I am thrilled to announce I have been appointed to serve on the advisory board for the Women in Leadership Executive Program at the University of California, Santa Barbara PaCE. It is a huge honor to be able to bring my experiences as a female artist and entrepreneur to their core team of advisors. It's my hope to be able to not only offer my knowledge, but learn from the many great + diverse minds at this prestigious university.
The UCSB PaCE | Extension, now known as Professional and Continuing Education, is committed to providing essential skills and expertise to compete in today's job market. UCSB is helping shape the future of their community, connecting the UCSB PaCE | Extension with our fast-growing entrepreneurial base, and providing opportunities for career advancement and lifelong learning for students of all ages. They offer professional courses and certificate programs to UCSB students getting them ready for the competitive job market after graduation. Their International Programs enable visiting scholars and professionals from all over the world to experience the outstanding research and instruction at our top-rated University.
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Meet Christina Twomey, a self-taught artist and CEO of Christina Twomey Art + Design, a Los Angeles-based art firm that offers abstract and resin artwork, and furniture. It all began when one day Christina walked into a Joann Fabrics store in her neighborhood, casually picked some art supplies, and started painting. A few days later, after a small party at her house, her artwork became the talk of the town. She put together an Etsy store on the suggestion of her friends and later got contacted by an art curator to be on her show. Christina never went to an art school or had any formal art training. She just started painting out of the blue, discovered her hidden talent, and found her calling. Before starting her own company, Christina worked as a sales manager. She continued her job while establishing her business on the side. She quit her job two years ago to work as an abstract artist full time. Her artworks are “reminiscent of earth’s natural gifts & color palettes combined with expressions of emotion and depth”. She works on 3D resin paintings and even furniture with her husband, Bobby Marsden who also owns a business in the design industry. From designing their own website, managing it, to taking care of social media and shipping, as small business owners, Christina and her husband do it all together. The company uses the power of social media to market the artwork and increase its customer base. Platforms like Pinterest and Tik Tok have helped them with this. Their follower base is increasing tremendously, and Christina finds these platforms much easier to use with easy algorithms. Having alumni of the New York Film Academy as her husband has been a blessing for the business. Bobby is a producer by trade and a photographer too. He helps curate top-notch content for the social media channels and the website while working as the Managing Director of the company. And with her experience in retail, Christina is constantly working to get the word out about the new and affordable products that the company offers. Customers can get the products like iPhone cases, bedding at as low as $100 on the website. Their collaboration with Kavka Designs helped them in signing up for e-retail stores like Wayfair and Overstock.com. Now, Christina wishes to focus on high-end artworks while also running her Etsy store on the side. Talking about her goals for the company in 2021, Christina wishes to double the business but also accepts it can be challenging for a small business like hers. If given a choice between easy money and the challenging role, Christina feels she would take on the challenging role and follow her passion. She finds pleasure in selling beautiful artwork to luxury homeowners and being able to go to their homes to take videos. It gives her immense satisfaction and makes her happy in what she does. Despite COVID posing a threat to the art market, Christina is grateful for the support she has received from the customers. Her artworks have been featured on Netflix, HBO, Amazon Prime, Pluto TV, etc. They have also been recognized by magazines like Artful Living, Conde Nast’s House & Garden Magazine, Wescover, and several others. When asked about her plans of partnering with big-box retailers like Target, Christina feels she is still a few years away from the collaboration, but it is definitely on the cards for her business. Presently, she wants to focus on establishing an online presence for her brand first on e-commerce. She says, “I want to show them (big-box retailers) data that gives them a reason to bring me (artwork) onto the shelf”. With so many artists trying to build their name in the market, Christina advises the budding artists to try to create their original art and differentiate themselves from others. She says, “You need to find your voice and what makes you happy and then share it with the world”. Talking from her experience, she shares that sometimes the paintings she thinks are her best work don’t sell for almost two years. She inspires people to not get discouraged and have patience. Christina Twomey Art + Design and Marsden Designs are thrilled to announce we've been selected as 2 of 62 Honorary Committee Members for the Global Visual Arts Community and 2 of 2,000 worldwide HCM's for Mumbai-based Della Leaders Club. DLC is a global community of Entrepreneurs, Professionals and Young Leaders that brings people together to positively impact the world. The world’s finest lifestyle experts come together to curate exclusive lifestyle knowledge. This committee of 860 Experts across 15 Chapters globally enable our members to get access to the choicest experiences from luxe and iconic brands. DLC is a social enterprise using cutting edge technology & content working towards building a world that is better, stronger & kinder. We help in creating future fit organizations by positively impacting the lives of Entrepreneurs, Professionals and Young Leaders. There isn’t a single common platform that offers business and lifestyle knowledge. There are domain specific trade organizations; however, they lack the ‘range’ of more diverse experiences across multiple fields. The need is to stay relevant to stay ‘Future Fit’ because complex modern problems demand that we bridge experiences and knowledge from multiple fields. THE VISUAL ARTS COMMITTEE
