How to Style Indigenous Art in Your Home
PIKILYI JUKURRPA BY SELINA NAPANANGKA FISHER - ORIGINAL PAINTING - 122X61CM. Courtesy of Yarn Gallery, 2021.
Looking to add some artworks to your home, but don’t know where to start? Why not consider Indigenous Australian art? Contemporary and traditional Indigenous art is visually thrilling, presenting masterful compositions, diverse colour palettes and rich iconography. From beachy boho, to industrial chic to cottage-core, there’s an Indigenous artwork to complement all interior schemes!
Alana Willis, an Interior Design Consultant for Innerspace, discussed with Japingka Aboriginal Art (2021) the qualities Aboriginal paintings can bring to an interior space:
"Indigenous art grounds an interior space, adding another talking point. Immediately it can bring a space together like no other art genre, creating texture and warmth and depth in a space.”
How do I choose art for my interiors?
Firstly, think about the space and atmosphere that your acquired Indigenous art piece will occupy. Is it bright and beachy, spacious and contemporary, or fun and eclectic? Whatever your interior is, the chosen artwork can really help fashion both the style and atmosphere.
If you’re looking to change the theme or colour palette of your space, you can use your chosen Indigenous art piece as a ‘jumping off’ point. Consider using the artwork as a base for your room’s colour scheme - this method is similar to starting with a patterned rug and choosing homewares and furniture based around the colours of the rug. In this scenario, the painting will be one of the main focal points of the room. So, you want to pick out accent colours or hues from the painting and incorporate them into the room via decor such as cushions, vases, a feature chair or textiles. The goal here is to create a nice cohesion between the furniture, decor and the painting in this space (Japingka Aboriginal Art, 2021).
YARRIPIRI'S JOURNEY BY PATRICIA NAKAMARRA OLDFIELD - ORIGINAL PAINTING - 30X30CM (left), WARNAYARRA WATERHOLE BY CELESTINE NUNGARRAYI TEX - ORIGINAL PAINTING - 30X30CM (right). Courtesy of Yarn Gallery, 2021.
If you don’t plan on changing your interior decor, not to worry. Consider picking a piece that matches the theme and textures dominating the space. If it's wooden furniture, we recommend an original painting from our gallery as the wooden frames would tie in well with the furniture. On the other hand, our frameless prints of original artworks can easily adapt to any style, granted that the colour scheme or pattern matches the space.
On another note, if you are just looking for a small painting, then the wide range of 30x30cm or 46x46cm original paintings in Yarn Gallery are perfect for you! Their size means they work great as part of a gallery wall, paired with other small artworks. These gallery walls look lovely displayed along a staircase or above your couch in the living room. Or, you can hang them as a standalone piece above your dressing table or drawers in the entry foyer (Japingka Aboriginal Art, 2021).
We hope these tips have inspired you to consider incorporating First Nations art into your interior decor. By doing so, you are not only celebrating one of the oldest living cultures on the planet, you are communicating respect and recognition for the First Nations artists who put their heart and soul into these magnificent works. So, if you're a first time buyer of Indigenous art or adding to your collection, we hope that you find an artwork in Yarn Gallery that connects and speaks to you, whether it be on a philosophical, educational or emotional level.
Make sure you keep an eye out for part 2 of this post, coming this Sunday! Browse the beautiful collection of artworks on Yarn Gallery here. To find out more about Yarn Gallery, check out our previous blog here. For further inspiration, check out Yarn Gallery's Instagram here!
For further enquiries about the acquisition of an artwork, simply call or email our Customer Service team and we can forward you to Yarn’s Art Consultant.