THE LOCAL VAULT
ON THE SEARCH FOR THE PERFECT FIT:
HOW TO BRING ART INTO THE HOME, A DISCUSSION WITH AMIE APPLETON GREENSPAN, March 28, 2020
While choosing the right art for your home can be an extremely personal decision, it can also be a daunting one. The way we style our home can alter the mood of a room and thus our own emotions. Amie Appleton Greenspan of Appleton Art Design thrives creatively by helping to guide her clients towards art that will speak to them and go on to be a treasured addition to the home.
From a young age, Amie has been drawn towards understanding others and what drives them. “…I have been interested in how people live; their customs, their beliefs, and the art and artifacts that represent those values. In college, I majored in Art History and Anthropology, and then as an attorney, I was able to help people implement their business ideas. Forming Appleton Art Design was the next natural step for me.” Growing up with a creative mother gave her an early start honing her eye and her love of the arts. “I grew up … in a home filled with original art. My mother designed clothing and accessories and was always cutting fabrics and sewing samples. She manufactured her product in Jamaica, she sourced her textiles there, and we lived there for extended periods. This exposure heavily influenced my aesthetic.”
The whole process of discovering artists and pairing them with a client whose home will be just the right fit is one that brings her joy and one that comes naturally to her though that isn’t to say that it doesn’t require hard work and skill. “Unique artists are increasingly few and far between; finding what works for my gallery collection requires my constant attention to visual information while also pausing and listening to my instincts…I love introducing homeowners to artists that they would not otherwise discover and helping artists connect with an audience that will appreciate their work.”
For those who are just beginning the search for meaningful works of art for their home, she offers this suggestion. “Start exploring so that you can discover what you like. When a particular piece of art interests you, ask whether the artwork is part of a series to help you understand the context in which it was made. This type of engagement helps ensure that the artwork will endure the test of time.” Even for those who are experienced in integrating art into their home can benefit from an outside perspective. “Many people are intimidated by purchasing art, especially concerned that the artwork will not fit with the design of their home, so, before they decide to purchase a piece, I encourage them to first live with it. I offer complementary art consulting services on site, reconfiguring the use of already owned pieces and determining which spaces would benefit from a new piece. This is always really helpful to my clients.”
HEARST MEDIA PUBLICATIONS
THE ART DOESN'T HAVE TO MATCH THE SOFA, July 8, 2017, Joel Lang
Amie Appleton Greenspan of Westport, whose Appleton Art Design has garnered several Best of Houzz awards, believes art and decor is not an either/or proposition.
“A piece can be decorative and contain substance. Pieces I would classify as decorative are those that only hold the viewer’s interest momentarily. Your eyes see it, but move past it,” she says. Art with substance “will hold your eyes longer,” compelling attention.
Greenspan, who got a law degree after studying art history and anthropology in college, sees herself as part concierge and part curator. She takes pride in working with a roster of artists whose work rewards both aesthetically and conceptually; work that in one way or another conveys substance.
Elusive and subjective, substance is what Greenspan sometimes calls the “art part” of the buying equation. “The art part is what speaks to (clients) when they just look,” she says. “The design part is more technical in terms of working with the rest of the room, size-wise, color-wise and texture-wise.”
Greenspan says people should see as much art as they can, but not buy until they see how a piece fits in their home, which reflects her own curatorial preferences. “If I can’t live with it, I don’t expect my clients to live with it either,” she says.
NEW CANAAN AND DARIEN MAGAZINE, MOFFLY MEDIA
TRUE ORIGINAL, March/April 2015
PUT ART FIRST. Although many decorators seeks out art to finish a space, Amie Greenspan of Westport-based Appleton Art Design says think of it first. "It may actually trim your budget for other accessories, or influence how you select them; and it may positively influence the overall design direction."
MIX IT UP. It's okay to let artistic originals share space with more pedestrian pieces. "My job is all about editing. I help you mix something new with the posters in the kitchen and the photos in the living room," says Greenspan.
AT HOME MAGAZINE, MOFFLY MEDIA
ARTS + ANTIQUES TODAY, May/June 2014
We asked three dealers with an eye for wonderful things for advice on finding the right piece to enhance and complete a room. "Look actively and listen to your instincts. The right piece will ignite an emotional connection," says Amie, who owns Appleton Art Design in Westport, offering modern, postmodern and contemporary art. As a complementary service, she consults with clients on the placement of new pieces, reconfiguring existing art when needed.
NEW ENGLAND HOME MAGAZINE
FRIDAY FAVORITES, August 9, 2013, Stacy Kunstel
Contrast and texture are key in Lawrence McGarvey's work that I spotted in Amie Greenspan's Appleton Art Design gallery in Westport, Conn. This particular piece, a black-and-white image of coral on Plexiglas, appears both organic and modern at the same time. While his work encompasses different and brighter colors, the drama of the stark black and white attracted me the most.
CONNECTICUT COTTAGES AND GARDENS
MATCH MAKER, October 2012, Ann Loynd
Appleton Art Design, a gallery designed to actively source artwork to the interior design trade, will have its official opening October 5. Owner Amie Greenspan aims to provide professionals with pieces that complement their tastes.
NEW ENGLAND HOME MAGAZINE
WHAT WHEN WHERE, September 17, 2012, Lisa E. Harrison
Sometimes, when one person decides to pursue her passion, we all benefit. Such is the case with Amie Appleton Greenspan’s latest venture, Appleton Art Design—a gorgeous new gallery in Westport, Conn.
Greenspan, an attorney who’s repped businesses in the fashion, art and design world, studied art history in college and has had a longstanding interest in art and design.
The gallery specializes in contemporary art (works on canvas, paper and Plexiglas, in oil, acrylic, watercolors and pastels, as well as photography), and Greenspan is currently collaborating with a talented troupe of well-known and emerging artists, many of whom haven’t been represented in the area. Her approach is very personal: “I select artwork that resonates with color and texture, and appeals to my sense of design,” she says.
Greenspan sells directly to the design trade and the general public by appointment only. Most of the artwork falls between $1,000 and $4,000. “I have found that there is a need for original and accessible design-oriented art,” she says. “I have also discovered that many artists with great talent are not adequately represented by traditional galleries. My gallery aims to bring these interests and needs together.”
A goal we can all get behind indeed.