Decorating & Design
10+ Elegant And Artful Holiday Gift Ideas
Published on December 11, 2024
Art advisor Diana Hamm shares her favorite gifts right now for the art lovers on your list.
Giving gifts can be its own art form — think limited-edition, small batch, artist made or local. For me, as an art adviser, if there’s a connection to contemporary art, even better!
Artful Yoga Mat
Contemporary artist David Shrigley is best known for his wry work on paper commenting on daily life. In collaboration with online art platform Artlead, he’s produced a limited-edition yoga mat that brings his brand of humour to the reluctant yogi.
Natural Soap
Kym Rempel teamed up with artist Meghan Hildebrand to create Anto Yukon soaps, perfect for gift-giving. Made with glacial silt collected near Yukon’s Kluane National Park and Reserve, the soap is detoxifying and exfoliating. This is the part I love most: each bar comes in a box featuring a Meghan Hildebrand art print.
Pop Art Puzzle
A puzzle that doubles as a lesson in contemporary art history is an easy yes from me! At 1,000 pieces, this one will take a while to complete, giving the player time to immerse themselves in the works of Damien Hirst, Yayoi Kusama, Andy Warhol and more.
Artistic Jewelry
Jewelry that looks like wearable art is one of my favorite gifts. Toronto designer Corey Moranis works in Lucite; I love how each ring and bracelet interacts with light, across the time of day and the change of seasons.
Unique Art
Gifting friends or family an original piece of art is personal and memorable. Art Interiors has a wonderful collection of paintings, drawings, editioned prints, sculpture and photography, and it’s easy to buy online.
Peggy: A Novel
At the top of my TBR list, this book by Rebecca Godfrey with Leslie Jamison is an imagined interpretation of the life of art collector and socialite Peggy Guggenheim.
Radical Stitch
Featuring 56 Indigenous artists, this catalogue on the art of beading accompanies the touring exhibition, which is on view at Fredericton’s Beaverbrook Art Gallery until March 2025.
Modern Heirlooms
Toronto artist Eve Gordon makes the most wonderful breakfast trays and candlesticks. Equally inspired by Venice and Paris, she creates the designs and shapes of these pieces that are sure to be passed down through the generations.
Modern Vase
Flowers are life’s true art form. Mjölk has created a beautiful wall-mounted vase in bronze that can hold fresh or dried flowers, creating an unexpected sculptural moment.
Luxe Getaway
A Fogo Island Inn experience would be at the top of my wish list. Located on a remote island off the northeast coast of Newfoundland, the five-star inn has wild, north Atlantic Ocean vistas that make it truly spectacular. An artist residency program and ongoing exhibitions featuring works from past artists in residence make this a once-in-a-lifetime dream trip for art and nature lovers.
Burtynsky: Extraction/Abstraction
Leading Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky had an exhibition at London’s Saatchi Gallery this year and published a book for it. The tome delves into his more than 40-year career and includes photographs and essays.
The gift of a membership lasts a full year and benefits the recipient — and the gallery. It’s a great way to remind people to get out and enjoy their local gallery.
Annual memberships, to name a few:
Diana Hamm of WK ART is a Toronto art adviser. A graduate of Sotheby’s Institute of Art in London, U.K., Diana focuses on contemporary art and discovering emerging artists. She also advises private clients on acquisitions and collection building. Find out more at wkart.ca.
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