As I sit at my dining room table writing this the day before our launch, I can’t help but reflect on the exciting and whirlwind journey of the past few months. What started as a small idea, became an incredible journey of collaborating with talented artists and artful brands to bring this space to life. While I loved seeing the final pieces each artist created for Collected Maison, if i’m being honest, the conversations, studio visits, and artistic discussions are what I cherish the most.

I’m always thinking about art. What makes it so special? What attracts people to it? The answer, in my opinion, is simple - art can’t be admired or even acquired without celebrating the artist behind it. The true essence of a work of art isn’t simply in its appearance, or how it can bring vibrancy to a room. There’s so much more to it than just that. There’s the artist behind it bringing the work to life- the person who held a paintbrush or a chunk of clay just so, and moved it in a way that only that particular artist knows how, to create something truly unique. Something one-of-a-kind that can never be recreated exactly the same way again. That to me is the magic of art and why it is so desirable in a home.

It’s also the story each piece brings with it- both the artist’s story as well as the story of the beholder. There is a story of why the piece was created and a story of why it was acquired. It is a piece of the artist’s soul and a piece of the beholder’s home. It’s not something that was made in a factory, but rather something that was created by someone’s own hands in their studio, emerging from that artist’s unique life story and perspective. Artists and their craft are truly special and deserve to be celebrated.

These thoughts are what inspired the creation of Collected Maison, a space where beautiful art is showcased alongside the artists that created them. I’m grateful you’re here and I hope you spend some time exploring our artists’ stories and works, as well as the artful brands that were created and inspired by an artist’s vision.

Cheers to an artful life,

Marcy P. Willis

Artist and Founder of Collected Maison