Artist Collections: ANABELLA ALFONZO
Anabella Alfonzo is an Art Consultant with a background in architecture and design. Her art consulting studio, Aartplace, specializes in curating art collections for hospitality, corporate, healthcare, and private clients, as well as providing comprehensive public art consulting services for developers, municipalities, and other business and community groups.
With over 17 years of multidisciplinary experience, Anabella has led a variety of projects across North America and Europe. Some examples include: The art program for a national telecommunications company in Canada, a large hotel/resort in Big Sky Montana, an extensive art program/collection for Virgin Voyages, and an ongoing Public Art Master Plan for a world-class seaside community development in British Columbia.
Anabella’s approach stems from the genuine integration and cross-pollination of creative practices, rooted in a deep understanding of the role each discipline plays. Her work reflects her belief that art has the power of speaking to the creative intention, relevance, and context of any particular space, place, and culture by creating direct human connections.
- HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DECOR AESTHETIC, EITHER NOW OR FOR YOUR ‘DREAM SPACE’ STYLE:
When working with my clients, I act more as a medium or a facilitator, immersing myself in their project—the design of their spaces, their vision and context, who they are—and giving them a voice. The aesthetic emerges from, and fully speaks to their project’s creative intention.
From a personal perspective, the aesthetic of my spaces speaks to my multiplicity of cultures, climates, experiences, and life stories. I would say it is a bright, eclectic, and deep expression voiced through mixed-media art pieces, with a special love for abstract geometric, expressionist, and sculptural works. With a hint of tropic.
2. WHAT IMPACT DO YOU THINK ART HAS ON THE VISUAL PROFILE AND VIBE OF A ROOM:
It’s everything! I often hear from clients how the art we add really “makes the room.” They often don’t realize it until they see and experience it. An art piece can ground a space, enliven it, create focus; can calm, disrupt, invite reflection; can elevate, complement, spark curiosity.
3. WHAT CORRELATION DO YOU SEE, IF ANY, BETWEEN YOUR FASHION AND DECOR PREFERENCES? WE OFTEN FIND THAT FASHION INFLUENCES DESIGN, AND VICE VERSA… DO YOU SEE THAT CREATIVE FLUIDITY AS RELEVANT IN YOUR OWN PERSONAL STYLE:
I never thought of this correlation! I would say, yes, absolutely! My voice, my creative expression, flows through every channel I can give to it.
4. AS AN ART CURATOR AND CONSULTANT FOR HIGH PROFILE PUBLIC SPACES, HOW DOES THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE SPACE YOU ARE WORKING WITH IMPACT YOUR SELECTION PROCESS FOR PUTTING TOGETHER ART PACKAGES?
The impact is enormous. My work is always contextual. I look at the characteristics and qualities of each space—scale, intention, materiality. Far beyond, I consider context and history, the vision for the space, the story the design is telling, the story of who the space is for. Then, with a comprehensive understanding, I create a curatorial vision that guides the selection process and results in artworks meaningful to these spaces and their users.
5. WHEN ADDING TO YOUR OWN ART COLLECTION, WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR? DO YOU LIKE TO MIX MEDIUMS OR DO YOU TEND TO STICK MORE STRICTLY TO EITHER PHOTOGRAPHY OR PAINTINGS, ETC:
Definitely mix! I particularly love more textural and dimensional works. If I had the space, I would have more sculptural works.