DLC Global Visual Arts Committee will be catalytic for understanding the nuances of this vital lifestyle element in our members’ transformative journey. Our domain experts will keep the community abreast of developments in this vast, evolving space for learning and pleasure. Distinguished artists, gallerists, curators, connoisseurs, educationists and art critics will share relevant knowledge leading to appreciation in consumption of Art, inaccessible otherwise. The Committee will focus on greater democratisation of the Visual Arts and its social impacting outcomes. We are so excited to share our good friends, clients and creative partners, Alex Nimier @antixofficial and Angelique Velez @angeliquevelez were just featured by HGTV for their Balinese-inspired oasis they personally designed + developed through their business, Nimbali Design - www.NimbaliDesign.com. We're also thrilled our resin artwork, 'LABRADORITE' was featured in the HGTV article, as showcased in their gorgeous living area. Their Encino, California dream home is available for rent via Airbnb: https://abnb.me/9eJEQc8dxfb Check Out the HGTV Article: https://hwww.hgtv.com/design/home-tours/this-bali-style-la-villa-is-a-tropical-escape-pictures This Exotic Los Angeles Villa Feels Like a Tropical EscapeA passionate traveler and founder of Remarkable Places (a travel agency that develops personalized digital itineraries for its clients) Angelique Velez (above) had a distinct international theme in mind when she purchased her home. Technically the midcentury property was in Encino, California — but she and her partner, musician and writer Alexander Nimier, decided to reimagine it as a Balinese paradise.
“The vision had always been to create a home that was heavily influenced by travels in Bali, so we imported materials, furniture and home decor from Bali to Los Angeles,” Angelique says. “When the pandemic hit and my work came to a complete stop — thankfully we had received our shipment just in time — I had a lot of time on my hands to focus on turning our fixer-upper into a dream home.” Angelique hit the ground running. “I’ve been going to Bali since 2013, so I’m very familiar with the layout of the land and what each village and region is known for,” she explains. “Some villages are known for their art, some for their woodwork, some for stonework, etc.” She also knew just how to combine her finds to create dazzling tableaus that would be useful in her work. “My background is in the social media space, working with influencers on branded campaigns where content is a huge focus. I have a good idea of what makes for a great photo; something that people would post, and which would grab attention.” Since November 2020, Angelique and Alex have made this stunning property available as a guest villa — and their business venture, Nimbali Design, offers bespoke versions of some of the pieces they initially created for themselves. “The response has been pretty overwhelming,” Angelique says. Act fast if you want to claim one of their rare vacancies — and read on to learn how to cultivate paradise wherever you are. It’s far simpler to talk about what Angelique didn’t change than it would be to enumerate every upgrade she and Alex made to their home. “Honestly, the entire house was transformed,” she says. Structural beams opened up the living space, a skylight and atrium replaced an old fireplace, the galley kitchen disappeared, a luxurious master suite added a new wing to the building, a handsome deck and bamboo fencing sprouted in the back yard … you get the idea. “There is quite literally not one single wall we did not touch. Seeing the villa now compared to when we originally bought it is really fun!”
Moni also holds her MBA from Texas A&M University with a focus in International Marketing.
We are beyond thrilled to be partnering with Moni and look forward to developing the Texas market together!
Visto consultancy marries discerning taste with a deep understanding of the historical and cultural identity of each property. Their team of 15 art consultants works to make sure that each property stands out and differentiates itself from the competition.
Some of Visto's notable art curation jobs include: The Ritz Carlton Abu Dhabi, The Fairmont Rey Juan Carlos I Barcelona, Spain, The Park Hyatt New York, London Model Apartments, The Alpina Gstaad, Switzerland, The Global Design Team at Starwood for the Sheraton Hotel brand, and many more. Visto prides itself on their client service, execution, and logistics. They are experts in delivering the most complex luxury hotel projects, ensuring that budgets are met and that the framing, delivery, and installation of all pieces is performed professionally and on-time, anywhere in the world. Alex Toledano, Ph.D., Co-founder and President of VISTO Images, leads our Paris office. He received his Ph.D. in 2012 in Late Modern European History at the University of California, Berkeley, and is a specialist on the history of Paris since the French Revolution. His dissertation, Sharing Paris: The Use and Ownership of a Neighborhood, Its Streets, and Public Spaces, 1950-2012, studies the roles of visitors and residents in shaping community and daily life in Parisian neighborhoods with a focus on the rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis in the 10th arrondissement. He received a bachelor’s degree in Art and Archaeology summa cum laude from Princeton University in 2004. He won the departmental thesis prize for Illuminating the Canon: Institutions and the Development of the Canon of Abstract Expressionism, which studied how paintings by Abstract Expressionist artists — Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Willem de Kooning, and others — became the most valuable, important works of American art in the global art market. Seth Rosenbaum, Ph.D., Co-founder and CEO of VISTO Images, leads our office in Nicosia, Cyprus. He completed his Ph.D. in 2013 at Harvard University in the English Department. Seth’s doctoral thesis studies twentieth-century notions of taste and style, with a particular focus on American literature and food. He received his bachelor's degree in English summa cum laude from Columbia University in 2004. He received the departmental thesis prize for his work on William Blake, one of England's greatest artists and poets at the turn of the 19th century. Christina Twomey Art + Design is thrilled to announce our new licensing partnership with iCanvas. Their curation team has selected over two dozen of our fine artworks to showcase to their customers both online, and across the following retail locations:
               iCanvas is a leading U.S. publisher, manufacturer, and retailer of art prints with customers across the globe. Driven by their love of art and commitment to impeccable quality, their mission is to connect people through art. iCanvas works with hundreds of leading artist to curate a wide selection for all styles of art - helping people across the globe find artworks the will love. Once we go-live, we will send you updates on where to buy!
