Category: Uncategorized
Guest Curator: Charles Michael Davis
Guest Curator
Charles Michael Davis
Most may know Charles Michael Davis as an actor, model, producer, and director—recognized for his notable roles in the TV dramas The Originals, Younger, NCIS, and Grey’s Anatomy—but few may know him as an emerging photographer and avid art collector.
Though he fell in love with photography while taking a college course, Charles’s time in front of the camera—modeling for esteemed photographers such as Yu Tsai, Jim Jordan, and Mark Seliger—offered him invaluable knowledge and helped hone his own artistic practice. In March 2023, for the first-time, Charles debuted his photography at The Other Art Fair Los Angeles, and his work caught the eye of selection committee members earning him a coveted director’s pick.
As for his personal art collection, it is an eclectic mix of black-and-white photography, large-scale Pop art portraits, textured wall hangings, sculptural works, and vibrant abstracts. Proudly on display throughout his LA home, Charles carefully curated each room, ensuring the art enhanced the space and reflected his dynamic personality.
Bringing his unique artistic vision and expertise, Charles curated a diverse selection of works featuring Saatchi Art artists that reflect his passion for innovation, storytelling, and the exploration of human experience.
“For me, the role of art in my life is threefold. It tells me where I am, where I’d like to be, and where I am still yet to explore.”
Reminiscent of Charles’s own series, “A Prayer for the Wild at Heart,” this collection examines the expressive and primal nature of the human form and the clean lines and thoughtful proportions of geometric art.
“Images of the human form are so expressive and visceral, and with geometric works, I find the lines, proportions, and colors very meditative and pleasing.”
When curating this selection, Charles went with his intuition, choosing works he gravitated towards; only when it was complete did he notice the consistent throughline of subject matter.
With this collection, Charles hopes people feel curious to explore their connection to art further and see what they recognize within themselves.
“I encourage you to explore, to develop a sense of self, taste, and style that’s truly your own. That’s the value of art. That’s what makes it worth it.”
Best of Spring 2023
Guest Curator: Joshua Smith
“In this noisy world we live in today, it is essential to our well-being to calm, quiet, and still the mind.”
Interior designer Joshua Smith believes our homes should be a sanctuary—a place to escape, unwind, and live blissfully—and creating a dedicated space for meditation is an integral part of his work.
When designing a meditation space, Joshua always recommends his clients include a primary work of art that speaks to them.
When designing a meditation space, Joshua always recommends his clients include a primary work of art that speaks to them.
“I find that, like myself, so many of us are deeply moved by Mother Nature, so this collection is an ode to my favorite muse.”
Whether it be guided, sitting in stillness, watching the flame of a candle, or contemplating on a piece of art, there are many ways to practice meditation. The beauty of incorporating a piece of art into your practice, is that by focusing on it, you’re brought into present moment.
And just as one’s meditation practice is unique to them, this collection includes a juxtaposition of both soft and moody tones, mirroring the light and shadow aspects of nature.
Each piece within the collection draws on elements of nature, some in more abstract ways than others. Paying careful consideration to color, Joshua includes greens, blues, and muted tones to evoke a sense of calm in the body and soothe the soul.
Elements of Art
Fine Art Prints
Global Perspectives
2023 Contemporary Art Market
2023 Contemporary Art Market Report
Gourmet Selfie
Cédrick Vannier
$5,850
3D Fantasy Landscape
Väino Valdmann
$700
What's Trending for Creating and Purchasing Art in 2023?
Wall
Jenny Gray
$1,400
As we embark on a new year and decide on our goals for 2023, whether those include more travel, redecorating your kitchen, or buying more art, it is always important to know the forecasted trends for the year. If you’re hoping to add to your art collection with exciting art by emerging artists, we’ve discovered five contemporary art market trends you’ll want to keep in mind as you browse our online gallery. These five trends will set a tone for the year and create rippling effects in the contemporary art world, home decor, and more. Read on to discover our curators’ and art advisors’ predictions that promise to make 2023 your best year for buying art.
New and established collectors are looking to invest more in political and activist art this year. Whether you consider yourself politically engaged or are hoping to become more so in 2023, selecting art that proudly displays your opinions and acts as a conversation starter could be a great motivator to support an emerging artist and actively contribute to a worthy cause.
Let the artwork in your home speak louder than words while supporting politically active artists making a unique statement and new point of view through their art practice. If you’re hoping to become more engaged in the political conversation and outspoken with your beliefs, buying art as a form of activism and contributing to socially engaged artists’ success will give you a stronger foundation and informed perspective to build on for the year. This greater demand for activism art encourages and inspires artists to create work with a political and social message and further cement themselves in this specific time in history.
