Stories & Insights

How to Choose Quality Artwork for Any Office or Commercial Space

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Image: View of a gallery wall featuring prints by Lindsey Holcomb, Alicia Sterling Beach, Yvette, and Christine Nelson at 25 North Lex by Greystar in White Plains, NY. The prints vary in size and shape and hang in a computer niche with a white wall and white counter. Four brown stools are placed at the counter.

Quality artwork shapes how people experience your environment the moment they enter. When curated with intention, it elevates your space, strengthens your brand, and enriches the daily experience of employees, clients, and visitors.

Highlights

  • Learn how quality artwork influences mood, engagement, and connection in any workplace or commercial setting.
  • See how organizations build scalable art programs across multi-site portfolios.
  • Understand how to align art, storytelling, and design to enhance the built environment.

1. Define the Purpose of Your Space

Effective art curation begins long before selecting individual pieces. A curator first studies how a space functions and how people move through it. That clarity becomes the foundation for every decision that follows.


Ask yourself:

  • What is the primary function of this space: welcome, focus, collaboration, celebration, or restoration?
  • How should people feel when they enter or pass through?
  • What message should the environment communicate about your organization and your values?


When purpose guides artwork selection, quality artwork becomes a tool for shaping emotion, behavior, and connection, supporting both the design vision and the human experience.


ArtLifting Art Advisors and curators are experienced in helping clients define their strategy and vision. When you partner with ArtLifting, we will make it easy to discover what types of artwork and programs would make the biggest impact in your spaces.

Image 1: Diversity 1, 4, and 5 by Marc hang on a white wall as accent artwork in the fireplace lounge area at 25 North Lex by Greystar.
Image 2: Sweet Yvette III and IV by Yvette hang side by side on a dining area wall at 25 North Lex by Greystar.
Image 3: 36 and 35 by Lisa Murphy hang on a wall in a kitchen area of a show unit at 25 North Lex by Greystar.
Image 4: Le Marbre Coloré by Damiano Austin hangs in an elevator lobby with sleek, modern architecture at 25 North Lex by Greystar.

2. Curate Quality Artwork That Reflects Your Brand and Values

Corporate artwork gives organizations a tangible way to express their identity, mission, and values. When thoughtfully curated, each artwork contributes to a narrative that aligns with your brand story, culture, and purpose.


Artwork can:

  • Reflect the diversity of the communities you serve
  • Communicate innovation and creative thinking through bold, experimental processes
  • Support placemaking by celebrating local artists and regional identity
  • Strengthen a sense of belonging in shared spaces
  • Encourage vibrancy, interaction, and connectivity


When the art on your walls mirrors your values, your environment becomes a living expression of your culture, reinforcing trust and purpose through design.


ArtLifting curators will recommend artwork from our vast collection of one-of-a-kind original artworks and prints available for rental and rotation programs, so you can focus on hitting your goals and timelines. Every collaboration starts with a custom proposal identifying key locations and opportunities to integrate impact art into your unique environment.

Image 1: Vibrant ArtLifting artwork installed in a gallery wall style in the Amazon HQ2 café space. Photography by Lani Nance at LNance Photography.
Image 2: Original artworks by Charles Blackwell, Mia Brown, and Yasmine Iskander are displayed gallery-style in a lounge at Amazon HQ2Photography by Lani Nance at LNance Photography.

3. Types of Artwork to Consider for Your Space

A quality art collection includes visual variety: moments of energy, calm, texture, and discovery woven throughout the space.


Consider a curated mix of:

  • Abstract artwork that introduces movement and vibrancy
  • Textural or process-driven pieces that invite curiosity 
  • Nature-inspired compositions that promote balance and well-being
  • Artwork by local artists or depicting local landscapes  that deepen community connection and sense of place


ArtLifting’s approach ensures a wide spectrum of viewers feel represented. ArtLifting's turnkey rental and rotation programs offer increased impact and opportunities to activate by keeping spaces fresh and engaging.


