In both of our Manhattan apartments, we set up gallery walls. The approach worked well from a functional standpoint in that we were trying to cram a lot of artwork and memorabilia into tight quarters and didn’t really have the wall space to spread our pieces out (in other words, Louise forced our hand) — but I also think gallery walls work best in smaller spaces — or at least well-demarcated areas/nooks, like stairwells, landings, or bar areas — because otherwise the arrangement just looks like it’s floating in the middle of space. Big spaces call for big artwork. (Which, by the way, doesn’t always mean crazy expensive. You can frame a vintage textile, quilt, or panel(s) of wallpaper to grand effect!). In our new home, I’ve not yet figure out a nook for a gallery wall, but I’d like to arrange one because we have loads of smaller pieces we’ve accrued over the years that bring me such joy. Today, I thought I’d share some fun smaller pieces that would work well mixed into a gallery wall…
LOVE THIS SWAN AS A FOCAL POINT
DRIED BOTANICALS
SET OF BOTANICAL PRINTS…YOU COULD CLUSTER ALL TOGETHER IN THE CENTER AND MIX IN SOME OTHER PIECES AROUND, OR MIX THESE IN ACROSS THE WALL
MATCHBOX ART PRINTS FROM FAMOUS NYC RESTAURANTS — WE HAVE A FEW OF THESE!
CUSTOM SILHOUETTE OF A CHILD FROM THIS ETSY SHOP OR MINTED — MR. MAGPIE HAD ONE MADE OF MINI FOR ME
LETTERPRESS CHESAPEAKE BAY MAP — MY HUSBAND NEEDS THIS IN HIS STUDY (THIS ETSY SHOP DOES TONS OF OTHER MAPS TOO)
VINTAGE FRENCH ENAMEL HOUSE NUMBER — I BOUGHT MR. MAGPIE ONE OF THESE WITH “18” (HIS LUCKY NUMBER / JERSEY NUMBER)…THESE CAN LOOK SO COOL MIXED IN WITH OTHER ART
FRAMED BUTTERFLY — MR. MAGPIE BOUGHT ME ONE OF THESE, TOO…SO CHIC AND UNEXPECTED MIXED IN WITH OTHER NATURE-THEMED ART
MATCHBOX ART PRINTS
THIS ORIGINAL MIXED MEDIA PIECE IS INTERESTING AND ADDS TEXTURE TO A WALL
ELLSWORTH KELLY ARCHIVAL PRINT
LOVE THIS PRINT OF A WOMAN MID-CREATION — SHE’S A LEFTIE LIKE ME, TOO!
OLD DOMINION PRINT
A FEW OF OTHERS WORTH A LOOK….
HAND-PAINTED CHINOSERIE SQUARE
FRAME SPECIAL LETTERS AND FAMILY MEMORABILIA (TICKETS! MENUS! INVITATIONS!) IN THESE CLEAR FRAMES
CLARE ELSAESSER HAS SOME STRIKING PIECES PRINTED ON CANVAS, LIKE THIS AND THIS
THESE VINTAGE SOLDIER PRINTS COULD BE SPECTACULAR IF REFRAMED
HAVE BEEN EYEING SOME INTAGLIOS — LOVE THESE AND THESE
FRAME A SPECIAL ARTICLE OF CLOTHING — DOESN’T NEED TO BE A BAPTISMAL DRESS — IN ONE OF THESE
RON NICOLE FLOWER RELIEF — IF YOU CAN GET YOUR HANDS ON ONE! THESE SELL SO FAST
AN INSLEE ORIGINAL — LOVE THIS LADYBUG STUDY
ALWAYS LOVE AUDUBON BIRD PRINTS — ESPECIALLY THE FLAMINGO
THESE FACE PRINTS ARE SO INTERESTING
TINY ORIGINAL LEMON STILL LIFE PAINTING
VINTAGE HORSE SKETCH — LOVE EPHEMERA LIKE THIS FRAMED!
DON’T KNOW WHY BUT I HAVE A THING FOR MATADORS AND HAVE A FEW PIECES OF ART FEATURING THEM…THIS MIGHT NEED TO BE ADDED TO THE COLLECTION
THIS WHIMSICAL ELEPHANT PRINT IS SO SWEET AND COULD TOTALLY WORK MIXED IN WITH MORE SOPHISTICATED PIECES
LETTERPRESS BOAT PRINT (“A SAILOR! GOOD MAN!”)
P.S. Mirrors are also a great way to break up/add dimension to a gallery wall. Shared some great ones here. If it’s a full-length mirror you’re after, how fabulous is this or this?
P.P.S. Chic bar and counter stools.
P.P.P.S. All my current favorite things.
I think one of the reasons that gallery walls are so popular in NYC- apart from the small spaces, like you said- are that most apartments in NYC are plaster walled, and it is much more difficult to securely hang a large/heavy piece in plaster than it is on drywall with easily located studs. So instead people often opt to use 3M command hooks to hang a lot of small things instead. (I have had SUCH a journey figuring out what exactly is behind the plaster in my apartment over the past year…so far I have determined there are 3 different substrates depending on location of wall…crazy-making…)
This is such a good point!! Hadn’t thought of that!