A considered approach to collecting original contemporary portrait art.

Art Buying Guide by Corey Wesley

This collection of articles explores how collectors, designers, and discerning buyers can approach the selection of original contemporary portrait artwork. Browse posts below to learn about scale, lighting, placement, and other principles that guide meaningful art acquisition.

Hotel lobby featuring local artist contemporary portraits instead of generic commercial art

by Corey Wesley Warren

Perspectives That Inspire

Why Hotels Are Getting Commercial Art Wrong: The Case for Local Artists

By Corey Wesley, Harlem-based Contemporary Artist I recently had a realization that changed how I think about commercial art. After struggling to get my work into galleries and dealing with the fear of rejection that every artist knows, I started looking around at the hotels and restaurants I visit in New York. What I saw was a massive missed opportunity. Most hotels are getting commercial art completely wrong, and it's hurting both their business and the incredible artist community that exists right in their backyard. The Real Problem: Missing the Community Connection Here's what I've noticed: hotels and restaurants invest...

NYC real estate expert and hotel guests discussing commercial art selection in modern hotel lobby during hospitality research interview
commercial decor trendsperspectives that inspire
by Corey Wesley Warren

Why Hospitality Interior Design Is Failing: NYC Real Estate Expert & Travel Research Reveal the Art Problem

The Research: When Guests Can't Remember Any Hotel Art I asked three frequent travelers a simple question about their last hotel stay: "Can you describe any artwork you saw?" The results were startling—not one could remember a single piece. But their explanations revealed exactly why most commercial hotel art fails...
Inclusive commercial art in luxury hotel lobby - diverse portrait artwork creates welcoming environment for hotel guests and demonstrates effective hospitality design
perspectives that inspire
by Corey Wesley Warren

How to Create Inclusive Commercial Spaces with Art: The Complete Design Guide for Hotels, Restaurants, and Modern Businessess

Transform your commercial space into a welcoming environment that drives customer loyalty and employee satisfaction through authentic, inclusive art curation The Power of Art to Include or Exclude Sometimes the most profound lessons about inclusive design come from witnessing what goes wrong. During a family funeral in Norfolk, Virginia, I...
Therapy office waiting area featuring inclusive emotional metal artwork with gold dripping paint and red lips, demonstrating how authentic art creates welcoming healing spaces for diverse clients
perspectives that inspire
by Corey Wesley Warren

Why Your Therapy Office Art Is Failing Your Clients (And How to Fix It)

Relationships are complex. We don't talk about that enough. They're messy, beautiful, challenging, and transformative. Whether it's healing from heartbreak, navigating couples therapy, or celebrating love in all its forms, relationship art creates space for authentic emotional expression—not as decoration, but as a quiet, powerful way of saying: all feelings...