Buying art can be awe-inspiring and sometime overwhelming.
When I shop for something to hang on my wall, I go through a quick checklist of possibilities.
■ Buy something hand-painted, an original piece of art, that I will insure with Lloyd's of London and leave it to my only niece or nephew who remembers my birthday.
■ Make my own art. Which, since I am not a relative of John Singer Sargent or Homer, this is not a probable option.
■ Shop for giclees, which are a relatively new concept, where inkjet printers digitally re-create a masterpiece on canvas and then wrap them around a stretched frame.
■ Or check out the new couple on the art scene.
Audrey and Andrew Kane are makers of a collection of hip-stalgic art that is printed on a linen weave fabric that is intoxicatingly beautiful.
The company, Tapestries Ltd., has been importing luxury tapestries for 45 years. Now, as the desire for ornate wall hangings has faded, the Kanes have reinvented and transformed the company’s vision.
They proudly manufacture in North Carolina, though when you look at their collection, you would swear that you would have had to get your passport stamped to own one of these beauties.
Audrey’s love of unique and often-vintage images is the core of her creations. She rummages through old books, flea markets and dusty attics looking for inspiration. In fact, one of their most-sought-after pieces was created after seeing an old postcard. With the help of some graphic artists, they reinvent the concept to feel current and swoon-worthy. Each curated design is printed on a linen-like fabric and comes with its own story describing the scene and, because of that, the soul.
Certainly, if you are a lover of vintage finds, you are going to be this obsessed with this line. In fact (spoiler alert), Audrey shared with me recently, that she is currently working on a design that is inspired by a map of the Louvre. (OK, that’s crazy cool.)
What I love about this collection is just when you think that you know their vibe, they throw in a bit of whimsy — like with their Octopus series.
It is no surprise that designers are flocking to their large-scale pieces for the WOW factor.
I just unpacked and hung two of these linen lovelies and am already feeling a bit more International — minus the jet lag and swollen ankles.
