“Luxury is authenticity,” says designer Hubert Zandberg . And that sentiment guided every decision as I curated a contemporary art collection for a couple whose Bay of Islands home overlooks a panoramic view of sea, sky, and native bush.
Baz and Nettie, both passionate lovers of colour and creativity, wanted their home to feel alive — not like a gallery filled with static pieces, but like a living, breathing expression of joy and connection. Each artwork needed to be uniquely different yet speak harmoniously to the next, creating a narrative of emotion, movement, and light.
We began with Hot House Flowers, a pair of radiant abstracts bursting with crimson, tangerine, and gold. These works became the emotional anchor of the home — vibrant and joyous, infusing warmth into every corner. Hung above a mirrored console, they shimmer in the light like living flame, their energy dancing across polished timber floors and reflecting the couple’s own zest for life.
This first choice set the tone for the entire collection: expressive, spontaneous, and authentic.
”Hothouse Flowers 2” from my Bloomin’ Mad series…bloom with beautiful feel-great gorgeous colors. The palette is layered in sultry glazes and gestural sweeps of color and embodies raspberry reds, optimistic oranges, sunny yellows, and iconic golds, creating a high vibe, bright and dewy glow.
Oranges, yellows and reds always make me feel happy. How about you?
Butterfly Lovers, Cassandra Gaisford, 2024
From Hot House Flowers, the story flowed naturally to Butterfly Lovers — a sweeping, passionate composition full of rhythm and vitality. When Baz and Nettie held it up against the rich, blue wall of their living room, the colours came alive, echoing and complementing the energy of the sea outside.
Butterfly Lovers was inspired by the monarch caterpillars we have been rescuing, raising, and releasing as butterflies. The painting became a powerful metaphor for transformation and connection — the way love, like butterflies, can evolve into something entirely new.
In this piece, chaos and harmony coexist, reflecting the tumultuous beauty of the human experience. The vibrant orange and gentle pink hues interweave with whispers of green, suggesting new growth and possibility amidst the fervor. It’s a celebration of contrasts—of light and shadow, fervor and tranquility—each element contributing to the rich tapestry of the whole.
For some, it’s dogs or cats. But for my partner and I, it’s the endangered Monarch butterflies that we’re rescuing. This video is a testament to our efforts, capturing the moment of one of our rescue caterpillars transformed. We’ve set up a special sanctuary in our home, away from the threats of predators like paper and German wasps, which have unfortunately been harming our endangered butterflies and native honey bees.
How to Raise Monarch Butterflies at Home
Then came Vibrance, a lush explosion of peonies rendered in textured impasto layers of rose, magenta, and soft green. It now hangs in the dining room, filling the space with vitality, peace and joy. The brushwork invites movement, while the palette radiates optimism. “It feels so alive,” Nettie said as sunlight caught the surface — and indeed, the entire room seemed to glow with that feeling.
Each piece stands on its own yet converses gracefully with the others, just as interior designers seek balance between statement and harmony. Together, they form a cohesive story of colour, emotion, and place — art that truly transforms a house into a home.
Feels like Rain was divinely inspired and felt so perfect for their home. I suggested it to the couple as an afterthought and when Nettie placed it on an existing picture hook about their white leather couch we knew the painting had found her home.
Feels Like Rain, Natural New Zealand Beeswax, pure pigments on board.
There’s a softness in the sky just before the rain… A breath. A pause. A sacred hush over the sea. This painting—crafted with beeswax and pure pigment—was born from those misty mornings, when the clouds cradle the light, and everything feels suspended in silver. Feels Like Rain is a mood, a memory, a meditation. As I created it, I whispered, “Let it wash over you. Let it remind you how beautiful it is to feel.”
Inspired by the misty mornings from my studio overlooking Aroha Island, along the Rangitane coastline, in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand.
Nettie and Baz loved the light-hearted spirit of peace and joy I infused into this piece. In these challenging times, it’s essential to be surrounded by objects that bring us a sense of serenity and a smile.
A garden of flowers against a soft blue background makes the perfect edition to the couple’s curated collection.
Layered in sultry sweeps of pigment, the palette embodies love, joy, happiness, beauty and peace. From my heart to theirs.
Every great collection needs a moment of serenity — a pause between heartbeats. For Baz and Nettie, that moment arrived with Great Bright Light, a contemporary abstract in tranquil blues and soft whites. Hung in the entryway, before their breath-taking view unfolds, Great Bright Light, captures the feeling of sunlight piercing through clouds after rain — a visual metaphor for hope and renewal.
As if by divine choreography, a single shaft of natural light fell across the artwork the moment it was hung, illuminating it in a gentle, celestial glow. The effect was breathtaking. Guests entering the home now pause instinctively before this painting — it’s both a welcome and a blessing.
Great Bright Light was inspired by the poetry of Pablo Neruda and a divine sunrise in The Bay of Islands, and the shift to the Aquarian energy. Following a storm, the skies blazed with brilliant rays of light. I took a photo (another of my obsessions) and later painted how the moment made me feel—full of light. Layering washes of colour, I worked fluidly and spontaneously, mainly using a monochromatic palette of blues. I also love blue so much I could eat it.
What’s your favourite colour?
“In the darkest of times, the human spirit shines brightest.”” – Alexei Navalny
For art collectors and interior designers alike, this project is a celebration of what happens when art becomes personal — when it transcends decoration and becomes a mirror of the soul. Baz and Nettie’s home is now a sanctuary filled with works that reflect who they are: authentic, passionate, and full of light.
When we stepped back to take in the completed collection, Nettie smiled softly. “It feels like us,” she said.
And that, ultimately, is what curating art is all about — finding beauty that not only fits a space but expresses a life.
Because true luxury, as Zandberg reminds us, isn’t about excess.
It’s about authenticity — and the courage to fill your world with what moves you most.
These paintings are SOLD but you will enjoy other available works:
https://shop.thejoyfulartist.co.nz/product-category/art
Are you curating a home or design project that deserves art filled with soul, colour, and meaning?
Explore available original paintings and bespoke commissions inspired by the light and landscape of the Bay of Islands:
shop.thejoyfulartist.co.nz
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All my creations are infused with positive energy, love, and light. I believe in the power of beauty, joy, love, purpose, and creativity to transform your life.
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