The Peaceful Missile
Sha Ganjali
$6,550
Interstellar // Awoken
Simon McCheung
$2,460
Color Blinds
Wayne Sumstine
$4,950
Mountain Views
Gigi Gorlova
$480
Pink Palace
Allison Bagg
$545
Digital Escapism
As we become increasingly invested in our virtual personas through purchasing digital art and NFTs and our curated lives within the Metaverse, discovering art that caters to the phygital experience will become incredibly sought after in 2023. If you’re already a collector of digital art and NFTs, you can look forward to the continued leaps in technology and how it can foster a greater appreciation for artists and the work they create.
If you’re new to the world of digital art and NFTs, 2023 will be the year that you will want to take chances and grow yourself (and your art collection) by experiencing everything the virtual art world has to offer. Not sure where to start? Explore our NFT page and learn more about our curated collections, exclusive art drops, and trailblazing projects for 2023. If you’re ready to go further and want exclusive access to our digital art and NFT drops, sign up for our newsletter and never miss an announcement or new project in this constantly evolving and surprising area of the art world.
NoChurch #2.1
Oderspace SOS
$499
Bold and Expressive Colors
2023—the year of color and expression. Toss away the beige and boring and welcome in bright, bold, and expressive colors for the new year. The artwork you select for your home doesn’t have to match your sofa or rug perfectly. In fact, your interiors will become far more intriguing and unique when you mix patterns and opt for vivid and unexpected colors over neutral and unremarkable shades.
When selecting your next statement piece to liven up a space, choose artwork with bright and inviting hues that will reinvent, celebrate, and rejuvenate your everyday living areas and immediately boost your mood. Trending colors like the Pantone Color of the Year, Viva Magenta, embody this sentiment toward uplifting palettes that breathe new life into your home and state of mind. Unconvinced? Bright colors are proven to make you feel more energized and focused. Bold colors can grab viewers’ attention, and wouldn’t you like your visitors to fully appreciate your newly acquired artwork as soon as they step into your home?
Cumulus Fire 1
Mike Edwards
$470
Flow 003
Nina Lance
$360
All In Tears
Agata Żychlińska
$5,000
Silhouette Of A Vase 22
Eleni Psyllaki
$580
One
Paul Gadd
$1,660
Japandi
If bright colors will never be for you (which is perfectly fine), rest assured that soothing and more natural color palettes will always be in fashion. As wellness-oriented interiors continue to dominate residential and commercial designs, a new art style has emerged that blends the sophistication of Japanese living with that of Scandinavian comfort. A perfect fusion, Japandi focuses on minimalist aesthetics, high functionality, and sustainable practices.
The Japandi aesthetic emphasizes the inclusion and importance of natural materials and textures with simple, useful designs. In 2023, collectors and artists will continue striving to be more eco-friendly and look to support and use sustainable methods and materials. With the combination of sleek Japanese design and the more rustic leanings of Scandinavian aesthetics, Japandi offers a sensible solution to enjoy the benefits of both. Why choose one over the other when you can have the best of both sensibilities?
Terra IV
Jessi Wong
$3,800
Across all the trends is a sense of timelessness. Although these contemporary art market trends are looking forward to the future, their underlying truths surrounding art and art collecting remain the same: whether it’s a statement piece, an artist working with new technologies, or a style embodying lasting aesthetics, these five art trends illustrate our enduring appreciation for art’s ability to move us emotionally and enhance our daily lives.
And the 2023 emerging trend that embodies this timelessness the best is perhaps our final trend, sculpture. Take time this year to discover contemporary sculptors working across various mediums like fiber art, wooden sculpture, and metalworking, and find one that speaks to you. Searching for the right sculpture can be far more fun than daunting when you start small and look at tabletop sculptures or dynamic mobiles to hang from the ceiling. Think about sculpture that works with your interior, whether your home is full of extreme angles and blank spaces in need of comforting textile wall hangings or if your home is overflowing with antique furniture that needs a modern sculpture to mix it up. Be daring this year in your art choices and take advantage of our online gallery with over 100,000 artists working across all styles, mediums, and continents.
