Luxe Beat Magazine SEPTEMBER 2014 | Page 85

Art It’s always a great pleasure, too, in having one of our artists create a commissioned work that is tailored specifically to a company’s unique identity, vision, and needs. As one example, we’ve been honored to arrange and supervise the creation of annual commissions for BB&T, one of the largest financial services holding companies in the United States, for more than a decade now. Smaller firms we work with may only need one or two pieces to enhance an office or foyer. We excel in finding just the right fit for a space, art that the client truly loves and is proud to display, within the budget provided. Lunch Break by Quent Cordair TOP RIGHT Andantino by Holly Crocker Garcia ABOVE RIGHT Commission for BB&T Bank by Bryan Larsen RIGHT Gaia’s Breath by Martin Eichinger Interestingly, the present unpredictability in the markets is leading companies and individuals to seek out more art for their portfolios as a hedge, as they do real estate, precious metals, and the like. Although a gold coin is a lovely thing to hold and look at occasionally, one can’t really hang it on the wall or put it on a pedestal. Art, historically, not only provides a store of physical wealth, but it pays back daily spiritual and psychological wealth as well—an asset particularly valuable in times of uncertainty, when it can be quite challenging to stay positive and to keep our anxieties in check. AA: You and Quent seek to promote “romantic realism” in artwork. Briefly, what does that mean, and do you see any positive trends in the availability or popularity of such artwork?