Our Practice
Icona Arthouse operate quietly at the intersection of high-end interior design and contemporary art.
We cultivate long-term relationships with leading interior designers and acclaimed emerging and mid-career artists.
We facilitate bespoke commissions to create conceptually driven artworks characterised by visual longevity, narrative depth and technical rigour.
Our comprehensive, streamlined commissioning process ensures complete discretion and seamless execution for super-prime residential projects.
“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free”
Michelangelo
Neuroaesthetics is changing how interior design works
Neuroaesthetics is the scientific study of how the brain processes and biologically responds to beauty, art and the built environment. Neurological research confirms that our emotive responses to space and art are triggered by quantifiable, physiological reactions.
By measuring the impact of certain variables, these studies offer interior designers an evidence-based framework to curate environments that actively enhance emotional well-being and elevate the specific functionalities of each space. Which explains why leading interior designers increasingly prioritise the neurological “feel” of a project over purely the aesthetic.
Exceptional design and fine art work together to transform a physical structure into a deeply resonant home through sensory experience and personal expression.
“Imagination is more important than knowledge”
Albert Einstein
The Neurological Impact of Original Art
Recent neurological research has clearly demonstrated that original oil paintings stimulate the brain up to 10 times more than high-quality digital prints or posters.
The physical properties of an original oil painting - the microscopic layers of pigment, the physical texture of the brushstrokes, the conceptual depth and the unique way the medium refracts shifting natural light - trigger complex neurological activity across our emotional and cognitive networks.
Conversely, a high-resolution print compresses this depth into a flat, two dimensional plane. The visual cortex processes this instantly, reducing the artwork’s impact to a passive decorative element with minimal visual longevity.
This distinction can be critical, for example when balancing modern architectural materials where glass, polished concrete and structural steel may introduce an austere feel. A bespoke, highly tactile, contemporary oil painting provides vital sensory stimulation, breaking visual monotony, adding narrative weight and grounding minimalist spaces.
Our mission
We help realise the full emotive potential of the designer’s vision through collaborations with top emerging and mid-career artists - delivering sophisticated original artworks tailor made for the property and the client.
If you would like to elevate the level of wellbeing in your home, please ask your interior designer to contact us at:
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