As has been experienced within the walls at gallery exhibits, when celebrating a friend’s framed acquisition at a cocktail party, or even while appreciating a child’s first watercolor “masterpiece” magnetized to a refrigerator door, a piece of art can affect the human experience in an immediate way.
Similarly, surrounding ourselves with art in our everyday work lives can instantly fill us with a sense of inspiration. Art that makes us feel. Art that makes us create. Art that makes us connect.
If you invite art into the workplace, whether in your home office or in a shared communal setting, it will readily RSVP and bring with it a sensory experience that will have an enriching effect, not only on those who inhabit the space daily, but also for those who cross the threshold into our professional world and pull up a chair.
“Art in a home office has the unique power to set a tone for daily intentions and uplift one’s spirit upon entering the space,” said Martine Chaisson, owner of Martine Chaisson Gallery. “By choosing pieces that resonate on a personal level, you can create an environment that is both motivating and comforting.”
As an elaborate example, Chaisson recalls a corporate client who acquired a large-scale, 1,500-piece origami installation for their main meeting space that spanned the length of a 20 ft. wall and up onto the ceiling in a flowing organic pattern.
“The scale of the work dramatically transformed the space. Previously, the room felt large and impersonal. Once the installation was placed it became a focal point that energized the room, sparking conversations and inspiring creativity during meetings.”
Chaisson, who represents emerging and established artists to enhance both corporate and individual environments, believes that incorporating art can profoundly impact the mood of a workspace.
“Art can evoke creativity and can break the monotony of a sterile office setting and introduce elements of color and emotion,” said Chaisson. “For instance, abstract art with bold colors and dynamic forms can energize a space, encouraging out-of-the-box thinking and enhancing problem-solving abilities. Similarly, serene landscapes or nature-inspired pieces can create a calming effect, reducing stress and promoting a focused, tranquil working environment. The key is to select art that resonates with the core values and energy of the workspace, ensuring it aligns with and enhances the intended atmosphere.”
Martine Chaisson Gallery, 727 Camp St., martinechaissongallery.com.
Figuratively Speaking
Catherine Martens Betz, owner and curator of Elliott Gallery, a fine art gallery in the heart of the French Quarter, has noticed both from the art lecture circuit and her own personal experience that productivity increases exponentially when art is incorporated into a work environment. “People are 20% more focused when they like what is on their walls,” said Betz. “When you look up and take a moment, then look back down to your work you are more motivated to get back to it.”
Betz, whose gallery houses contemporary and modern works by world-renowned artists ranging from Pablo Picasso to Salvador Dali, also speaks to the emotional impact of art within the workspace on a personal level, calling to mind a James Coignard piece that she presented to her best friend who works for New York Life Insurance. “I gifted it to her with one caveat – that she display it in her office,” said Betz. “With her business, it’s not always an easy thing for people to discuss, and people are more honest about what they want and what they need when they are comfortable. Clients who walk into a conference room with art can feel like they are at your house instead of an office.”
Elliott Gallery, 540 Royal St., elliottgallery.com.
It’s All in The Framework
With a city as lively as New Orleans, our workspaces often echo that vibrancy. Finding this to be true is Anne Selser, manager at Magazine Street Framing, whose team has custom framed everything from one-of-a-kind archival artwork to jazz fest posters to heirloom photographs. However, when it comes to guiding a client through a frame choice, particularly in an office, often the best way to complement an artistic piece is to consider a juxtaposing aesthetic.
“Something more sleek and modern doesn’t necessarily draw as much attention and allows the art to speak for itself in a way,” said Selser. “This provides for a cleaner, fresher and sometimes calmer environment, whereas a frame that is more decorative and traditional can make a space feel established and older, while also commanding attention. It all comes down to how the occupant of the office wants to feel within their space.”
With a variety of over 1000 moulding options offered in house, Selser, who has a digital art degree from LSU and specializes in layout and color, has also observed that incorporating a variety of frames in size, shape and style adds an energetic and eclectic mood to the work environment.
“Framing specifically to each piece can accentuate the art as opposed to adhering to one style. Having pieces framed differently also makes the entire space more visually dynamic. When a group of artwork is all framed identically, the pieces tend to blend into one another, especially in a more corporate environment. Having a variety of frame styles can break up the monotony of an office, making your walls more eye-catching and your space a bit more intriguing.”
Magazine Street Framing, 3645 Magazine St., magazinestreetframing.com.
The Art of Layering
The idea of art undeniably spans beyond the canvas. This can include sculptural elements, mementos, desk accoutrements and other objet du art to achieve a desired aesthetic. We checked in with Katie Logan LeBlanc and Jensen Killen, principals of Logan Killen Interiors (lkistudio.com) and owners of retail store Sunday Shop, for the best ways to balance the mix of office items and make the most interesting use of an artful workspace.
1. Meaningful art. Make sure you really love what you have hung. Budget be damned, a gallery wall of thrift store finds and vintage posters is our favorite anyway.
2. Light layering is a thing too. If nothing else, ditch the overhead lighting – shaded lamps are a great way to give cozy charm to your workspace
3. Edit. Layering brings life and comfort to a room, but studies need to provide a space to think and breathe. Color grouping is an easy starting place.
4. Avoid typical office accessories. Use a favorite ceramic vase to hold writing utensils and decorative antique boxes to contain clutter and add depth.
5. Trays! Lending unity to disparate objects, this simple object can go so far.
6. Plants and candles. Always. If your conditions don’t allow for a thriving plant, a cutting in a vase will work miracles.
Sunday Shop, 2025 Magazine St., sundayshop.co.
If These Walls Could Talk
Chad Graci, owner of Graci Interiors, reflects on the importance of intentional positioning of art to let it achieve its best visual impactful potential.
“Proper art placement is nearly as important as the piece itself,” said Graci. “So many factors including but not limited to lighting, architecture, wall finish and furniture placement play a key role on the impact of the art.”
He notes that allowing the selected art to have space to shine helps the art to reach its full impact potential. Said Graci, “I think a piece of art can be inspiring in many ways depending upon where it is placed and the overall function of that room. Usually I do not decorate around art but let each piece have its own voice.”
With a knowledge of and close working relationships with many local artists, his clients often trust him to source pieces from those he knows and celebrates.
“I try to use our incredible pool of local artists and galleries first. I think it is so important to impart a sense of place in a home and local art can do just that.”
Graci Interiors, 1055 St. Charles Ave., Ste. 222, graciinteriors.com.
Passion and Profession
Hattie Sparks, owner and lead designer of Hattie Sparks Interiors, has experienced an uptick of clients inquiring about making a home working space all the more inspired and inviting.
“Almost every project we’ve taken on over the past five years has also come with a request to design a comfortable and beautiful home office,” said Sparks.
Taking into consideration the many ways that art can lead to an inspired environment, particularly in a workspace, Sparks notes the importance of cohesive choices that reflect the personality of the inhabitant.”
“I tend to think that a well-appointed room inspires people to rise to whatever occasion presents itself. There’s something about a room that is in tune with your personality that has an incredible effect on your demeanor.”
When asked if the artwork in an office space should be more reflective of the client’s personality vs. their profession, Sparks tends towards the former, with a caveat.
“Typically the artwork represents the personality of the owner. A lot of times their profession has strong ties to their personality, so it’s always fun when we can find work that has a subtle nod to that person’s profession, versus something super obvious,” said Sparks who once found a brass scales of justice at a vintage shop for a client who is a lawyer.
With her master’s degree in art history, Sparks has a penchant for sourcing art from local talent, naming a several of her favorite artists like Mary Ball, Frank Relle, Logan Ledford, Mallory Page, Mary Singleton, Ashton Despot, Rayne Housey and Alexis Walter.
As for a few of her go-to resources, she names Martine Chaisson Gallery, Claire Elizabeth Gallery and Union Gallery. “I find that taking clients into a gallery and letting the professionals there guide them through the pieces and what makes them special is incredibly helpful.”
Hattie Sparks Interiors, hattiesparks.com
Awaken The Spirit
The power of inspirational art in an office setting was a notion that Liz Lapeyre, MD, FACOG, ABOIM at the Women’s Wellness and Survivorship Center at Ochsner Baptist, was keen to pursue.
Following a generous accumulation of sums from donors, Lapeyre went about redesigning the space from the ground up. “When I started planning the Center, it was with the goal for it to be a calm place for our patients,” said Lapeyre. “We wanted to make it feel like they are in a different space when they walk in. I love art and think it’s a great way to connect.”
Lapeyre turned to several local galleries for pieces for the Center, including a large-scale kimono made of wire and beads by KeySook Geum, a ceramic floral wall installation dancing along the wall from Bradley Sabin and a sculptural boat installation by Raine Bedsole, all acquired from Callan Contemporary (518 Julia St., callancontemporary.com).
“We have a lot of cancer survivors and seeing art like the kimono and the Wonder Woman painting (work by Nicole Charbonnet commissioned through the Arthur Roger Gallery) right when you come in can make you feel empowered,” said Lapeyre.
Other exceptional points of interests throughout the Center include work by Ida Kohlmeyer behind reception, a large piece in the hallway by Patti Lapeyre and a pink diptych by Cole Pratt.
For a particularly inspired visual, Lapeyre arranged for a Breath of Life installation by glass artist Juli Juneau to be suspended from the ceiling in the hallway outside patient rooms by the clinic nurse’s station. During an art therapy session at YAYA Arts Center, several cancer survivors had the opportunity to breathe into the glass as the work was in progress, forever capturing their breath into the sculpture. Artistic and moving moments like these perfectly encapsulate what Lapeyre hoped to achieve.
“The vision was to create a healing space for patients and Ochsner administration and donors embraced the vision and made it a reality,” said Lapeyre. “A number of patients comment on how beautiful the center is and actually thank us for creating such a beautiful and tranquil environment.”
Women’s Wellness and Survivorship Center at Ochsner Baptist, 2820 Napoleon Ave., ochsner.org.
Local Gallery Listing
Fortunately, New Orleans has an impressive array of galleries that carry a wide range of art with something for everyone. Be sure to check out the options below. These spots also make a great rainy day or beat-the-heat activity with the entire family. This list has been checked for contact accuracy and was current at the time of publication.
A Gallery for Fine Photography
241 Chartres St.
agallery.com
A.L. Lowe Custom Picture Framing
1126 S. Carrollton Ave.
allowecustomframing.com
Alex Beard Studio
3926 Magazine St.
alexbeardstudio.com
Alexis Walter Art
702 Magazine St.
alexiswalter.com
Angela King Gallery
241 Royal St.
angelakinggallery.com
Antieau Gallery
719 Royal St.
antieaugallery.com
Anton Haardt Gallery
2858 Magazine St.
antonhaardtgallery.com
Arabi Visual Arts
St. Claude Arts Building
Arabi
arabivisualarts.com
Ariodante Contempory Craft Gallery
535 Julia St.
ariodantegallery.com
Art by Christy Gallery
4616 Magazine St.
artbychristy.com
ARtscapes AR
935 Gravier St #1042
artscapes.co
Arthur Roger Gallery
432 Julia St.
arthurrogergallery.com
Axiom Art Gallery
4613 Freret St.
axionartgallery.com
Beata Sasik
541 Julia St.
sasikart.com
Billy Solitarino Fine Art
4531 Magazine St.
billysolitarino.com
Black Heritage Gallery
719 Bourbon St.
blackheritagegallery.org
Caliche & Pao Gallery
312 Royal St.
calicheandpao.com
Callan Contemporary
518 Julia St.
callancontemporary.com
Camp Street Studios
822 Camp St.
campstreetstudios.org
Carol Robinson Gallery
840 Napoleon Ave.
carolrobinsongallery.net
Casey Langteau Art
4700 Magazine St.
caseylangteauart.com
Claire Elizabeth Gallery
131 Decatur St.
claireelizabethgallery.com
Cole Pratt Gallery
3800 Magazine St.
coleprattgallery.com
Craig Tracy Gallery
827 Royal St.
craigtracy.com
Creative Alliance of New Orleans
326 Esplanade Ave.
cano-la.org
Degas Gallery
604 Julia St.
thedegasgallery.com
Derby Pottery & Tile
2029 Magazine St.
derbystudio.com
Dr. Bob Folk Art
3027 Chartres St.
drbobart.com
Dutch Alley Artist’s Co-op
912 N. Peters St.
dutchalleyonline.com
Eight One Eight
2300 Laharpe St.
gallery818photography.com
Elise Allen Art
6063 Magazine St.
eliseallenart.com
Elliott Gallery
540 Royal St.
elliotgallery.com
Esom Art
3935 Magazine St.
esomart.com
Ferrara Showman Gallery
400A Julia St.
