I was excited to hear that President Obama and his family are bringing in new art work to the White House, giving a fresh, contemporary spin to the more traditional choices of previous administrations.  For some professional insight, I spoke with Diane Jensen who has been an art dealer for the last 30 years.  Jensen Fine Arts specializes in American and European Paintings from the 19th through the 21st century, featuring Hudson River, Impressionist, Ash Can and Boston School tradition painters.  Diane works privately with collectors, and previously she owned a gallery on the Upper East Side of New York and one on Martha’s Vineyard, MA.  Diane is currently completing a book about art collecting, to be released in the early fall.  Oh yeah, and she’s my mom.

Which artists or specific works would you recommend for the Obama’s to consider?  What might you bring along if they invited you over for dinner?

Do you think the Obama’s new direction for White House artwork reflects a larger trend in art collecting today?

Yes, this does reflect a shift in the art world today. While the traditional 19th century art that has been displayed in the White House for many presidencies is historically important and beautiful, it will be a pleasure to see other works by equally important artists on display.

How do you think their choices will influence collectors and the public perception of art in general?  What kind of change do you hope to see?