The Opportunist 2
Valerie Wilcox
$3,500
Streamer 91
Frans Muhren
$5,950
Organic Totem 14 NB
Cristina Figarola
$4,550
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23 Artists to Collect in 2023
Living with Art: Nat Pedley
LIVING WITH ART
Saatchi Art Collectors Take us Inside their Homes
Meet Nat Pedley
A Doctor Who Uses Art to Transport Him to a Place or Moment
Nat Pedley is a full-fledged collector, although it wasn’t always that way. “Before meeting my wife, I didn’t really have an appreciation for art,” Nat explained. But after many museum dates and days spent scouring local galleries while on vacation, Nat fell in love with buying art. In fact, it was during a long weekend trip to Block Island, that he picked up his very first original artwork: a small acrylic painting by a local artist which—surreptitiously!—depicted the exact beach view he saw from his window at the bed & breakfast each morning.
A primary care physician in Los Angeles, Nat particularly enjoys how art can transport him immediately back to special memories, and he often purchases art to commemorate a favorite trip or important moment. “I love returning from a vacation and buying a work of art that brings to life the scenery or feelings I experienced on that trip, even if no one else but me could connect the art to the destination,” he says. Of course, art beautifies his home too. “Discovering and living with art is like becoming literate—you are exposed to places, people, and beauty previously unknown to you; the world around you is enriched in a way it wasn’t before.” For him having a house filled with art allows for brief escapes from his regular routine—important given his demanding work schedule. “I only have to meditate on a favorite work for a few minutes to re-experience an old memory or that spark I felt when I first laid eyes on the work.”
“Discovering and living with art is like becoming literate—you are exposed to places, people, and beauty previously unknown to you; the world around you is enriched in a way it wasn’t before.”
His favorite work in his collection is one that commemorates the birth of his son. “I saw a Saatchi Art Instagram post featuring a work by Tarini Ahuja, a young artist in India. The painting is abstract, but in my interpretation you can see a dreamlike landscape with the outline of a baby’s face, with a blue background. I had just seen a similar outline of my son’s face on a sonogram, and the work really spoke to me,” he explained. The work now takes pride of place above his son’s crib, so it is the first thing he sees each day and before he goes to bed.
“The sight of an artwork sometimes tickles you in a way that you can’t articulate, but that you just know would enrich your life by being able to see it on a daily basis.”
Nat’s approach to collecting is simple and natural. “I am often inspired by specific life moments to seek out new artwork, but I wait until I find the perfect one to make a move,” he explains. To that end, he never buys simple to fill an empty wall. “After a work is purchased, my wife and I place it in various rooms until we find the space that feels right.” While he doesn’t need to have a space in mind to make a purchase, he absolutely has to connect with the artwork. “The sight of an artwork sometimes tickles you in a way that you can’t articulate, but that you just know would enrich your life by being able to see it on a daily basis,” he says. When he feels that—he goes for it.
“I love the idea of helping an up-and-coming artist from halfway around the globe.”
Saatchi Art has enabled Nat to take his time browsing new artworks, and to always find what he is looking for—even if he doesn’t quite know it when he starts his search. “Saatchi Art provides a great searching tool to find art related to a particular theme, such as a painting related to a recent travel destination,” he explains.
At the same time, he takes advantage of browsing curated collections to explore what’s new in sculptures, abstract art, or any other type of art he is in the mood to look at. But more than that, he loves knowing he is supporting—and connecting with—emerging artists when he buys at Saatchi Art. “I love the idea of helping an up-and-coming artist from halfway around the globe. When I bought the painting by Tarini, I felt this immediate connection to a complete stranger. I wish I could show her how happy I am that she made that painting.”
At the same time, he takes advantage of browsing curated collections to explore what’s new in sculptures, abstract art, or any other type of art he is in the mood to look at. But more than that, he loves knowing he is supporting—and connecting with—emerging artists when he buys at Saatchi Art. “I love the idea of helping an up-and-coming artist from halfway around the globe. When I bought the painting by Tarini, I felt this immediate connection to a complete stranger. I wish I could show her how happy I am that she made that painting.”
“See if there is a work of art that you immediately connect with, and don’t be embarrassed if you can’t explain why exactly the art speaks to you.”
His advice for newbies looking to make their first art purchase? Take your time. Go to an art show like The Other Art Fair and browse without an agenda. Or spend an hour just perusing Saatchi Art. “See if there is a work of art that you immediately connect with, and don’t be embarrassed if you can’t explain why exactly the art speaks to you,” Nat recommends. “If it’s within your budget, buy it, because you won’t regret getting to relive that special connection on a daily basis in the peace of your own home.”
Art Inspired by Nat’s Collection
Like what you see? Our expert curators suggest works inspired by the art displayed in Nat’s home.