We are very excited to announce we've just launched our new Sherpa bedding collection with New York based partner Kavka Designs, and will be launching soon with retail partners: Overstock.com, Wayfair, Hayneedle, Gilt, Joss & Main, Touch of Modern, Perigold and more! The Sherpa 5-piece comforter sets are designed to be extra plush and perfect for colder months as they include an extra layer of faux Sherpa for extra softness. Each set comes with 1 Sherpa comforter, 2 velveteen pillow cases and 2 velveteen lumbar pillows filled with soft sustainable material. All parts are machine washable. We are starting with 5 designs, as seen in the images below, and will be adding more soon. As a proud Woman-Owned business, we were just accepted into The Female Founder Collective. The Female Founder Collective is a network of businesses led by women, supporting women. Their mission is to enable and empower female owned and led businesses to positively impact our communities, both socially and economically. The community of the collective will enable women to connect with other women in order to give vetted resources around capital, growing their business and operating more efficiently.
We are always so grateful for the many opportunities and partnerships created as we delve deeper into running our small art business! Check them out at: We are thrilled to announce Christina Twomey Art + Design has been selected to participate in the upcoming 'The Other Art Fair Online Studios (Los Angeles Fall 2020)' show, put on by Saatchi Art. This esteemed fair provides us the exclusive opportunity to showcase and sell our works to their global audience. Saatchi Art received an overwhelming response from artists interested in showing in L.A. this year, and so, after careful review and consideration, their curation team selected our works to be part of this special 2020 fall edition. Artists featured in The Other Art Fair Los Angeles were chosen by an esteemed committee of art world experts, including Eva Chimento, Owner and Director of Chimento Contemporary; Pauli Ochi, Director of Ochi Projects and Ochi Gallery; Tatiana Reinoza, Assistant Professor of Art History at University of Notre Dame; and Rebecca Wilson, Chief Curator and VP Art Advisory at Saatchi Art. Back in April, in response to the postponement of their Spring 2020 Fairs due to the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, Saatchi launched The Other Art Fair Online Studios as a new online art experience to give thousands of art lovers around the world the opportunity to continue discovering and supporting the works of their Fair exhibitors exclusively, from the safety and convenience of their homes. Since that time, this new initiative has proven successful as they've now sold over $2 million in artworks to buyers from more than 80 countries, with interest and demand remaining consistently high. The show commences November 5th.  We are thrilled to announce we've been featured in JaamZin Creative Magazine's October 2020 issue, as well as on JaamZIN.com. JaamZin is a creative agency based in Singapore dedicated to promoting creative people, emerging and established contemporary artists. To check out our article, click the link below.
We are thrilled to announce we've been interviewed by Shoutout Miami! Click to read our feature below.  We are absolutely thrilled to have been featured in this weeks newsletter by the prestigious international art consultancy group, Kevin Barry Fine Art. With showrooms in Santa Monica, CA, Las Vegas, NV, and San Francisco, CA, Kevin Barry and team service a majority of the world's top luxury hotels, hospitality groups, shopping plazas, airports, corporate accounts, and more. Make sure to visit https://kevinbarryfineart.com/ as well as their IG @kevinbarryfineart to see their gorgeous portfolio of works from some of the worlds most talented and esteemed artists. We are proud to announce, Christina Twomey Art + Design created 8 original artworks which will be featured in the upcoming full-length feature film, 'OUTSIDE,' an original score produced by Nimbus Vision and written + directed by Farahd Wallizada.  Set in Seattle, OUTSIDE examines the intersection of two lives: Ramzi, an agoraphobic young artist living a hermetic existence in his downtown apartment, and Ana, a lonely undergrad moonlighting as an escort as they begin an unlikely friendship and romance.
