Blog Post

Custom pieces: a reflection on what's important

  • By Aly Jensen
  • 20 Apr, 2020
I love custom work. I think it's incredible to have work on your walls that not only reflects the artist that you love, but also reflects you. Not in the sense that you can see what they are seeing in a painting that they made or a feeling from sculpture, but rather, this is something that this artist made just for you—this is part of your story. As we are spending this time secluded in our homes, what are things that are coming up as important to you? What are you missing the most? What are you enjoying the most? As an introvert, I am loving this time that I get to be by myself, and so I am finding that I really am loving that my home is a haven; that it is a safe space for me to feel calm and like I am able to be whoever I need to be. While this is said of me as an introvert, I am also well aware of how my extroverted friend is feeling in being cooped up and unable to see her friends as often as she would like to. In my home I have custom pieces that make me feel at home, whereas my friend has custom pieces in her home that are conversation starters for when she is entertaining. She is often inviting people over—or FaceTiming them now—so a conversation piece is more her style.
A recent commission for a client by James Navarro—where they were married in Des Moines
A recent commission for a client by James Navarro—where they were married in Des Moines
We are working with some pretty incredible artists and have put together a list so that we can pair you with the perfect artist to paint a portrait of your family, your furry friend, your childhood home, your favorite landmark, the place you got married, the place you were born, or whatever you can dream up! Let us know if there's something in mind that you'd love to capture in a painting to cherish forever.
Aly Jensen, author
By Liz Lidgett March 31, 2025
Stylemaker, blogger and designer, Haneen Matt curated a special collection from our gallery's artists. She has been featured in Better Homes & Gardens, Architectural Digest and more, through her blog Haneen’s Haven.
By Liz Lidgett March 18, 2025
Mónica Ajenjo opens up about her new collection, “I Gave You My Heart,” and shares the emotional journey behind her art, the challenges she’s faced, and the inspirations that keep her work alive.
By Sara Kent-Schneider March 12, 2025
Paige Barnes Dorsey’s snakes are not only art, but have distinct personalities, capturing elegance, mystery, and whimsy. See how we’ve envisioned them slithering onto our screens!
Show More
Share by: