Art That Speaks To You

Photo: Doris Dirkling

On collecting, creating and celebrating what you already have.

Art should be personal and speak to you.

There are art collectors who partly view art as an investment, and that’s understandable. But even they, at their core, only buy what moves them. Art must whisper something deeper and resonate with you.

Every original piece I have ever collected came from that moment of connection. It was never about the artist’s name or price, but about a feeling - recognition rather. The quiet knowing that this piece says something I cannot put into words.

And what’s most beautiful is that I still love every single one of them.

Years later, I am still not tired of seeing them every day, including the first original art piece I acquired as a student in Göttingen, Germany. I saved up a whole year to be comfortable with purchasing it from an atelier next to a park where I used to jog. A coloured pencil sketch of a woman, back turned to the audience, revealing only her upper bare back, with her dark curly hair moved up and her head tilted slightly to the right, seemingly in thoughts in a vulnerable moment. This piece - like all other pieces - has aged with me, shifted meaning as I have changed, and that is how it should be.

Because true art doesn’t demand your attention, but keeps you company.

What If You Can’t Afford the “Acclaimed”?

Look closer. There’s so much extraordinary talent right next door.

Local artists, painters, photographers, sculptors; all creating from honesty and instinct, often without the platform to be seen. Supporting them isn’t just about finding affordable art; it’s about building community, about keeping creative culture alive where it starts.

I always tell people: look for local artists first. Unless you are a serious collector, invest in stories around you. Because for many creatives, living from art is an act of faith. When you buy their work, you’re not only decorating your walls. You are helping their dream to breathe.

My Mother, the Artist Next Door

The photograph above is by my mother. She is a wonderful photographer, though she has never called herself one.

Growing up, our walls were covered in her photographs: flowers, foliage, doorways, and windows from our travels within Europe.

During our hikes in the Alps, she was always the last on the mountain. Not because she was slow, but because she was constantly stopping to capture another wildflower. It became a running joke among my father, my brothers and me. It brought her joy, but I didn’t realize then that we were watching an artist at work.

Only later did I understand how much she influenced me - her way of noticing beauty in the overlooked, her eye for texture and natural imperfection. That same sensitivity guides how I approach design today.

My mum is a reminder that talent is everywhere. No fame, no platform, just a deep creative instinct - often sitting quietly right beside you.

If You Can’t Buy It, Create It

And if you can’t afford an artist’s work, start with your own. We are all creative in our own right. Look through your photographs, your travels, your memories - or those of your parents, siblings, children, nephews and nieces. Print them on canvas, frame them beautifully, and let them live in your home. When you fill your space with what you have lived and loved, your home begins to tell your story.

Because art isn’t only for collectors. It’s for people who feel. I am strongly convinced that the most beautiful homes aren’t filled with art that impresses others; they’re filled with art that reminds you who you are. Art that will make you smile or cry, art that reminds you of your journey and deeply connects with you. Art that will make your guests stare and wonder, because they do feel a connection too.

So support local. Celebrate the overlooked. And remember: beauty doesn’t always hang in galleries.

Sometimes, it is right in front of you.