A Dublin artist has said that homeowners need an interior revolution as they’re too dependent on IKEA.
Magda Ostrowska says Irish consumers need to give more thought to the pieces that choose for their home, and unique art is one way to bring a home to life.
She said: “Why do we spend hundreds of euros on a side table or set of cushion covers from IKEA or JYSK, but are often reluctant to spend 90 or 100 euro on an original piece of art, which can elevate your mood every time you look at it?”
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The Dalkey-based artist has Hungarian and Polish heritage and has just launched a new art print collection under her brand name, This Is my MO.
The limited edition prints all feature a fierce and fearless woman. Her prints can be purchased for similar prices to the mass produced pieces you see in IKEA, but are far more unique and powerful.
Magda is one of a new group of Irish artists who want to shake up the interiors of Dublin homes and get people thinking differently about art, which can often seem too expensive and inaccessible.
Magda added: “Dublin has such great Victorian and Georgian architecture - gorgeous old houses that give the city its elegant atmosphere.
“Inside these houses though, things can often look very ‘samey’.
“Propelled along by shows like Room To Improve and Home of The Year, I think we are slowly finding our feet when it comes to interior design, but even in these shows the homes tend to look fairly similar and predictable - and artwork is rarely considered at all."
She believes that we are lucky to have a growing artistic community but that it needs to be supported.
“I would love to see more Irish people taking the time to find art prints that they really love and buy something affordable but also unique, which can completely change the feel of a room,” she continued.
“People will spend hundreds of euros on a side table or set of cushion covers from IKEA or JYSK, but are often reluctant to spend €90 or €100 on an original piece of art, which can elevate your mood every time you look at it.
“With This Is my MO, I wanted to create a collection of prints that is inexpensive but really high quality and unique.
"Generally speaking, artists often have incredible creative skills, but, I will admit, sometimes don’t have the skills to make their original works or prints affordable, accessible and mainstream.
“It’s something that is slowly changing, but I hate to see people buying off the shelf, mass-produced work for nearly the same price as it costs to support a local artist - and for something which has far more artistic merit and visual appeal”.
Her collection is available to order here.
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