Why corporate art so often gets it wrong
Most corporate art is procured last, budgeted last, and thought about least. The result is spaces filled with inoffensive prints that belong nowhere and say nothing. This is a missed opportunity - not aesthetically, but commercially. The art in a workplace communicates directly to every client, candidate, and employee who walks through the door.
Large-format original art in a corporate space signals confidence, investment, and creative culture. Prints signal the opposite, even when they are tasteful.
What scale works in corporate environments
Corporate spaces generally have higher ceilings and larger wall runs than residential interiors. Artwork that works in a home often disappears in a commercial space. As a general guide:
For reception areas and boardrooms, think large - a single statement work spanning two metres or more commands the space in a way that a cluster of smaller works cannot. For open-plan offices and corridors, a series of works in a consistent palette and scale creates cohesion without being repetitive. For meeting rooms, a single medium-large work per room is usually right - enough presence to anchor the space without dominating a working environment.
What style works for corporate commissions
Abstract works are the most versatile for corporate environments. They carry emotional weight without being literal or divisive - important in a space used by many different people. A strong abstract palette pulled directly from the interior colour story will make a space feel designed rather than decorated.
I work across multiple mediums and styles, and I always start from the space and palette before making any decisions about style. The art should serve the environment, not compete with it.
How to brief a corporate art commission
Provide floor plans or photos of the spaces, the brand colour palette, a sense of the company's culture and how they want the space to feel, and a list of works by size and location. From there I can develop a cohesive proposal covering style, palette, and scale before any work begins.
Ready to commission?
Corporate commissions are one of my specialities. Use the enquiry form below to tell me about your project - the space, the deadline, and what you are trying to achieve - and I will come back to you within 48 hours.