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Secrets of an Art Selector

It can sometimes feel a little daunting trying to choose a new artwork. But it’s something we do every day here. And to be honest, it’s quite good fun. Perhaps that’s the first secret…

Read on for some tips on choosing artwork for your home or business.

Tony Ogle is known as one of New Zealand’s leading screen printers.

He is famous for producing limited edition screen prints and paintings celebrating the New Zealand coastline.

Residing in Gisborne, in his home overlooking Wainui Beach, and working from his restored studio in town, Tony continues to be fully entrenched in the lifestyle and beach life that is New Zealand. His art is wonderfully capable of transporting the viewer to a moment of local coastal gold.

The Art Bureau asks Tony about his art and inspirations...

Do you look around your home and see family photographs, framed certificates, gorgeous artworks you’ve collected over time. Is it straight, at the right height, positioned correctly and connected with the room?

This is quite a funny topic for us! We professionally hang a lot of art in corporate offices, medical centres, professional practices and of course many family homes. The original artworks or limited edition prints we hang are precious and we take a great deal of care when installing them. This care can easily be applied to other precious items we see on the surrounding walls.

Here are a couple of our pro tips that we apply when hanging pictures, certificates, artworks or mirrors…

The appeal of Urban Art is catching. This modern genre continues to attract a growing following of New Zealand art lovers. We see its increased popularity in action with the different artworks that move through the Gallery each week. A client may come to us with a request for… something ‘a little edgy’, perhaps youthful, reflecting our modern urban lifestyle. And we are delighted to provide some awesome choice. We’re fortunate to partner with several local artists that are masters of this style in their own unique and compelling way.

Read on to find out more about the Urban Art style, and some of the local artists standing out in this space...

Landscape Art as a genre explores the ways we relate to the places we live in or imagine, and records the impact we have on the land and our environment.

Within this genre some artists choose to challenge and question the traditional definition of Landscape Art by expanding this definition to include urban and industrial landscapes, and through the use of ‘signifiers’ – concepts or symbols used to depict their personal relationship and experience of the land.

Read on to learn a little more about the genre of Landscape Art and some of the NZ artists producing outstanding Landscapes...

We have so many clever artists who create works of an exceptionally high standard. While they would love to share their art with many… they inadvertently can become a ‘best kept secret’ until you (the art appreciator) actually discover them for yourself. 

Doing this in person, face to face with the original piece of art, perhaps with the artist in attendance – well once you start that experience, you won’t stop.

Attending an art exhibition can be a breath of fresh air as you uncover a world of creation you may not have realised was available.