How do Artists Live?

Home of artist Vaugn Spann featuring works by John M. Armleder, Yayoi Kusama and Isamu Noguchi. Photo by Nate Palmer for Artsy.

Have you ever thought about how artists live and what their homes look like? Artists are often active collectors themselves, frequently trading with other artists in order to build their own collections.

Through the years, I’ve been lucky to visit many artist homes, a practice that began in my early years growing up in Puerto Rico where my father used to take me to the homes of his artist friends. (To check out some really incredible artist homes, check out this article.)

It is interesting to consider how artists work, how they live, and how they display their artwork when thinking about art for your own home. Artist Vaugn Spann lives in a mid-century home (pictured above) featuring both his own artwork and gallery walls with artworks from fellow artists like Genesis Tramaine and Robert Nava while artist Cindy Sherman lives in a 19th-century farmhouse that displays her collection of artworks from artists like Bill Komoski and Charles Clough.

When it comes to artist homes, the line between home and work is frequently blurred with homes sometimes also serving as studios; such is the case with the of home of artist-couple Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner as well as the storied home of Frida Kahlo (Casa Azul).

Overall, the objects we choose to live with help shape our homes and tell our personal story to the world. Each one of us is able to be a curator, or storyteller through the objects we select for display in our domestic spaces. This month, I encourage you to check David Zwirner’s Platform, where I was invited this month as a guest curator, to select my favorite works of art for sale; you can check out that feature here.

If you enjoy my blog, be sure to follow me on Instagram for art world news and the latest on exciting exhibitions up around the world.