The Library · Omaste Witkowski
Why Have Art in the Workplace?
Art in the Workplace does more than just make it look nicer.
In fact, the impact of office art is often underestimated both in home offices and larger workplaces. Splashes of color in a painting can alter the mood of a meeting room or a piece of unusual artwork can provide a talking point in a bland corporate space. Placed correctly, office art can provide the inspiration to keep people productive even when they are working on “boring” tasks.
But can artwork have a direct impact on employee productivity or wellbeing? It seems the answer is yes. Viewing artwork, particularly realistic nature scenes, helps workers restore mental energy and reduce stress. Unsurprisingly, both of these effects boost brain performance. Seeing nature images in artwork has also been linked to lower levels of anger in workplaces.
Art is also often used as a conversation piece which makes your company more inviting. …
Inspiring and interesting artwork creates talking points, stimulates discussion and encourages innovative thinking.
It doesn’t matter which type of art you choose, as long as it’s not offensive, violent or inappropriate. Nature, abstracts or other soothing work is often chosen in either bright colors or softly muted ones. The ides is to let your brain enjoy the colors, shapes and textures in the work and allow them to do their thing while you do yours.
Art in the workplace, home office or meeting space can easily set the tone of the office
Office Art can also be used as a motivation technique, creativity enhancer and communication strategy…
This is because art tends to bring people together and increase conversations, stimulate the imagination and improve creative thinking.
Not only that, but art in your office and/or work environment can also:
- Create a pleasant environment Anything that makes 9-5 a little more enjoyable is bound to lead to workplace benefits.
- Boost creativity Staring at a blank wall is not likely to generate any unique ideas. Having an environment that stimulates the senses, on the other hand, can easily stimulate the imagination and creativity.
- Reduce stress Once again, a blank wall isn’t going to have much to offer during times of stress. A beautiful painting or interesting piece of photography, however, may be able to take a you out of the moment for a brief breath of fresh air and a soothing break.
- Foster office pride The pride you take in your company and your office trickles down to your employees and your customers. Office art creates a workplace that your employees are proud to walk into every day.
- Strengthen your connection with your team Having a thoughtfully decorated workplace shows your team that you care enough to provide a nice place for them to spend your time, to feel a return on their time invested
- Attract clients/customers Whether the art makes for nice website and social media visuals, or for a better experience for the customer at your location, art can certainly help to make your business more attractive.
- Inspire creativity Aesthetics calm people down, while also acting as a catalyst to the right side of your brain. Anything you can do as a managerial force—that incites creativity while reducing stress—is worth your while.
Since so many of us spend the majority of our day at the office (or in our home offices), it’s easy to understand how engaging art can enrich a space and in turn, energize our days. In all its forms, art in the workplace offers us a pause — that rare mental and emotional break in an often over worked, backed up and over scheduled day. And aren’t some of our best ideas are born out of the quiet, pauses, and spaces?
Art in all its forms, like painting, photography, sculpture, and other pieces all challenge us to stop, to think in new ways, and to approach challenges with an innovative spirit. Though we may not even register it consciously, creative spaces feed our individual creativity.
Think of art as an interactive backdrop. Every innovation, conversation, strategy, and success happens around it (and sometimes because of it). Choose art carefully, invite conversations about it, and discover what it can add to your workplace.
Find your own piece with the art adventure · Ask the gallery what fits your wall