We are so grateful to Farahd and his entire team of talented creatives, actors, set designers, and producers for this awesome opportunity - and cannot wait to see the film as soon as it launches. Make sure to watch the official trailer for 'OUTSIDE': SHOUTOUT LA FEATURES BOBBY MARSDEN: 'Meet Bobby Marsden | Wood-Worker & Furniture Designer'8/30/2020 Meet Bobby Marsden | Wood-Worker & Furniture Designer "We had the good fortune of connecting with Bobby Marsden and we’ve shared our conversation below." Hi Bobby, how do you think about risk? The word “risk” is an often misunderstood word in my opinion. It means something different to each individual, their set of circumstances, and how they feel about the activity or decision in question. For me, I’ve certainly decided to perform activities that seemed to have low risk – by community standards. Unfortunately, the outcome in some instances was drastically different than I would have predicted. I think the key word there is “predict”. If there is one thing I’ve learned throughout my life, and that the world has learned in 2020, is that it’s impossible to predict the future. Even if you’ve planned for it. I believe that life is a series of decisions, big and small, and we are constantly mitigating risk. Even in the simplest of decisions, we factor in risk because we want the best outcome with every decision. What’s interesting, is we don’t often think in terms of risk when we are trying to decide what movie to watch on Netflix though. If you think about it, it’s a risk to make a decision because you may choose a movie you won’t like. What’s the loss? Maybe 2 hours of your time. Not bad. But that’s why we don’t think it’s “risky”. Not much to lose. It’d be quite different if the decision was whether to move to Los Angeles or New York. Many more variables and a lot more “on the line”. So with that, the pattern I’ve seen is “risk” only comes into play when the stakes are higher. And only the individual can decide when the stakes are high enough to be “risky”. I’ve decided to approach “risk” from a different perspective in business and truthfully, as I look back in my history, I’ve generally always approached life decisions this way. My approach is to not look at the “risk”, but rather ask myself how passionate I am about the thing in question. I believe that if your are passionate and believe in yourself, the “risk’ factor shrinks exponentially and ceases to become a factor in the decision. Conversely, if I lack passion (or I don’t believe I can do it), then the risk factor increases. Bottom line – I am a passionate person and at the same time, I am hyper-selective with what I get passionate about. Taking all of this into account – I am passionate about wood-working. I believe I can create beautiful, unique and design-forward home decor items. Passion + believing in myself = no risk.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally? As I mentioned, my introduction to art and specifically resin art was through my wife’s career shift into becoming a full-time artist. She needed help in certain areas, especially when it came to heavy power tools and wood-working. I naturally took an interest in the creative side of her work and learned as much as I could with each resin pour she would do. That led to an opportunity to create some barstools made out of resin and teak. We had repeat art collectors who asked if we’d like to try to make the stools and of course we said – YES! I had never done it before, but I did have experience with wood-working. My family is comprised of many builders and contractors – which is how I was employed through many summers in college. Combining that experience with what I learned over the years from my wife when it came to resin, I felt confident I could “figure it out”. I went through many “trials and errors” but in the end – the bar stools finished beautifully and it’s been non-stop commissions for resin furniture since. It’s odd, but I feel very at home when I am in the wood shop. Maybe it’s in my blood? I also have a high comfort level when it comes to resin and that is purely the result of working alongside my wife for so long. I had the opportunity to see what worked, what didn’t, and how it all behaved. Resin is a tricky substance but once you understand it, you can create things that many others cannot. I think that’s what sets me apart. I know how to create a certain look that others have a hard time replicating. I think it’s the difference between “nice” and “luxury”. Ford is a fine auto manufacturer. I know as we drive a Ford Ranger and I love it. But a Porsche is a whole different experience. They both get you from point A to B – but it feels much better in a Porsche. I’d like to think that my furniture items and sculptures are Porsche quality. Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout? This is a tricky question to answer during the pandemic of 2020! I won’t pretend it isn’t here. I’ll approach this from what reality is today. It’s how I like to approach everything anyway. I love exploring and I love the outdoors. It’s why my wife and I love California. It has everything. It has some things I could do without… but that’s an answer for another question… We’d certainly explore all the great hiking trails in Los Angeles. I’m a huge movie buff so we’d visit some locations around Los Angeles where famous movie scenes took place – like Griffith Park for “Rebel Without A Cause”. I also love to cook and that said, I like to go to specialty shops like Coastal Seafood in Santa Monica for their seafood selection. If I’m in the mood for Italian, there is a wonderful shop in Culver City called Sorrentos. They have sauces, pasta noodles, and the Italian attitude you won’t find anywhere else. I also enjoy shopping at Eataly but Sorrentos is my go-to for Italian ingredients. If I’m not in the mood for cooking and I want to eat out (when it’s ok to do so), I’ll hit up Jones Hollywood (the GM Keith is THE best), The Electric Own (best chicken sandwich) or The Pikey (best fish and chips). And if I need a break from southern Los Angeles, you can find me wine tasting in Paso Robles or camping in Big Sur. Who else deserves some credit and recognition? I’d like to dedicate my “Shout-Out” to my wife (and talented artist) Christina Twomey. If she has not wandered into a Joann Fabrics one day to get a canvas and try painting, I would not be a furniture maker today. I have been with her for her entire journey with art as her husband and her biggest fan. That led to me helping her, and then working with her, learning from her, and ultimately getting my first client from her. I am eternally grateful to Christina and luckily, I get to thank her every day! Website: http://www.marsdendesigns.com Instagram: @marsden_designs Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbymarsden/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bobby.marsden
