The art we choose for our walls can say a lot about us. During quarantine, many of us turned areas of our living spaces into makeshift workplaces. Here, several attorneys share the artwork they’ve chosen to personalize where they work—be that in an office or at home—and why that art has significance to them.
“When I realized how long the pandemic might continue, I replaced the kids’ toys behind me with different pieces of art that I had collected but were sitting in our basement. These are masks from South Africa and Namibia, an antique map I found at a Japanese bookstore, ticket stubs from my travels across Japan, and straw art from Bangladesh, where my parents were born. I spend a lot of time in my small home office, and these remind me of the wider world.”
Faris Rashid, Attorney, Greene Espel
“This poster of Irish Writers calls to mind so many memories and, depending on my day, may evoke laughter, pride, a desire to read, or it may serve as a somber reminder of the challenges faced by both those who preceded us as well as those who are among us. The fact that no women are pictured makes clear how easily some groups are overlooked. Notably, the lack of color and the serious look on the faces of those pictured is in direct contrast to the humor, entertainment and levity found in many of their writings.”
Mary O’Brien, Of Counsel, Ballard Spahr
“This is an American icon painting another American icon. This is what I find extraordinary about Joan Baez’s portrait of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Justice Ginsburg was the commencement speaker for my University of Minnesota Law School Class of 1976. Both the subject and the artist show that a person can contribute to society and work for change well into their eighties.”
Robert Bennett, Partner, Robins Kaplan
The Feeding of the Spirit – Joe Geshick (above)
Mitakuye Oyasin (We Are All Related) – Charles Hilliard (Below)
“Kubes Law Office serves design and construction professionals. Our firm is founded on the principles of gratitude and peace. My husband, who is Ojibwe, had the inspiration to move some of our Native American artwork to our law office, to share it with a wider audience. We have many items, and offer just a sampling for you, here. We acquired some additional pieces from our friend, Judge Jim Randall, who has a life-long connection to Ojibwe and Dakota/Lakota peoples and wanted to share the art with a wider audience. We have met some of the artists in the process of gathering these pieces together and giving them a home. We appreciate the artists and their life stories—many times showing us how their art and spirituality sets them free from experiences of pain and struggle. We are grateful to have these significant expressions of life and faith here among us.”
Kristine Kubes, Kubes Law Office
“The name of the piece is Vie by Tyrone Schuyler. Vie means “to compete” and Tyrone’s representation of what a black boy competes with visually within his adolescence. I was immediately drawn to the young man’s focus; although stoic, his head remains high. I must admit, this particular piece has created a bit of an opinion.”
Josh Franklin, Attorney
The Feeding of the Spirit – Joe Geshick