Art is an extension of your corporate image. It is often one of the first things a client sees when entering your reception area. What does your art say about You? Does it welcome your clients and make them feel comfortable? Or does it simply fill up some empty wall space?

I have been into several businesses that have multi-million dollar clients, and as I walk through the door, the first thing I see is a huge canvas on a focus wall. Often this ‘canvas’ is actually plastic, evident to anyone who appreciates art. Poorly stretched and lacking any depth, the image is often just a splat of color to match the office decor or rug, or a giant flower or other meaningless item; a cheap purchase from some big-box home décor store . Whatever the image, it usually has nothing to do with the business, area or type of client that they service.

I once went into a plastic surgeon’s office and there, in prominent view was a giant, framed poster… of fruit being tortured! It was comprised of citrus fruit, bananas and apples, embedded with nails, screws and spikes. If I was a prospective patient, I would have run – not walked – out of there. I told the doctor as much. He said that he had simply hung it up there because a patient had given it to him. At this point, you have to wonder what kind of experience the patient had, but more importantly, why did the doctor feel he had to hang it and compromise his practice. He did take it down and inevitably decided to re-do his office with beautiful black and white images of women, done in simplistic line drawings that did not look like anyone in particular, but evoked a subtle, soft beauty in its lines and ambiguity.

I know of several dentist that have my images of Hamilton and Burlington hanging in their waiting rooms. They know that many of their patients are on edge and want them to feel as stress-free as possible. Images of familiar places and happy memories accomplish this. Psychologists know this. According to Dr. Craig Knight, a psychologist who studies working environments, “If you enrich a space [with art work] people feel much happier and work better” which is an added bonus for your business. In a recent article in Forbes Magazine, a survey of more than 800 employees working for 32 companies throughout the U.S. that have workplace art collections, found that 78% of employees believed that the artwork reduced stress and 64% cited that it increased creativity.

“View Over Sam Lawrence Park”

Where do you start? First, the general rule is: ‘fit the spirit of the company’. What do you want your art to say about you and your business? Second, what message do you want to send to your clients? Are most of your clients locally based or more global? These are some general guidelines to focus on. After that, decide what you personally like. Art is like wine: it is subjective and truly is ‘in the eye of the beholder’.

Kathryn Smith is an artist and writer.

KathrynSmith.com