Hi Christina, what role has risk played in your life or career? Risk taking has been the primary driver of career choices throughout my entire adult life. I’ve never been one for accepting status quo, and always take it upon myself to push limits, ask questions, and continuously challenge decisions & ideas to ensure we’re providing the best possible strategy, product, or service to customers. I also believe that in life, if you’re afraid of taking risks, you’ll remain in the same spot far too long. Comfort may be a great choice for some, but for me, getting uncomfortable for the purpose of pursuing my passion is the only choice. Only a short couple years ago, I had a cushiony job – which I’d worked very hard at over the course of a decade. I probably could have retired early had I stuck around, but the job had become mundane and it was difficult to deal with the continuous office politics & lack-of support I had for upward advancement or share of voice. When you’re put in your place (on the ladder) over and over and not allowed to ‘sing,’ so to speak – well, that’s pretty much soul crushing. Around this time, my artwork was simultaneously beginning to develop and receive notoriety from a variety of new customers, press outlets, and vendor partnerships. Although financially, my artwork was still considered a ‘hobby,’ I just knew I needed to take the risk to leap into my passions full-time – no matter the major financial losses we’d immediately experience. As we grow our business, we’re faced with making budget-conscious decisions like downsizing our home, not dining out, not taking extravagant vacations, or buying new outfits, etc. The majority of our money now goes into art, tools, & furniture-making supplies – which quite honestly, we really enjoy. My husband Bobby also began delving into his own entrepreneurial artistic efforts merging the earth’s gifts of live-edge slabs & crosscuts with resin to create absolutely gorgeous pieces of furniture and sculptures. Together, we’ve both decided we’d rather take drastic risks now vs. waiting 10+ years when we just might not have the same energy and gusto to make our dreams come true…which we’re doing our best to do! Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community? My artwork tends to draw lots of inspiration from earth-elements, and I absolutely love utilizing blues, teals, turquoises, greys, black+white and metallic hues throughout my works. Over the years, I’ve been developing a few different collections, our newest being our ocean resin artworks. My husband and I just completed a very large 30″ x 72″ x 1″ deep resin artwork with no backing, so it’s completely translucent – therefore, the multitude of layers of waves can be seen all the way though. We’d like to continue building this series, exploring a range of colors and textures of waves. I think what set’s me apart from other resin artists is my continuous focus to create new original works that each look quite different. I try not to put myself in a box, or limit my creative aspirations – and I always have a dozen plus new ideas in my mind I want to try. Unfortunately we are just limited in space in our studio, and, of course, materials are quite expensive so we can only tackle a couple new projects at a time. I always love when we get new commissions from customers who want us to ‘try something new’…it’s my absolute favorite ask! In getting to where we are today in the art world, well, it was not ‘easy’ per say – however, it has definitely been a fun & rewarding challenge. In that respect, we still have a long way to go as well. I’d say, we are just getting started! The art world is very competitive and highly saturated with talent. So, it’s quite difficult to stand-out and make a name for yourself. We’ve just continued to do our best to create valuable partnerships and great relationships with our clients, so positive word-of-mouth has been very beneficial to our business. What I’d love the world to know about our brand and story, is that I am part of a two-part team, with my husband Bobby Marsden. He’s my right arm in all of this, and I couldn’t do any of it without him. It’s beyond rewarding to work hand-in-hand with my husband and build something all on our own. We’ve both always wanted to leave a wonderful legacy behind – and find it absolutely awesome our artworks, furniture and sculptures are now in hundreds of homes around the world, touching so many lives! We are beyond grateful for that. If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We have a few favorite spots in the city: FOOD: Jones Hollywood for dinner. Electric Owl for happy hour. Conservatory WeHO for brunch. COMEDY: Laugh Factory HIKING: Fryman Canyon, Runyon Canyon, Nichols Canyon Astral Trail, Griffith Park. BEACH: Malibu – there is a dog beach far up the coast, where we love bringing our recue pup Kazan too often MUSEUMS: The Broad. LACMA. The Getty. FAB NIGHT OUT: The Magic Castle. DAYTIME: The Fairfax Farmers Market at the Grove. CONCERTS: Hollywood Bowl. UNIQUE DATE NIGHT: Hollywood Forever Cemetery Summer Movie Nights BEST OUT OF TOWN SPOTS: Santa Barbara, Paso Robles, Lake Tahoe, Big Sur, Napa/Sonoma. Who else deserves some credit and recognition? Yes! I’d love to give a shoutout to my husband Bobby Marsden, who has just incorporated his own business, Marsden Designs. I’m so proud of him! He’s been an integral asset to me with my artworks, and I’ve just been loving watching his own furniture & sculpture lines take off. Website: www.ChristinaTwomey.com Instagram: @twomey_marsden_art_design Facebook: @christinatwomeyart YouTube: Christina Twomey Art Image Credits Anouk Morgan Bobby Marsden We are beyond excited and grateful to announce our new partnership with Kavka Designs, who will be launching several of our top-designs at major retail partners, such as Overstock, HGTV, Saks Off Fifth, Perigold, Bed Bath & Beyond, All Modern, Birch Lane, Gilt, Hayneedle, Houzz, Joss & Main, Martha Stewart, People Magazine, Rachel Ray, Ruelala, Touch of Modern, Zuilily and more...across the following categories: art, face masks, indoor & outdoor accent pillows, area rugs, bedding, shower curtains, wallpaper, and yoga mats & pants (coming soon.) As soon as all our items have finished set-up's, we will share links to each respective retail partner's site. We are very excited to be bringing our artworks and home décor items to many more homes across the country thanks to our incredible new collaboration with Kavka Designs.                    BEAR RABBIT DESIGN STUDIO
