How I Curate Soulful Spaces with One-of-a-Kind Artworks (and How You Can Too)

When I walk into a room, I want to feel something…energy.

Not just color. Not just décor. I want a sense of presence. I want stories, emotions, feelings hanging on the walls. I want pieces that say, "This is who I am or who I’m becoming."

That’s the power of one-of-a-kind art.

And that’s how I curate soulful spaces, at home, at the gallery, and for collectors who want more than just something “aesthetic.”

Whether you're styling your first apartment or evolving your sanctuary space, here’s how I do it and how you can too.

1. Choose Art That Moves You, Not Just Matches You

Forget trends. Forget beige palettes.

Start with how you want to feel.

Ask yourself:

• “Do I want to feel grounded?”
• “Do I want to feel bold?”
• “Do I want to remember who I am?”

Soulful curation begins with emotion, not coordination. The best art isn’t chosen with your eyes, it’s chosen with your gut.

2. Say Yes to One-of-a-Kind

There’s something sacred about original art.

It’s alive, with texture, intention, energy.

Every painting in my gallery was created by hand. By real artists. Many of them local. Many of them pouring pieces of their soul into each brushstroke, each work. You can feel the difference. Your guests will too.

• Want your space to make people pause the second they enter?
• One piece of original art can transform a room.

3. Mix Mediums for Soulful Depth

I love mixing oil paintings with sculptural ceramics, found objects, and textiles. When you layer art forms, you layer energy.

Try this:

• A vibrant abstract over your couch
• A handmade ceramic on your bookshelf
• A black-and-white photo from a local artist by your nightstand

The result? A space that breathes.

4. Don’t Be Afraid of White Space

Curating a soulful space doesn’t mean filling every inch.

It means giving each piece room to speak.

Let the artwork breathe. Use lighting intentionally. Create visual pauses. Soul isn’t clutter. It’s presence.

5. Make It Personal

One of my collectors cried when they picked up a piece last month.

It reminded them of home.

That’s why I do this.

Art is memory, identity, truth, beauty, all suspended in time.

So tell your story.

Start collecting pieces that feel like chapters in your life. Whether it’s a tiny sketch or a massive canvas, let it be yours.

Final Thought: Trust Yourself

You don’t need an interior designer.

You don’t need to wait for “the right time.”

You just need to trust your eye and your soul.

If a piece pulls you in… it’s for you.

Ready to begin?

Browse original works online or come feel them in person at Marcolina’s Fine Arts Gallery.

This is more than art. This is curation of self.

– Marcolina

Founder & Curator, Marcolina’s Fine Arts Gallery