Art is a universal aspect of the human condition, and cultures around the world, past and present, make art in many forms. Art may educate, entertain, enforce cultural values, depict gods and divine entities, and more. Today, many popular artist around the world are creating paintings, photographs, and sketches that find themselves in museums and galleries across the globe, and abstract art, whimsical art, and more may be found. In the United States, the nation’s vast cultural diversity makes for an equally broad swath of art styles, and this includes many forms of not only Caucasian art but African-American art, Latin American art, and more. Whimsical art may be abstract or amusing, and abstract art prints may prove popular at a museum’s gift shop. Limited edition art prints may also bring in many crowds of art lovers for a promotional event. Meanwhile, how does art affect the human body and mind? Art inspired by nature, whimsical art, photography, and more can have a therapeutic effect.
The Business of Art
Art is infinitely broad in nature and scope, as is the human condition, but even art can be broken down into the numbers to show how popular it is. Many wealthy individuals today pay good money for unique and fascinating pieces of art, and many nonprofit organizations are hard at work today collecting and maintaining art (as well as promoting local artists). Around the world, the overall art market is valued at nearly $64 billion USD (as of 2017), and 53% of all collections around the world, just over half, have 500 or more art pieces in them. American art is especially well represented in the world’s art collections, with American artists appearing in 40% of all art collections around the globe. Meanwhile, the United States alone has an impressive art scene, and the U.S. is home to 113,000 nonprofit art organizations that employ some 2.2 milli0on artists in the workforce. Often, these artists are painters; painting is today’s most popular media, and paintings appear in 83% of art collections around the world. Collages, drawings, and works on paper appear in aro0und 15% of all collections, by contrast.
Art in the Workplace
Art of all sorts, from photographs of terrain to whimsical or abstract art, have a place not only in galleries or private collections, but also in public spaces. Many public areas, ranging from libraries to doctor waiting offices to cafes, feature art on the walls. Many such establishments have art to offer the place a more homely feel, such as in restaurants in hotels, and art can also help set the tone and theme for an establishment. A steakhouse restaurant may have paintings or photographs of the American Wild West, or a library may have a framed print of water lilies or a sunrise (or anything calming such as that).
Art can have a therapeutic effect (even whimsical art or silly art), as mentioned earlier. Many studies show that looking at pleasant art can lower the viewer’s blood pressure and help calm their mind. After spending a few hours in a museum, a person may feel quite relaxed and at peace, not to mention having plenty to think about after seeing the art pieces there. This is a common reason why doctor and dentist waiting rooms feature art, aside from the art’s own entertainment value.
Looking at art can also stimulate creativity in the viewer, and this makes art a strategic choice in a modern office. Framed photos, prints, and paintings can be put on display in any worksite, and this is often shown to boost any office worker’s creativity and flexible thinking, something that any manager may appreciate. Art, along with potted plants and creative arrangements of the tables and desks, can all help workers break out of a mental rut and enjoy boosted creativity and fresh thinking. The workers in an office may vote on or make suggestions about what sort of art pieces to display next, and local artists or photographers may be pleased to have a chance to get their works displayed like this.