We are also thrilled to be partnering with Chrissy + Stephen, the principals of Bear Rabbit Design Studio, to bring you a new collection of stunning wall papers, textiles, and home decor items. We're just getting started - so keep an eye out for new designs, such as these, coming soon! ABOUT KAVKA DESIGNS Kavka Designs was founded in 2016, when husband and wife, Chintan and Kelly, merged their interests in manufacturing and design to create an online platform for artists to sell their work. They started the company with three core values in mind: innovation, authenticity, and collaboration. Innovations in state-of-the-art manufacturing define and bring the artists' concepts to life. Kavka believes in preserving unadulterated visions of their artwork -- their authenticity -- throughout this creative process. A seamless collaboration between manufacturers and artists is made so that anyone may experience home decor products featuring real creations from real creators. We do what we love with artists who love what they do. With today’s heavy reliance on e-commerce, Kavka acknowledges that artists may not have the time or resources to recreate and sell their work. Kavka aims to provide a platform for designers to share their creations. Through collaboration with the world’s finest manufacturers, retailers, and artists, the company continues to bridge the gap between the creator and the consumer. In Kathmandu, Nepal, Chintan was born into a family-owned Tibetan rug business. After coming to America in 1997, he spent over 15 years working in the area rug and home décor industry. He developed a keen eye for trending designs, becoming a trailblazer in the rug industry, and effectively introducing area rugs to online shopping. From a young age, Kelly had an affinity for the arts. Growing up around her grandfather, an artist himself, she noticed that he was happiest when painting. His true love was making art, but he saw little profit in his passion, instead opting to work as a salesman to raise eight children. However, seeing her grandfather practice his craft profoundly influenced Kelly, who was enamored by the creative process. When Chintan and Kelly met in 1999, they shared the same entrepreneurial spirit, overcoming any cultural barrier between the two. They soon married and started a company, importing Nepalese handmade products to America. Not unlike most startup businesses, their company was put to a halt, mostly due to the challenges that needed the right amount of time and opportunities to flourish. Chintan found a career in textiles and Kelly stayed at home with their two children, later returning to the workforce in 2012. After their combined twenty years in the industry, they decided to take a leap of faith and return to what they loved most— creating something out of nothing— and Kavka Designs was born! The company continues as an homage to all creators and artists who follow their passion, and an ode to those that never had the chance. Fun Fact: Kavka Designs is named after Chintan and Kelly’s son and daughter, Kavi and Kate, who still reside at home in New Jersey and help with the family business. Kavka Designs also gives back. Pillows For a Purpose is a passion project in which we collaborate with nonprofit organizations and donate all proceeds to that particular cause. In July 2019, Kavka Designs began its collaboration with Habitat for Humanity, donating a percentage of our proceeds to help create housing in low-income areas of the world. Kavka Designs also helps support the Women’s Foundation of Nepal, which encourages a nonviolent society, as well as entrepreneurship for young Nepalese women.  Bobby and I are thrilled to announce our new partnership with Deep River Partners, and architectural and interior design firm based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Our first project together, a river coffee table, will be commencing this month with lead designers Hayley Schlueter and Natalie Erickson. ABOUT DEEP RIVER PARTNERS
Deep River Partners, Ltd. specializes in residential design including renovation, remodeling, new estates, historic renovation, and condominium build-outs. Their esteemed Architects and Interior Designers provide a holistic design process that produces creative and personalized solutions reflecting each client’s vision. Applying an acute knowledge of residential product and systems, their team of experts pays attention to every detail. They successfully integrate the disciplines of architecture, interior design, lighting and mechanical design, finish and furniture selection, site design, landscaping, and water feature design into seamless environments that encourage people to flourish. Deep River's services include project assessment, architectural and interior design, construction documents, competitive bidding, and construction administration. Their impressive client list includes top executives of major national and international companies that have trusted all phases of their project to Deep River. Serving clients across the United States, they have completed projects in Charleston, SC, Flagstaff, AZ, Palm Desert, CA, Telluride, CO, and on premiere waterfront properties including the shores of Lake Michigan. Each unique project is produced in a client centric process that consistently exceeds expectations with regional, creative, and unique designs, risk management through detailed documents, lower costs resulting from competitive bidding and fixed contracts, and a thoughtful, low stress, and managed experience from initial assessment through move in and beyond.
