in Dead Flat | All photography credited to Matthew Szczygiel
Last year, we caught up with Thomas Mach from Thomas Mach Interiors, one of our stockists based in New England, who’s known for his wonderful use of colour. Today, we’re talking to Thomas about his ongoing collaboration with the New Britain Museum of American Art. Read on to find out about his pivotal role in revitalising the museum, breathing life into its gallery spaces with Farrow & Ball.
Could you tell us about the project?
The New Britain Museum of American Art, founded in 1832, was the first museum in the country dedicated solely to American art. The New York Times is quoted as calling it: “New England’s newest and perhaps most congenial art museum, as well as one of the largest with 43,000 square feet of exhibition space”.
Back in 2018, the museum’s director and curator were seeking help to choose the gallery colours for an upcoming Georgia O’Keeffe exhibition. This was to be a very large exhibition and the only museum in the northeast to have this show. I was asked to advise on the colour selections and since then, I’ve advised on all temporary and permanent gallery spaces throughout the museum. Since I became the official consultant for the museum, we used Farrow & Ball paint in the Estate Emulsion finish. Now, we’ve started using the new Dead Flat for a soft, velvet finish.
What was your process for selecting the colours in the museum?
We begin selecting the colours for an exhibition many months before the launch date. We meet with the curator and other executives of the museum to preview the works of art that will be displayed and the various themes of the exhibition. After that, we do extensive research on the artists, artwork and even the frames. We then look at colours that will complement the art without overpowering it. It’s a delicate balance. We also use colour to help people move from one part of the exhibition to another — it helps to tell the “story” of the exhibition.
For the Lander’s House historic restoration at the New Britain Museum of American Art, we knew these spaces would be used for entertaining, events and a wedding venue. The goal was to have a sophisticated and updated feel, so we colour drenched the space in Hague Blue.
Do you have any tips for our readers about choosing colours to complement artwork?
Anytime I’m choosing the colours for an art exhibition, my priority is to choose a colour that complements the artwork but doesn’t distract the eye from viewing the art. The colour of the wall behind artwork should enhance the experience and not create a distraction.
See more Farrow & Ball around the world
From London to Paris to New York, we’re proud that our paint adorns the walls of galleries and cultural institutions around the world. Discover where you can find Farrow & Ball out and about.