This novice collector discusses his immediate and intense attraction to Sandra Mueller-Dick’s abstracts.
Why are we are drawn toward one piece of art and not another? It is as though the artwork, be it a painting, a photograph or a sculpture, is at the moment of connecting with it, recognized as a missing part of you. A part that carries a profound desire, a void which can only be filled, like Klimt’s embrace in ‘The Lovers’, through the acquisition of an unforgettable, must have, work of art!
I found these pieces of Sandra Mueller-Dick striking on first glance: I was drawn to them from across the room (quite literally). On closer inspection, I found a richness that is both a delicate complexity and a bold gesture. I think this is a rare quality in a modern culture that seems to just get louder and brasher. I dithered a bit and I walked away initially but found myself comparing everything else I saw (not just in the Agora Gallery but in all the other galleries I visited that afternoon) to these pieces. I’m an art novice but understood that a visceral response like this is what makes art necessary. I knew I would regret not having them in my home.
No – this was a cold-call.
The ascetics of the pieces fit the visceral response I felt. I knew I wanted impressionist/abstract, twin pieces, mid-sized with a base of blue, gray or purple. These fit the bill perfectly.
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Yes: I purchased my DC row house in 2014 after almost a decade of work overseas. In that time I longed to make a home and could clearly imagine the style and type of furniture I would buy. After a year-and-a-half, I realized that the walls were still bare: this needed fixing and I’m way too old for posters of any sort. I have an open floorplan and had in mind to find pieces that I could place in the living room or the dining room. I didn’t quite know what effect the pieces would have, but I knew I needed something comforting and thought/conversation provoking.
No, these are the first works of Sandra’s I’ve seen.
Very much so. The pieces both provide a boundary to the space and give it a depth and focal point: a wonderful combination. As I sit on my couch in the evenings or make coffee in the mornings, I still find myself doing what happened in the gallery on the day I bought them. I find myself wandering over to look closer at the layers of Sandra’s work. It’s a wonderful feeling.
I just walked in. In comparison to the neighboring galleries in the district, I found the artwork and the Agora team very accessible. In a single space, I found quality and diverse work that was introduced, explained, understandable and affordable. As I said, I’m an art novice, but I know this is a unique find.
Feeling inspired? Check out our extensive collection of artworks on ARTmine.
*This article was originally published in ARTisSpectrum magazine.
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