Bobby and I are thrilled to announce we were approved to be cast in a new show premiering next fall, "Destination LA," which is slotted to highlight a select group of the 'best businesses' in Southern California, focusing on home, food and lifestyle. They've approved us for a 4-minute segment featuring our art, furniture, and home décor enterprise - and we couldn't be more excited!
The show will air in Los Angeles on CBS (KCBS) - Channel 2, nationally on Amazon Prime, Pluto TV, YouTube, Vizio, and IGTV through their influencer partners reaching over 20 million followers. We couldn't be more excited about this opportunity and are so grateful to their talent + casting team for selecting us for the show! More details to come... CHRISTINA TWOMEY INTERVIEWED BY STEVE SUGARMAN, OWNER & DIRECTOR OF GALLERY 13 ON ARTSY.NET4/22/2020 Written by: Steve Sugarman, Director Gallery 13 Christina Twomey video interview with Stephen Sugarman, Director Gallery13 regarding her meteoric rise as an artist and entrepreneur. This interview presents the artist's studio life and what it takes to be extremely creative while producing new works to build upon her recent sales and successes. Christina Twomey has had a successful career as a full-time, studio artist, working with resins inks and acrylics to create stunning artworks that reflect our natural environment . Her most recent work has appeared on the popular television series HBO’s Ballers and a new hush-hush Apple TV A-list Show, TBA. Christina has rapidly branded her work and reputation as a nationally recognized artist and fine art brand. Her success comes from her skillful talent and professionalism in working with clients to create new works that compliment their homes and offices. This artist has become a go-to resource for interior designers across the country, like Minnesota’s own Martha O’Hara Interiors. Christina Twomey Art Works bring the natural world into your home with a sense of calm, natural color, earthy textures, and well being. artsy.net/gallery13 Join TeamWomen, Twin Cities Film Fest, Christina Twomey Art + Deisgn, and St. Louis Park's ICON Theaters for a special night to celebrate empowered women in arts and entertainment! Enjoy a networking happy hour with complimentary drinks and appetizers, as well as the chance to visit art displays by notable female artists. Then, we’ll dive into a panel discussion called “Women in Arts and Entertainment,” where we’ll discuss how art has the capacity to move beyond private collections and museums to the public while changing hearts and minds around issues that matter. A screening of 3 women-directed short films and filmmaker panel will follow. Bobby and I would like to share a very special thank you to Katy Burke, Executive Director at TeamWomen, along with Jatin Satia, Founder & Executive Director of Twin Cities Film Fest, Bill Cooper, Managing Director of TCFF, Shannan Paul of TCFF, and St. Louis Park's ICON Theaters for teaming up to create such a fabulous event featuring so many incredible female talents in the Minnesota arts & entertainment fields. We are thrilled to announce our new partnership with Gallery 13 on Artsy, as well as invite you to view their current online exhibition 'BREATH: LIFE DURING THE VIRUS,' featuring 7 artists (including us), curated by Rachel Tribble running March 31 - April 20th. “Breathe: Life During the Virus” Guest Curator - Rachel Tribble The paintings in this collection of works by seven artists represented by the gallery were not originally created to reveal the terrifyingly calm world COVID-19 has forced upon us, but together reveal that journey. Presented with emotion derived from the calmness of meditation and the panicked distress of the curator sheltered down at home, this collection of abstract works presents the formlessness of the inhale and the linear direction of the exhale; the terror of the invisible and the hope of universal healing. The Inhale: We enter the natural world with which we are familiar; water, clean, clear and safe in Christina Twomey's serene resin constructions and like jumping into water we hold our breath as we are hurled into galactic horror in Steve Mark’s probing of serenity and destruction; these truly frightening paintings spark a query of terror in the sublime. Shane Hope’s focus on science in his 3D Lenticular and Organic Molecular works takes the inhale deeper, to the core, into the cells of our bodies and the confusion of our minds. The Exhale: hardline geometric abstractions. Ukrainian artist Artur Horsharik leads the way with his hard-edged colors of love and compassion and gaps in space. Brad Nuorala offers familiar places; our domestic environment with his architectural abstractions that echo safe harbor in familiar places, reminiscent of being inside and Andrezej Karwacki presents linear windows to the sky. Then we inhale again, ending where we began; with water as Amelie Ducommen brings us back to calm and we explode through the fear with a single Galactic 3D Lenticular from Shane Hope and finally a brilliant green geometric from Artur Horsharik, whose compassionate work leaves us with hope, healing and a calm Namaste. ABOUT THE GALLERY Gallery 13 represents international emerging and mid-career contemporary artists with a central concentration on abstraction and a sincere heart for the work of contemporary American Upper Midwest artists. Curators Karen and Stephen Sugarman. The gallery was founded in 2005 in Minneapolis, Minnesota by curators and artists Karen and Stephen Sugarman. The industrial-chic gallery in Minneapolis quickly gained status as a center for groundbreaking sculptural and 2D exhibitions. The Sugarman’s reputation grew as curators “who are among the best at encouraging and finding new talents from increasingly diverse backgrounds” (Minnesota Monthly). Over the years the Sugarman’s expanded the gallery into larger spaces, ventured into multi-dimensional exhibitions that included art and music and exhibitions that dove into the birth of cutting-edge digital and computerized art and art experiences. In 2019 Karen and Stephen took the next step in the future of art and moved the gallery to the digital platform.  