How and Why Different Styles of Art Work Together May 10 2025, 0 Comments

By Kimberly Nicoletti

In the not-so-distant past, the fine art world was characterized by rules and traditions — spoken or unspoken — as prestigious “gatekeepers” tended to narrow options and stifle possibilities. But the thing is: Art springs from creativity and the definition of creativity involves, “the use of imagination or original ideas, especially in the production of an artistic work.” As a result, modern movements and techniques have opened the floodgate, presenting the world with myriad options when it comes to collecting art.

With today’s vast variety, questions naturally arise, such as: How do different styles of art work together — and how can they fit into diverse home styles and regions?

To hint at the answer, at least from Raitman Art Galleries’ perspective, let’s recall what they originally named their first Breckenridge gallery: Art on a Whim. And, let’s review one of the main reasons they opened the gallery: To make people smile.

In essence, that means: Personal preference and quality become the two guiding principles when selecting art for your home.

So the real question, beyond what appeals to you, is: What energy, or mood, do you want to cultivate in a particular room?

Brian and Ross Raitman recently installed pieces in an Edwards, Colorado home (near Beaver Creek) which featured a colorful and playful 2Wild piece along with one of Michael Rozenvain’s energetic paintings in the lower level, where the homeowner’s two grown kids play pool or watch the theater-style television. Meanwhile, the formal upstairs called for paintings depicting more classic subject matter, like Kristof Kosmowski’s representational work and a traditional Ralph Oberg winter landscape. The whole family contributed to the decision, generating an artistic legacy that will extend beyond the Cordillera home. In fact, it was their son’s call to include a traditional painting in the collection and the rest of the family was excited by the idea.

Kristof Kosmowski's "Early Summer Morning" Installed in Edwards, Colorado

Brian also just visited a Front Range home predominantly filled with traditional, still-life paintings. The newest addition to the impressive art collection is one of Fekadu Mekasha’s ultra-contemporary, stainless-steel, wire-mesh portraits. So how does a wire portrait of say, Jimi Hendrix literally “mesh” with, say, a traditional oil painting by Lyudmila Agrich? It’s all about juxtaposition, which actually makes the overall art display much more interesting. 

“When an art collection is eclectic, walking through it becomes much more of an experience. It makes you want to go from artwork to artwork and really study each piece and pay attention to them all when there is a big juxtaposition between the styles,” Brian points out, “Whereas, if everything is of the same style, you kind of start to look through it. Those different styles, they really make you notice everything in the collection.”

Sculpture also adds a dynamic quality to collections, often simply by mixing mediums. A more traditional wildlife bronze intuitively pairs with a mountain landscape painting, but at the same time, the contrast of a colorful, contemporary glass piece, like Andrew Madvin’s Thorn Vessels, can make Doyle Hostetler’s muted paintings stand out even more, and vice versa. 

Various sculptures can even play off one another: A bronze can feel much heavier and more classic — and typically involve a lot less color — than, say, one of Ana Maria Botero’s light flowers contained in glass. These divergent qualities add dimension to a room. Placing both mediums and styles of sculpture in the same room really adds interest.

Just as different artistic styles and mediums complement each other, a contemporary piece in an older, or more traditional, mountain home can revitalize the space. Brian and his wife Liz live in a partially remodeled 1990’s home, which he says still feels like a 90’s home in some areas, but their constantly revolving art collection is what guests focus on, as opposed to the home itself. Just about every space has an interesting work of art on display and the Raitman’s guests all but demand tours through the collection while glossing over the newer parts of the house.

Meanwhile, the neutral palettes of modern homes act as a blank canvas to highlight art. Placing a more Western piece within a contemporary home can give it a classic feel — without going too far in that direction — while colorful, contemporary paintings add pops of color, creating a vibrant feeling.

Your home’s location doesn’t have to hem you into particular landscapes. Pamela Sukhum’s tropical-looking flowers can warm up a cold Colorado winter. Likewise, if you live in a warm climate, like Florida, Jared Hankins’ snowy mountains can deliver a refreshing chill.

Just as museums represent a vast array of styles, time periods and parts of the world, so, too, can your home. In fact, approaching your art collection as a personalized “museum” results in a unique representation of your family and the life you’ve curated — and that’s how, and why, diverse pieces of art truly work together.