The Secret to Choosing Art You’ll Love Forever
Written by
05 October 2025
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4 min read
Art has a special place in interiors, but it can often be left to the wayside or added as an afterthought. For both designers and homeowners, finding the right piece can seem daunting – should it complement the palette, should it be a certain style, or should it simply be something you love?
SIBU Gallery has evolved beyond the traditional gallery model to help answer these questions, building a reputation for consultancy that takes the uncertainty out of art selection, turning it into a joyful, stress-free experience.
The duo behind SIBU Gallery
Behind SIBU is husband-and-wife team Wayne and Anna Curnuck, each with decades of experience in the design world, with Anna also an accomplished artist herself.
“We’re not here to intimidate with art jargon or prestige,” says Anna. “Our role is to make people feel completely comfortable and guide them to the piece that feels right.”
Rather than focusing on works of specific genres, SIBU’s collection is curated instinctively.
“When we’re choosing artists, I don’t care about someone’s CV. I say, just send me your art and a paragraph about who you are. When I’m curating, choosing art, it’s very much an instinctive gut feeling.”
First conversations in finding the right artwork
Working with both designers and homeowners, every consultation begins with a simple but crucial step: understanding experience. Some clients are regular collectors, while others might be purchasing their very first piece.
“The first thing I do is make them feel completely comfortable. You don’t need to know a single thing about art – I don’t care if you know what’s an abstract or what’s not. How does it make you feel? That’s the most important thing,” says Anna.
“Designers often choose for the overall space and what’s symbiotic with the space. Clients are more into the emotion of what the art represents for them and how it makes them feel. The best results happen when those two perspectives meet.”
An extension of the design team
For interior designers, sourcing art can be a time-consuming process, but SIBU steps in to keep the project moving forward. Designers can share moodboards, finishes and dimensions, or simply a brief outline, and the gallery will present tailored suggestions.
“There’s high harmony when there’s good information,” says Anna. “But even when the details are minimal, we can guide the process. We’ve become an extension of many design studios – helping them move projects forward while keeping clients engaged.”
Wayne and Anna’s background in furniture design and styling is also valuable: “When I start talking about rug sizes, fabric houses and furniture brands like Jardan, and ergonomic furniture sizes… I see designers relax because they don’t expect us to have that background.”
Size and visualisation
Often, the best place to start is size. A natural filter, dimensions quickly narrow down the options to create a curated shortlist – a collection of works that can be seen and experienced by the customer to see what resonates.
If there’s any indecision, this usually disappears when clients can visualise the work in their home with mock-ups created by SIBU using room photos and measurements. “We keep it very simple – an approximate guide to how the artwork will look in the space.”
Rather than overcomplicating, it’s a simple way to build confidence. “Time and indecision are the big challenges, especially with couples,” says Wayne. “That’s where we can be an extension of your team. Our clients’ success is the artists’ success and our success.”
Commissions and a growing collection
When a project calls for something unique, SIBU manages commissions from brief to completion. Drawing on her own experience, Anna ensures specifications are clear and quality is maintained. “We’ve never had a commission fail,” she says.
The gallery is also expanding its collection of artists to offer more options, curated for contemporary spaces.
It’s about helping people find art that resonates.
The art of choosing art
Ultimately, what drives SIBU is the moment when a client connects with a piece. Wayne recalls a client who spotted a large work at a fair and instantly felt that it was for her – even before realising it was by an artist she had long admired. Months later, she still describes the artwork as the thing that lifts her up every time she comes home.
“It’s about helping people find art that resonates,” says Anna. “The client is happy, the designer is happy, the artist is happy. It’s a symbiotic process – and a beautiful one.”