Christina Twomey Art + Design is thrilled to announce one of our newest partnerships with Starlight Art Consultancy, a fine arts firm based in Savannah, Georgia, representing a curated group of incredible talent, which we're very honored and excited to be part of. VISIT: https://www.starlightartconsultancy.com/ ABOUT STARLIGHT ART CONSULTANCY: Starlight Art Consultancy is where the world of art and business meet. Their mission is to provide exceptional fine art from their dedicated artists to the world. Their clientele represent interior design firms, hospitality groups, corporate, private collectors, and more.  Starlight Art Consultancy was founded by Kimberly Flynn who has over fifteen years of experience within the business and art world. Her passion has fueled to create an art consultancy where the artist is always valued and clients are presented with their incredible work.
A couple weeks back, Ryan Smith from Redfin's marketing team reached out to Christina Twomey Art + Design, along with several other top artists around the country - from Sacramento to Philadelphia - to ask for our top-tips on how to style your home interior with artworks. And, we were excited to answer! So, while we're all stationed at-home during quarantine, make sure to read-up on all the expert advice provided to help freshen up your walls this springtime! ABOUT REDFIN: Redfin is a customer-first real estate brokerage that represents people buying and selling homes. Redfin has helped more than 30,000 families buy and sell homes, has over 80,000 customers to date, has over $47 billion in home sales and has saved home owners over $400 million. Christina Twomey Art + Design Tips: When working with new collectors, we always recommend utilizing blue painters tape to map out the exact size and shape of the artworks they plan to commission or purchase. This simple tip helps clients visualize how the final piece will fill-up the wall. We typically recommend a larger statement piece, so it doesn't feel like the wall is eating up your investment. We've found that when customers have decided to go with a smaller piece, they usually come back after it's hung saying they wish they'd gone bigger. Taking a few extra moments to use this very affordable blue-tape tip will help alleviate space regrets long-term.
We also like to get creative with configurations of our art panels. Sometimes a diptych, triptych or gallery wall of panels brings in more visually stimulating configuration to the room. And, perhaps adding textures, gemstones, or other structural elements to the art helps bring a 3-D effect to make it pop. The key is to truly think outside the box before you decide you know exactly what you want - even on color. I always love digging through color pallets on Pinterest for inspiration and suggest creating a mood board. Brainstorming 'big' and then narrowing down selections can be a very fun and rewarding process the collector can navigate with his or her artist(s). And finally, we also advise discussing budget up-front. It's important both the collector and artist are aligned on a price range both feel comfortable with so there are no surprises or upsets after you've both invested significant time in your brainstorming sessions. We have found the curation of artwork to be such an intimate and personal journey for each individual we work with. And, parallelly, it's an intimate and personal journey for us artists as well. During this time of severe economic uncertainty I can imagine all artists (and other small businesses, actors, musicians, waiters, etc) are aligned in our mutual gratitude for collectors seeking out our work - I know we certainly are. - Christina Twomey Art + Design       In this formidable time of uncertainty, heartache and economic downturn, we wanted to share this beautiful article and little slice of positivity showcasing our business, Christina Twomey Art + Design, written by Marguerite Happe of Artful Living Magazine, which can be found in both their Spring 2020 publication as well as online. We are tremendously proud of this incredible spotlight on our achievements, which we pass along to our fabulous collectors, fans and followers who have allowed us to build our outreach to so many residential + commercial spaces, along with several film + TV sets, too.
We also wanted to extend our gratitude to the entire Artful Living team, and, in particular those whom were the main proponents for making this article happen: Frank Roffers, Publisher + Editor-at-Large; Hayley Saunders, Managing Editor + Associate Publisher; Kate Nelson, Editor-in-Chief; and of course, Marguerite Happe, the writer. Importantly, we also wanted to thank Kate O'Hara, CEO + Creative Director of Martha O'Hara Interiors for introducing our artwork to Frank Roffers at Artful Living. As always, we are tremendously grateful for your continued support of our small business. |
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