Art in the home: Houston, Texas

LL: Why is it important, to you, to have art in your space?

AO: Art silently sets the tone of the room. It reveals a little bit about the person who lives or work in the room, so choosing and displaying art, I think is deeply personal. Art is often a conversation starter, it greets you, it’s typically the first thing one notices in a room. For this reason, I like to chose art with a story. When I see it in my own home, I am reminded of the story, and when someone new comes over and perhaps asks about a piece, I get to share the story. The closeness art creates is very unique.

LL: What drew you to Angela Chrusciaki Blehm's artwork?

AO: Her boldness and use of color. I first saw one of her “Kiss Me” sculptures at my friend Kathleen’s home and fell in love. I also love anything black-and-white; it is the chicest, most timeless color combination, so when her black-and-white bow sculpture became available, I jumped on it.

LL: What types of art do you most enjoy?

AO: love the mix and feel that the way art is paired—with other art, furniture, and textiles—is art itself. In our bar, I have a very traditional landscape painting (by my grandfather) next to a pair of acrylic cubes by Klash Inside. So I truly can’t pick one type.

LL: When did you start collecting original artwork?

AO: My grandfather was a painter, so I have always been surrounded by original artwork. I loved visiting his make-shift studio in the attic of my grandparents Brooklyn home. He painted mostly landscapes as well as some portraits. When we moved from New York City to Houston a year ago, I had some of his paintings reframed and love being able to see more of them now that we have more space. I also have a few pieces by friends of my grandfather’s that are really special and also quite different from one another.

LL: What would be in your ideal art collection? Or, what artists are on your collector’s “wish list”?

AO: A Natasha Law painting is highest on my list—one, because her paintings are so beautiful and two, because they remind me of the friend who introduced me to her work, and the many many happy times we’ve had together.