogspot.com
Mixing art and plates is a tried and true way to create interest and a collage feel to your wall display. This very symmetrical arrangement sets a formal tone even though the lamp bases and use of pinecones might be casual.
This wall display (from Country Living.com) mixes a mirror into the collage for a change of shape, texture and dimension. What do you think of the statement coffee table?
Photo via Little Big Nest.blogspot.com
Over a mantel is a very visible place to be brave and try your hand at creating a collage. You have the advantage of the ‘shelf’ of the mantel becoming part of the overall display which gives you more options. This mantel makes a collage of overlapping empty frames mixed in with a variety of gardeny items. I think it’s fun, fresh and visually appealing.
Art Groupings are for Everyone
This is installment 4 of the ‘hanging art’ series. It started a few weeks ago by reviewing different ways to display art and then covered specifically working with large single pieces of art (proportion, etc) followed last week by hanging art in groupings. Next week will wrap the series by focusing on the best way to use mirrors.
If you’re feeling a touch of the restless winter blues, here’s a fun exercise for you. Take down all your art (really, all of it!) and spread it on the floor or lean against a wall. What pieces have a relationship? Either size, color, frame size similarity OR a major contrast in size or color? Look for pieces to group together in new combinations to make looking at your walls fun again. This exercise really works best if you can take down all the art because a piece that has always been in your bedroom might be just what you need to complete a new grouping in the dining room. Shuffle those art pieces around and you’ll find that you actually “see” the art again because it’s in a new place. Who’s willing to give it a try?
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Love the concept of the collage. What makes it attractive is the use of asymmetry in the groupings and dissimlar objects that helps to create interest to the eye. That way you do not have to worry about everything lining up. I recently hung an ‘art grouping’ at home and it was not much fun trying to get everything lined up but I managed to successfully do so after a few tries.