Here at VIDA, we love pretty things, and there’s a nook in our VIDA Portland location that I love…
It is a bold wall color, with a piece of artwork that changes every few months — a painting comes down, a new one goes up. Sometimes it’s bold and abstract, all color and movement. Sometimes it’s quieter, making you stop and look a little longer. What stays constant is the feeling of that area: it feels alive, and intentional.
That’s what art does. And it turns out, the effect is far more than aesthetic.
How Art Reduces Stress: What’s Actually Happening in Your Brain and Body
Here’s something I find genuinely fascinating: cortisol levels — a key stress hormone — fell by an average of 22% in people who viewed original paintings in a gallery setting. Twenty-two percent — from looking at art.
Studies in neuroaesthetics have found that viewing visually complex, coherent art reduces cortisol levels, slows heart rate, and increases activity in brain regions associated with reward and meaning-making.
And it’s not just about galleries. Art has the unique ability to stimulate neuroplasticity — the brain’s capacity to form new neural connections — which is a critical factor for improving learning and memory. Viewing paintings engages not only the brain’s visual systems but also its emotional and cognitive centers.
Even the colors matter. Research has shown that colors within artwork can influence brain wave activity and mood, with blue tones often associated with calmness and focus, while reds may inspire energy and action.
In short: the art on your walls isn’t decoration. It’s an input your nervous system is actively processing, all day long.
The Workplace Benefits of Art: Productivity, Creativity, and Wellbeing
If you’ve ever wondered why some workspaces just feel better to be in, this is a big part of why.
A University of Exeter study found that workers in an “enriched” environment — decorated with art and plants — were up to 32% more productive, and experienced 45% more wellbeing and 60% more engagement than those in a lean or functional workspace.
In a survey of over 800 employees across 32 organizations, 78% agreed that artwork helps reduce stress, 64% agreed that artwork helps increase creativity and innovation, and 77% agreed that artwork encourages expression.
Art does not eliminate workplace pressure, but it gives the brain a structured pathway to regulate the emotional load that pressure creates. That’s not a small thing. That’s the difference between grinding through a hard afternoon and actually recovering enough to do your best thinking.
How VIDA Brings Original Art Into Our Coworking Spaces
This is something I feel really good about at our spaces.
VIDA rents original artwork through the Portland Art Museum’s Rental Sales Gallery — and if you’re not familiar with this gem of a Portland institution, let me introduce you.
The Rental Sales Gallery was originated in 1959, run almost entirely by volunteers, with a mission that’s remained consistent: to promote the arts in Oregon, providing a showcase for Oregon artists while increasing public awareness of the art community.
The gallery supports and promotes more than 250 Oregon and Northwest Washington artists, with rates as low as $40 for three months. Rental options and rent-to-buy purchase plans offer an affordable way to collect art, and a personal consultation — at the gallery, in your home, or in your office — is offered at no extra cost. All artwork is original and juried.
A significant portion of every rental fee and sale goes directly to the artist, providing them with crucial income and recognition. So when you rent from the RSG, you’re not just filling a wall — you’re sustaining a local creative economy.
For VIDA, this means our members sit alongside original works by Portland artists every day. The pieces rotate, which means there’s always something new to notice, something to spark a conversation, something to make the space feel genuinely human.
Our members notice it too. VIDA Portland member Jessica Roberts shared,
“It’s such a special thing to have beautiful, original art in our office — makes me feel rich in the best possible way. On top of that, we are supporting local artists and a local institution with professional curation. In this time of mass-produced AI slop, it feels like a welcome breath of authenticity!”
If that sounds like something you want in your own space, here’s how to start.
How to Get Original Art Into Your Home or Office (At Every Budget)
You don’t need a big budget or a design background. You just need to start somewhere.
- Rent from the Portland Art Museum’s Rental Sales Gallery. If you’re a PAM member (or want a reason to become one), this is the most accessible path to living with original art. The entire inventory of more than 2,000 works is available to search online at rentalsalesgallery.com, and you can book a personal consultation to find the right fit for your home or office.