ferrarashowman.com
Frank Relle Photography
910 Royal St.
frankrelle.com
Fredrick Guess Studio
607 Julia St.
frederickguessstudio.com
Frenchy Live
8314 Oak St.
frenchylive.com
The Front
4100 St. Claude Ave.
nolafront.org
Galerie Royale
3648 Magazine St.
frenchart.net
Gallery B Fos
2138 Magazine St.
beckyfos.com
Gallery Burguieres
736 Royal St.
galleryburguieres.com
Gallery Cayenne
702 Decatur St.
gqallerycayenne.com
Gallery Huracan
3441 Magazine St.
galleryhuracan.com
Gallery Orange
819 Royal St.
gallery-orange.com
Gallery Rinard
611 Royal St.
galleryrinard.com
Gallery 600 Julia
600 Julia St.
gallery600julia.com
George Schmidt Gallery
626 Julia St.
georgeschmidt.com
Glassblower Ben
1239 St. Ferdinand St.
glassblowerben.com
Good Children Gallery
4037 St Claude Ave.
goodchildrengallery.com
Great Artists Collective
815 Royal St.
greatartistscollective.com
Gryder Gallery
615 Julia St.
gryder.com
Guy Lyman Fine Art
by appointment only
guylymanfineart.com
Harouni Gallery
933 Royal St.
harouni.com
Ibis Contemporary Art Gallery
705 Camp St.
ibisartgallery.com
Jillian Mac Fine Art
3923 Magazine St.
jillianmacfineart.com
Jonathan Ferrara Gallery
400A Julia St.
jonathanferraragallery.com
Julie Silvers Art
3714 Magazine St.
juliesilvers.com
Kevin Gillentine Gallery
3917 Magazine St.
kevingillentine.com
Lemieux Gallery
332 Julia St.
lemieuxgalleries.com
Martine Chaisson Gallery
727 Camp St.
martinechaissongallery.com
M Contemporary
614 Julia St.
mcontemporary.com
Megan Barnes Art
2855 Magazine St.
meganbarnesart.com
Michalopoulos Gallery
617 Bienville St.
michalopoulos.com
MS Rau
622 Royal St.
rauantiques.com
Myth Gallery
831 Royal St.
@themythgallery
New Orleans Photo Alliance
7800 Oak St.
neworleansphotoalliance.org
New Orleans School of Glassworks & Printmaking
727 Magazine St.
neworleansglassworks.com
Octavia Art Gallery
700 Magazine St.
(in Gianna Restaurant) octaviaartgallery.com
Palace Market/Frenchmen Art Bazaar
619 Frenchmen St.
palacemarketnola.com
Pollack Glass Studio
4132 Magazine St Unit B
pollackglassnola.com
Porche-West Gallery
3201 Burgundy St.
porchewest.com
Potsalot Pottery
3818 Magazine St.
potsalot.com
Rodrigue Studio
730 Royal St.
georgerodrigue.com
Rosetree Blown Glass Studio and Gallery
446 Vallette St., Algiers
rosetreegallery.com
St. Claude Arts
6707 St Claude Ave., Arabi
stclaudearts.org
Scene By Rhys Fine Art
1036 Royal St.
scenebyrhys.com
Sibyl Gallery
8630 Zimple St.
sibylgallery.com
Sidewalk Side Studio
3645 Magazine St.
sidewalkside.com
Spillman Blackwell Fine Art
866 Camp St.
spillmanblackwellart.com
Staple Goods
1340 St. Roch Ave.
staplegoods.org
Stella Jones Gallery
201 St. Charles Ave.
stellajonesgallery.com
Sterling Frame Studio
3440 Magazine St.
sterlingfranmestudio.com
Steve Martin Studio/Gallery
624 Julia St.
stevemartinfineart.com
Studio Amanda Talley
1382 Magazine St.
amandatalley.com
StudioBE
2941 Royal St.
studiobenola.com
Sullivan Gallery
3825 Magazine St.
aocueno.sullivan-gallery.com
Sutton Galleries
519 Royal St.
suttongalleries.com
Tanner Gallery & Studio
830 Royal St.
tannergallery.com
Terrance Osborne Gallery
3029 Magazine St.
terranceosborne.com
The Speilman Gallery
1332 Washington Ave.
davidspeilman.com
Thomas Mann Gallery I/O
500 Napoleon Ave.
thomasmann.com
UNO St. Claude Gallery 2429
St. Claude Ave.
unostclaudegallery.com
Union Gallery
831 Royal St.
unionartgallery.com
Venusian Gardens
2601 Chartres St.
ehlenberger.com
Vieux Carre Gallery
507 St. Ann St.
vieuxcarregallery.com
Where y’Art Works
1901 Royal St.
whereyartworks.com
Windsor Fine Art
221 Royal St.
windsorfineart.com
Zele NOLA
2841 Magazine St.
@zele_nola
Zana Brown Studio Gallery
3908 Magazine St.
zanabrownstudio.com
