You likely know Barbra Streisand as the EGOT-award-winning singer, actress, director, producer, and songwriter, but did you know that she is also a prolific art collector?
Over the years, she has decorated her California home with amazing art, expressing a penchant for Art Deco and Art Nouveau pieces in particular. Babs's collection spans fine art and decorative art, including Tiffany Lamps and Lalique Glass. She recently shared her love for the works she's bought and sold over the years with a Lawrence Schiller photograph posted to Instagram.
In the image, Barbra poses with three works, including her former Gustav Klimt painting, a male nude drawing, and a photograph of boots. In the background, her striped sofa and mirror cement the decorative style of her home. However, it's clear that art is a major grounding force in her home, lending insight into how designers and artists display artwork in the home.
Barbra explains: 'My long-time assistant made me a book of art that I’ve loved and sold. One of them was this painting of Miss Ria Munk on her Deathbed by Gustav Klimt that I bought in 1969 for $17,000, which seemed like a lot of money at the time. I sold it in 1998 because I became interested in Frank Lloyd Wright and the Arts & Crafts movement. Oh, how I regret selling her. As the title of the book says, “You should never sell art you love."'
Recreate Barbra's Look at Home
Though Barbra sold a different Klimt portrait of Maria Munk, this has always been one of my favorites. The bring and beautiful colors and subtle floral pattern would fit well into any room.
This beautifully rendered print gives you the look of a work Van Gogh painted in 1885 during a stay with his parents in the village of Nuenen. These studies paved the way for the creation of 'The Potato Eaters' and other early works. Barbara owned this work before donating it to LACMA.
This beautiful John Singer Sargent landscape would fit perfectly into any space. It's equal parts subtle and impactful. Babs purchased some works in 2002, which she later donated to LACMA.
However, the Klimt painting isn't the only notable work that Barbra has owned over the years. Aside from Ria Munk on Her Death Bed, Streisand has also been the proud owner of works by Tamara de Lempick, Vincent Van Gogh, and John Singer Sargent. Though many of these works were auctioned by Christie's in 1994 or donated to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), they demonstrate a range of styles that Barbra has featured in her home.
Though they may be different works, luckily, anyone can brighten and uplift their home with artwork. On the topic of curating and integrating art into your home, Alexander Shepel, Founder of SHEPEL, advises: 'Art is a wonderful way to elevate an interior design scheme. When designing a scheme, it is important that artwork pieces are not afterthoughts but incorporated as part of the design scheme as a whole. Of course, over the years, an artwork collection will grow and change, but it must be a carefully considered element.'
He continues: 'In the past, we have decorated an interior design scheme around a piece of art that is particularly special to a client. Artworks are such a personal choice, and we find the colours and design that clients are drawn to in their artworks are a wonderful insight into a client’s unique style and the colour palette, and textures they wish to bring to an interior space.'
As Barbra's continued reflections on her connection show, artwork is more than just decor; it becomes part of your home's character. When decorating with art, you should purchase and keep pieces you truly love, and build the design around them. With this rule, you can't go wrong.
