Original art that’s more than décor
A piece of original, beautiful art is more than just a decoration, Linda Brantley said. Once you fall in love with fine art, you’re hooked. “Once you skip up to fine art, a piece doesn’t have to match the colors in your sofa. It should be an emotional response that you get from a piece of fine art, and you’ll never go back to things you find,” Brantley said.
Brantley is the owner of Roman Brantley Art & Antiques, which she started about three years ago. A former physician’s assistant at UAB, Brantley fills her store with original art and antique furniture, light fixtures and more. It’s a business born out of her own longtime interest in art collection. “I try to pick things that I would also put in my own home, and I like an eclectic mix,” Brantley said.
Finding those perfect pieces requires “a lot of footwork,” she said, including traveling to estate and private sales and building a network of people who can connect her to interesting finds. Most of her buying has been regional, but since fully retiring from UAB in December 2016, Brantley said she hopes to expand her reach to more states.
Brantley said she enjoys the customers who come in, whether to browse or to spend time chatting with her. She has developed many regular clients that “when they come in, I know what they’re looking for.” “I feel like I’ve increased my circle of friends,” Brantley said. “I’m proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish here that reflects who I am also, and the reaction I get from the hard work I put in here.”
No matter what her clients are looking for, Brantley said personal significance is always a priority: “All your art should mean something.”
Visit Roman Brantley Art and Antiques at 2790 BM Montgomery St. in Homewood. For more information on Roman Brantley Art & Antiques, call 460-1224 or visit romanbrantleyartandantiques.com.
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