We also support the interior architecture of your space through wallcoverings, murals, and site-specific commissions, enriching corridors, meeting rooms, social zones, and quiet areas with distinct sensory moments.

4. Using Artwork to Spark Engagement Across Your Space

Art humanizes the built environment. When a piece carries a compelling story or a striking creative process, it invites people to pause, reflect, and connect.


Elements that deepen engagement include:

  • A standout artistic technique or visual language
  • A narrative that offers insight into the artist’s perspective
  • A moment of originality that prompts conversation


Every ArtLifting artwork includes a plaque detailing the artist's story, inviting viewers to learn about the real-world experiences of people with disabilities and the innovative practices our artists employ.


Organizations often activate their art collections or rotation programs by hosting openings, featuring artists during an event, or offering resources for self-guided tours. These simple touchpoints transform corporate art into shared experiences that build connection across the workplace.

Image 1: Amber Burgess, Senior Real Estate and Facilities Manager at Amazon, points at one of the keys in Erik Jensen’s original artwork Techcombs. Photography by Lani Nance at LNance Photography.
Image 2: Cathedral Lights by Erik Jensen is displayed on the executive floor at State Street
Image 3: Close up shot of Cathedral Lights by Erik Jensen at State Street

5. Ensure Your Art Program Is Durable and Scalable

Sustaining a long-term art program across offices or commercial sites requires practical planning. ArtLifting curators evaluate materials, placement, lighting, and consistency across locations to help ensure each piece looks as striking in year five as it did on installation day.


Key considerations include:

  • Material durability and long-term color stability
  • Lighting and glare management
  • Placement that aligns with safety and accessibility standards
  • Frame profiles that support repeated use across buildings
  • Scalability for future expansion or refresh cycles


ArtLifting curators also consider formats that can flex with a portfolio over time. In ArtLifting projects, curators typically recommend:

  • Art rotation programs to keep environments feeling fresh and engaging over time. Rotations allow teams to refresh select spaces on a predictable schedule, share a wider range of ArtLifting artist stories, and adapt to evolving workplace needs without rebuilding the program from scratch.
  • Art rentals for organizations that want to scale quickly, manage budgets efficiently, and pilot artwork across multiple locations. Art rentals make it possible to activate spaces with high-quality art without long-term commitment in every area, while still maintaining a cohesive visual standard.
  • Original artwork to bring depth, texture, and presence to key spaces such as reception areas, executive floors, and important gathering zones. These pieces act as long-term anchors that hold their impact as the broader program evolves and scales.
  • Architectural features like wallcoverings, murals, sculptural installations, and custom commissions bring high-impact artwork into the environment in surprising and memorable ways.


ArtLifting's customizable solutions make it possible to build a cohesive and innovative art program that supports growth, simplifies maintenance, and keeps spaces engaging year after year.

6. Why Expert Curation Matters When Selecting Quality Artwork

Selecting quality artwork is more effective with guidance from experts who understand both design intent and workplace dynamics.


ArtLifting Art Advisors and our curation team offer:

  • An accessible and collaborative experience for curating your art program
  • A dedicated team with years of experience delivering high-impact art programs with leading companies and developers across industries
  • A complimentary custom proposal tailored to your brand, values, and space types
  • Expert recommendations aligned with your design standards, floor plans, culture, and budget, drawing from an expansive collection of artwork
  • Access to a talented community of artists with disabilities whose lived experiences bring authenticity and depth
  • Full service fulfillment including framing, delivery, installation, storytelling, and impact reporting


Whether designing a single space or executing a multi-site rollout, our team ensures your art program is cohesive, intentional, and impactful.

Bring Your Workplace to Life

Quality artwork influences how people feel, connect, and experience your environment every day. With intentional curation and a trusted partner like ArtLifting, your environment becomes brighter, more welcoming, and more reflective of your unique community.


If you are designing a new space or planning a refresh, ArtLifting can craft a tailored proposal that brings your vision to life through exceptional art.


Your space has a story — let us help you tell it with impact.

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