Discovering contemporary art: how to build a trend-setting collection
Contemporary art moves fast. But what really sets trends is rarely the loudest – but collections where each work has a clear role. At Artiley, we meet customers every day who want to find the balance between personal expression, wall art with a strong presence and an interior design that lasts over time. Here we share how we curate canvas prints and abstract paintings so that together they form a collection that feels both new and sustainable.
What makes a collection trend-setting? Three things come to mind when we do home visits and work with gallery hangings: contrast, intention, and scale. Contrast in expression (abstract versus figurative), intention in selection (why this particular piece?), and scale that creates rhythm (a larger focal point, followed by smaller accents). When these three work together, the result is compelling—whether you’re collecting for your living room, home office, or hallway.
We also see how color trends are driving which works feel contemporary right now: muted bases broken by metallic accents, ocean blue against creamy white and splashes of deep red. If you want to delve deeper into the color choices, we recommend our guide Color Trends in Art: What Shades Are Dominating Right Now? .
A piece that often becomes a catalyst in modern collections is Chromatic Collapse – an abstract piece that unites chaos and beauty with color as a language. We like to use it as an energy injection in a mix with more subdued works in earth tones. It doesn’t have to dominate the room, but it can have a zone: above a sideboard, by the reading corner or as a background in a creative work environment.
When we test hangings on clients’ walls, we rarely start with a “center piece” and build everything around it. Instead, we let the function of the room, the flow of light, and the existing materials speak for themselves. A large painting can add weight where the room lacks focus, while smaller images in a visual “conversation” (two or three works in a row) create pace in a passage. The curious movement of the gaze between the works is as important as the motifs themselves.
Practical tips for a collection that feels contemporary
- Curate by theme, not just color: Let two or three ideas carry the whole, such as “movement,” “reflection,” and “texture.” This frees you from the need for exact color matching and gives the collection depth.
- Work with scale: A large canvas can be followed by smaller complements nearby. Try placing the center of the larger centerpiece about 145 cm from the floor – this provides a natural line of sight.
- Create rhythm with hanging: Grid brings calm, living room hanging creates life. Feel free to mix it up – a tight row in the hall, a looser hanging in the living room.
- Light sets the tone: Use directional spotlights at 2700–3000 K and around 300–500 lumens per work. Avoid direct sunlight and strong reflections; canvas without glass gives a softer rendering.
- Mix expressions: Combine abstract paintings with a figurative element. The cognitive shift keeps the eye active longer and makes the collection more memorable.
- Do a “color test” in the room: Print out A4 images in color and black and white of your favorites, tape them up, and live with them for a few days. You’ll quickly notice what feels right over time.
- Change seasonally: Rotate 1–2 pieces per season instead of changing everything. Small shifts keep the whole thing alive without feeling stuck.
How does this reflect contemporary art theory? In many contemporary collections there is a clear desire to show process – traces of brushstrokes, layers and texture. This is why canvas in a larger format works so well: the materiality becomes readable from a distance. In Chromatic Collapse the depicted movement is visible; when combined with something more still, for example a landscape in a cool palette, a nice counterbalance arises. On the wall it corresponds to the dialogue between spontaneity and structure that characterizes much of today's studios.
In newly built homes with smooth surfaces, you can let the wall art provide the texture – impasto-like surfaces and clear brush marks make a big difference. In turn-of-the-century apartments with profiled moldings, it works the other way around by toning down the texture and instead working with color contrasts and scale to avoid overloading the room. We have noticed that this very sensitivity is crucial for a collection to feel natural.
Finally: let the collection be personal, but with a clear curatorial grid. Ask questions like “What does this work add that the others don’t?” and “What rhythm do I want the eye to follow?”. Then you won’t just become trend-aware – you’ll become trend-setters. And if you’d like to delve deeper into which shades are wearing well right now, don’t miss the article Color Trends in Art: Which Shades Are Dominating Right Now? .
Ready to discover your next favorite and grow your collection with confidence? Explore Artiley's range of canvas prints, large prints and contemporary wall art - curated for homes that want to live in the moment, and last.