The widespread conversation about work-life balance is clearly not one that entertains Hannah Polskin. Conversely, the abstract painter prefers the complete immersion of both worlds in her home and studio in West Hollywood, where she creates her coveted Rorschach-like rotating works. “Creatively, I’m impulsive,” explains Hannah, a New York native who now calls Los Angeles her home. “I need my own atmosphere to absorb Eureka’s last-minute moments. I am shortening the time between owning an idea and trying it.”
With the help of one of her collectors—who works in real estate—Hana got her apartment in Los Angeles at the height of the pandemic. The 1,700-square-foot space, which features 18-foot ceilings and a distinctive garage door, has become an experimental breeding ground for many creative endeavors for on-demand designers. “I’ve always felt that my work lies at the intersection of both art and interior design,” says Hannah, who rarely dreams of a new piece without considering its future context. “It was a natural progression for me to branch out into my home décor with pieces including mirrors, TV cabinets, tables, rugs, and shelves, which are now installed throughout my home.”
Hana’s flowing and undulating creations make her gravitate towards spaces that are, in fact, structured – in stark contrast to her work. “This apartment has a clean, organized industrial feel thanks to the cement floors and tall ceilings that I immediately knew would be the right kind of canvas for my undulating work. I love the juxtaposition of the curves I create and the small size of the loft.”
Although Hannah lives where she works and works where she lives, it is essential for her art lab to maintain strong visual clarity – thus, the idea of chaos and clutter is not in the artist’s lexicon. “I need a clean slate and for there to be a natural, organic flow throughout every room,” Hannah recalled, recalling a trip to Marfa, Texas, where she toured Donald Judd’s studio. The lecturer pointed out that none of the simple artist’s furniture has drawers because if something is in the drawer, it is lost forever. “My inner beauty is a lot like – everything should have a place – I guess that’s why I mostly paint in high contrast color combinations with very specific lines.”
