This 1928 Bungalow features eclectic furnishings, decorations and a diverse art collection including a custom wall mural in the kitchen by Denise Dietz. The Garage features a vibrant mural with fantastical creatures and nature by the same artist.

The Collectors: Joyce & Lou

How did you begin to collect art?

Joyce began to collect art when she lived in Brooklyn during the Oughts. Together as a couple we have been collecting art since we met in 2013.

How do you find artists and how do you select the artwork to purchase?

We have friends and acquaintances who are artists (Denise Dietz, Zack Hull, Richard Kern, Greg Beylerian, Tyler Hayes, Nate Otto, Chris Lee and Tony Fitzpatrick among others) and we are proud to support their work. We were also both raised in households with art, and have had family friends who were artists. We have inherited some of that art from our family and friends– Jenny Mendes, whose Menorah is in the kitchen, is a family friend of Joyce from Cleveland; Lou’s Aunt Marilyn made the needlepoint in the Living Room and the bust of Lou’s Grandmother in the Dining Room was sculpted by her childhood friend Suwa in Mississippi. In her twenties Joyce lived in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, which is where she knew Richard Kern, Tyler Hayes and Chris Lee. Together we have collected art that we have found in galleries, but we have also found art online that we like. We found the Vietnamese propaganda posters on display in the study when we were on our honeymoon in Vietnam in 2017.

Do you have a process for displaying your art collection or does it happen organically?

We have moved things around a little as we have collected more art, but each room has a vibe, and we try to work with the art, the decor, the furniture and the light to find the best combination.

Do you have a favorite piece?

What a dangerous question! For Joyce the piece would be the mural on the back of the garage, painted by our friend Denise Dietz. For Lou the piece that always conjures the most emotion is the colored pencil drawing of Joyce’s parents, Paul and Erica, that hangs outside the first floor bathroom. The sketch is based on a photo we have in the Living Room, where Joyce’s parents posed as a humorous homage to Grant Wood’s American Gothic painting. Our good friend Zack Hull drew the piece, which is lit by a Magritte styled fixture we bought from the Art Institute after their Magritte exhibit. Joyce’s father passed away a few years ago, but the piece reflects her folks’ sense of humor and playfulness.

Any unusual stories to tell about an art piece?

When we visited Joyce’s Sister and Brother-in -Law in Savannah, Georgia, they took us to an art exhibition. Joyce was inspired by some of the modern pieces there, and we bought the LED lit work on display in the Living Room. The lyrics displayed are from Nirvana’s song, Heart Shaped Box. The piece arrived with instructions on assembly via UPS. Hopefully you enjoy it as much as we do.

Anything else you’d like to share?

We view our house as an overall project. We want the art, the decor, and the furniture to all create a place of beauty. A respite from the outside world. Also a place to re-energize to engage the outside world.

Artists in the Collection

@willpennyart @misterclaudey @philip_heying @tonyfitzpatrick9 @denisedietzart @ericmweinsteinart @skull_eyeland @gregorybeylerian @ottonate @thistylerhays @chrisleedalton @audreymontoya @jonlangfordoffical @wendysilverlady @richardkernstudio @roryfoster @violababol @flavorpaper @growhousegrow @tobiamakover @binchen76 @timorous_beasties @bridgetgalvindesign and more!

No. 6 on Wenonah