- Visit local galleries and First Thursday. Portland’s art scene is robust and genuinely accessible. The Pearl District’s First Thursday gallery walk is a monthly ritual worth building into your calendar — it’s free, social, and a low-pressure way to discover artists you love before you buy.
- Buy directly from artists. Instagram has made this easier than ever. If you see work you love, reach out. Many Portland artists sell prints and originals directly. Following local artists also means you’re building a relationship with the work over time — which makes the eventual purchase feel like a natural next step. At VIDA Beaverton, we have had pieces from local artist Aremy Stewart and are looking into local artist Catherine Freshley.
- Start with one piece. The science doesn’t require a full gallery wall. One intentionally chosen piece — something that genuinely moves you — changes a space. Put it somewhere you’ll see it often: above your desk, across from your bed, at eye level in your kitchen. Let it work on you daily.
- Consider prints of originals. Research found that even looking at reproductions of artwork dropped cortisol levels by 8%. Not as dramatic as the original, but meaningful. A beautiful print from an artist you admire is a valid place to start.
The Bigger Picture: Why Beautiful Spaces Matter for Women at Work
There’s a reason we talk so much at VIDA about designing environments that support the whole person — not just the task list. The spaces we inhabit shape our nervous systems, our moods, our capacity for creative thought.
Art is one of the most direct levers we have.. it’s not frivolous, nor a luxury add-on for when things are going well. Research has shown that engaging with arts activities leads to higher productivity at work, improved mood, better mental health, and increased overall life satisfaction.
The walls around you are working whether you’ve chosen what’s on them or not. Blank walls communicate something. Thoughtless, generic prints communicate something. And original art — especially art made by someone in your own community — communicates something entirely different.
It says: this space was created with care. The people here matter. Beauty is worth making room for.
That’s the kind of space we’re always trying to build at VIDA. And it’s the kind of space you deserve, too — wherever you do your best work!
Frequently Asked Questions About Art in the Workplace
Does art in the workplace actually improve productivity? Yes — and the research is compelling. A University of Exeter study found workers in art-enriched environments were up to 32% more productive and reported 45% higher wellbeing than those in bare, undecorated spaces. Art engages the brain’s emotional and cognitive centers, which supports focus, creativity, and stress regulation throughout the workday.
How does art reduce stress? Viewing original artwork triggers measurable physiological changes: cortisol (the stress hormone) drops, heart rate slows, and the brain shifts toward reward and meaning-making activity. Studies in neuroaesthetics describe this as parasympathetic activation — essentially, art helps your nervous system shift out of fight-or-flight and into a calmer, more focused state.
Is renting art worth it? Absolutely — especially through a program like the Portland Art Museum’s Rental Sales Gallery, where pieces rotate and you’re not locked into a long-term commitment. Renting lets you live with original art affordably, discover what you love, and support local artists directly. Rates start as low as $40 for three months.
Where can I rent art in Portland? The Portland Art Museum’s Rental Sales Gallery (rentalsalesgallery.com) is the gold standard. Located at 1237 SW 10th Avenue, it represents more than 250 Oregon and Northwest Washington artists across a wide range of mediums and price points. PAM membership is required to rent — another great reason to join.
Do I need to spend a lot of money to benefit from art at home or work? Not at all. Research shows that even reproductions of artwork produce meaningful reductions in stress hormones. Starting with one piece you genuinely love — whether a print, a small original, or a rented work — is enough to begin shifting the energy of a space.
What kind of art works best in a workspace? It depends on the effect you want. Blue tones tend to support calmness and focus; warmer reds and oranges can energize. Abstract work tends to stimulate creative thinking, while landscapes and nature scenes have strong stress-reducing properties. The most important factor, according to research, is that you connect with it — spaces where employees have input on art choices show the highest wellbeing and productivity gains.
VIDA Coworking rents original art through the Portland Art Museum’s Rental Sales Gallery. We’d love to show you our spaces — and the artists whose work lives there. Book a tour at our physical coworking spaces in NE Portland or Beaverton at vidacoworking.com/tour or learn more about our online coworking community, VIDA Virtual.