Talk Shop: Kristi Kohut // Artist & Founder of Hapi Art
ABOUT KRISTI
Since she was a little girl, Kristi Kohut wanted to be an artist—it just took her a while to believe it was possible. Kristi was several years into an advertising career when, in 2007, she took the gutsy leap to pursue her lifelong dream. After honing her craft for several years, Kristi started to put her work out there, but in a unique way. Rather than taking traditional artist channels, she connected with collectors directly on Instagram. IG—what would we do without you!
Her incredibly colorful and downright joyful pieces exploded online, eventually evolving into the popular studio known as Hapi Art. Her work has been featured in so many publications, including Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, and World of Interiors. In addition to managing Hapi Art, Kristi still produces original fine art and commissions (but make your requests early – she’s normally booked a year in advance, and rightly so!) We loved chatting with this successful and “hapi” artist, and hope you enjoy our interview with Kristi!
Describe your style in three words or less:
Eclectic, colorful, bold.
What have been the biggest influences on your aesthetic in your life:
Nature is by far my biggest muse. I often spend time outdoors, taking in the natural world, marveling at colors, patterns, symmetry, and internalizing them for inspiration — from dappled marble and squiggly agate lines to shimmering glaciers and iridescent birds. These elements are echoed throughout my work, whether as transforming opalescent colors in a tray or as sparkling glitter brushed methodically on a painting. Beyond aesthetics, I aim to connect my work to ideas one sees in nature: the surprise of bare winter branches turning into blooming trees; patterns in molecules that exist but aren’t obvious to the naked eye; the innate order of the Fibonacci sequence seen in delphiniums, pineapples, and nautilus shells…
And then contrast that with the commercial world...as a former advertising art director, I’m fascinated by the beauty in its many definitions and forms. I’m especially drawn to bold elements in pop culture: modern restaurants with unusual architecture, impactful typography and text treatments, luxury fashion designs by Mary Katrantzou and Alexander McQueen, and mind-bending exhibits, such as Hilma Af Klint at the Guggenheim.
How did you start your company, and/or what is your favorite thing about what you do:
My journey as an artist began after leaving the mad world of advertising when my son was born in 2007. I found that I had this creative force rising from my core, so I picked up a brush and began painting. Before long my studio was filled with canvases from wall to wall and I knew something was happening. After honing my craft for several years, it was time to start putting my work out there (I was quickly running out of wall space!). But the typical artist’s path and exclusive representation didn’t feel like a fit — I wanted to connect one-on-one with potential buyers. Bucking the norm at the time, I started selling my art online and sharing my story on Instagram. In one click, someone could become a collector and own a first edition, and in one message a collector could connect with me directly. This direct-to-consumer approach was not only personally fulfilling for me, it was also a strategic decision. I was out to build a true business and prove that fine art could be sold and scaled online. And so that’s just what I did and the result was bigger and better than I ever could have expected. And now I just hope to inspire others to do the same because there is nothing better than doing what you love.
What does your home say about you:
Our home is filled with art and color of course! The vibe is definitely a mix of different design styles, which I suppose speaks to my mantra of not following the rules and carving out your own path. It’s filled with art that we’ve discovered while traveling and connecting with new art and artists. Every time I walk past they bring me so much joy!
Where do you find inspiration:
I’ve always connected to the world in color. From childhood, hues flashed to me like a spark: the red strawberries in the garden hanging toward green grass, the blue of summer sky against a ripple of darker blue water, or a shiny ROYGBIV beetle on top of matte textured bark. Every glance is a rainbow, drawing me in and fueling my energy. That’s especially true professionally: Color drives and defines my art.
Who are your style icons:
Kelly Wearstler, Mary Katrantzou, Miley Cyrus, PINK.
What are your key ingredients for entertaining:
Good food, good cocktails, good lighting, and great friends.
Do you collect anything:
ART and books.
We love discovering new artists and works to add to our ever-growing collection. There’s nothing like living with art.
Favorite Instagram accounts to follow for inspiration:
@fawngalliinteriors, @shaunaglenn, @burkhartinteriors, @brextoncoleinteriors.
What design “rule” do you always follow, and which is made to be broken:
The power of editing. Step back and take away anything that is not necessary or that doesn’t add to the overall design.
The one to break...ironically that “less is more”...while I’m all for editing, I’m also a big proponent of taking risks and mixing it up with color, pattern and design cues from different periods and styles. This is where the magic happens.
What are you working on right now:
I’m in my studio full-on right now working on new commissions along with a new body of work from my Chromatic Harmony series, all created on iridescent acrylic.
Wardrobe staples:
Black leather pants, white button-down shirt, and Gucci tennis shoes.
Favorite fabric/wallpaper:
Right now I’m loving Channels by Kelly Wearstler and Queen of Spain by Schumaker.
Best interior advice you ever received:
Find one main statement piece of art to really anchor a room and pull it together.
Best career advice you ever received:
Don’t try to do too many things at once - and oh have I tried! - focus on one thing, and give that all you’ve got.
Types of home purchases you invest in and save on:
Splurge on furniture; save on books and candles.
Your greatest extravagance:
ART...purchasing art can definitely feel like a splurge. It makes your heart beat faster and fills you with joy BUT a really amazing side effect of original art that the rational side of me loves is that it is really a smart investment. As an artist myself, I know how much love and hard work can go into a painting and have so much appreciation for the creative process. There’s nothing like being able to connect with an artist and get to know their story and philosophy and then purchase or commission work directly from them. It makes it so much more meaningful. In a world where so much is mass-produced and Amazon-primed right to your door within hours, there’s something irreplaceable about owning something that is one-of-a-kind, made by hand.
Favorite places to shop for home:
One Kings Lane, Chairish, Lulu & Georgia, St. Frank.
Most prized possession and why:
My MacBook...it allows me to create new work, dream and run my business from virtually anywhere.
Your interiors motto:
Do not fear color! Fear BEIGE! Be willing to take some risks and push yourself out of your comfort zone and you will not regret it. Fill your space with color and pattern and let all that joy and happy greet you each day.
Your life motto:
“Everything you can imagine is real.”...but I can’t take the credit for this one! Pablo Picasso famously coined this, it resonates with me on so many levels.
Advice for someone looking to define their own interior style:
Take some risks and don’t be afraid to mix it up. Your style should be a reflection of you and the things you love and should lift you up whenever you walk into a room.
Take Ten: My Favorite…
Food: My husband’s
Drink: Champagne
Film: To Catch A Thief
Hotel: Scrub Island
City: Miami
Bedding: simple, white Calvin Klein sateen sheets
Tea or Coffee (and how do you take it): Coffee...Nespresso pods with a dash of cream
Playlist: A little bit of everything! Lots of country, 80s and dance music
Weekend Activity: Being on the water, watching my son sail.
Design Book: Kelly Wearstler, HUE