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Jorge Pérez, one of the largest residential developers in the state, is an aficionado of the Impressionist period, a collector of Latin art and a champion of emerging artists. He plans to bring his passion for art to his new luxury condominium development on the waterfront in downtown Fort Myers.

Pérez, chairman and chief executive officer of The Related Group of Florida, will invest in paintings, sculpture and photography to enhance his $450-million-plus endeavor, Oasis. "Art should complement the feeling of architecture and the lifestyle that you are trying to create," Pérez says. Like Pérez, many executives believe that art belongs as much in an office as in a home or gallery, but how and why businesses select works for display varies. For some, art serves a distinct purpose, such as soothing patients in a hospital or projecting a particular image. For others, the motivation seems to be as much to promote art itself as to enhance the value of a corporation or project.

Pérez embraces the idea that a successful urban landscape is intertwined with art. His home in Coconut Grove and corporate offices in Miami showcase works from all over the globe, especially Latin America. He's served on the Miami Art Museum's board of directors since the early 1990s, and his company has acquired more than $1 million in fine art for projects since 2000.

For each development, an in-house curator works with members of the local arts establishment. The art selection for Oasis, which will include five 32-story towers with 1,079 upscale residences, will evolve with the development. Some pieces will be displayed in the sales office while the towers are under construction. Others, particularly sculptures for the landscaped grounds, will be commissioned. Many selections will be acquired only after the walls are up.

"Based on the spaces and when we have a feel for what's needed, we start looking for art," Pérez says. "We try to bring in young artists and local artists."

Because education is very much a part of appreciation, The Related Group publishes an art book for each project. Listing extensive information about each piece, the books are distributed to buyers. "Not only are they seeing their art, but they are understanding the reason the art was selected," says Pérez. "It's great to see the residents walking through public spaces with their guests and talking about art and their artists. We feel very good about doing this."

Corporate Culture

William Meek, director and owner of Harmon-Meek Gallery, has considerable experience helping professionals and business owners select art for the workplace. The Naples gallery has been in business for more than 40 years.

According to Meek, people buy corporate art for four reasons: somebody in power wants it; it serves a vital function; it's an investment; or simply because a work is the right color and matches the sofa in an office. In many instances, the decision to purchase art is based on a combination of all of those factors.

Instructions to purchase art, particularly a certain type of art, often comes from the top. "There are many instances where that desire for art will spill out from initial purchases for the boardroom, where pieces are enjoyed by a few, to various common areas of the building," Meek explains. "There are so many cases where the president or chairman of a small, medium or large corporation has a great interest in art, and wants to surround himself or herself with it."

A Plate of Oysters, a 1907 still life by Marcel Henri Léonce Caud, is one of many original works found in the public areas and offices at IronStone Bank's Naples headquarters. Lewis R. Holding, chairman of First Citizens BancShares, IronStone's holding company, is an art enthusiast. As a result of his vision, the company has a number of significant pieces, principally European and Western American art, says Alex MacFadyen, group vice president. "We buy them so that they can be viewed and appreciated and shared with our customers," he says. "We do not have a private collection, per se. It's all on exhibit in our banks."

In IronStone's portfolio, most pieces are 18th-century sculptures and oils, still lifes and scenes of the past. When purchasing art, experts are consulted, but in most cases Holding takes a personal interest.

"The art business is very complex, and so in any

endeavor you want to have quality advice," says MacFadyen. "We try to acquire art that has value, and I'm not talking about monetary value. There is classic art that will still be classic art in 100 years. Art adds to an enjoyable working environment. We're not looking at it as much from a financial perspective as from an aesthetic one."

Art Therapy

Art that serves a purpose is a model embraced by the Cleveland Clinic. Art consultant Teresa M. DeChant suggests options for fine art placement within buildings and grounds. Artwork selected for entryways, lobbies, waiting areas, corridors, and exam and procedure rooms contributes to a soothing atmosphere.

When planning a new installation, DeChant considers who will be using the space. How physicians want their patients to feel and to perceive them is important. An oncology unit might have Impressionist landscapes, photos of nature and animals, and ceiling art in rooms where patients might be lying down for long periods. A neonatal facility might have calm landscapes and children's imagery. An OB-GYN office could feature still lifes or pictures of women in day-to-day activities.

In addition to permanent investments in art, the Cleveland Clinic in Naples features four free art exhibits each year. All are displayed in the hospital lobby and mezzanine-level walkway. An annual exhibition, Nature: A Cure for Stress, showcases Florida artists and imagery.

"A hospital's location and cultural environment come into play when selecting artwork," explains DeChant, who is based in Cleveland. "I've become familiar with the Everglades and its beauty through the work of Clyde Butcher. We've also used the works of other artists who live in the area, such as Jennie Jones, Kathy Spalding and Suzanne Crosby."

The Art of Science for Space is a traveling exhibit on display at the hospital through July 31. The exhibit features photographs, paintings, digital images and space-related artifacts linking images from the innermost parts of the human body to the outermost reaches of the universe. The exhibit resulted from the Cleveland Clinic's space-related medical research, and reflects space exploration in relation to medical advances.

DeChant says the emphasis on art aims to lift spirits. "Art exhibits have proven to be a visually interesting and relaxing way for patients and visitors to spend their time in the hospital," she says.

Partner in Art

When Bank of Florida built its corporate headquarters in north Naples in 2002, it was decided from the get-go that award-winning Florida artist Emily James would have a hand in the art.

James attended Florida State University and married her college sweetheart-John James, president of Bank of Florida. A couple of her prints rank among the 50 top sellers in the world. Her works, many of them sizable images, often appear in businesses. "I enjoy doing corporate art, because so many people see it," she says. "It can give heart to a building."

A focal point in the rotunda foyer is a tall oil painting of a Mediterranean villa with a fountain and flowers cascading over a balcony. Four large watercolors of tranquil Everglades scenes hang along the entryway leading to the foyer. Tall paintings of Venice canals-reminders of a vacation-adorn the walls in John's office. All were painted by Emily.

Hal Atzingen, president of Design Purchasing Network, a commercial interior design firm, worked from the beginning with Bank of Florida's design team to coordinate the color scheme and select wallpaper and carpeting for the building on Immokalee Road near U.S. 41. "As you get to the end of this type of project, you incorporate the artwork and foliage," he explains. "This was a unique situation because John's wife is a talented artist. Before I even knew who she was or worked on this project, I had bought a couple of her prints, and they were hanging in my office."

Bank of Florida chose a pineapple motif to welcome customers, and each branch of the bank features an Emily James print of an Old Florida home painted a warm yellow, with pineapple plants in the yard.

"We worked with her on the coloration, discussed the feel of how things should be and picked key spots in the bank to highlight her work," says Atzingen. "Because of the timeless beauty of these images and the way that they're closely integrated with the architecture, the overall impression is remarkable."

Atzingen, who has been a designer for two decades, is familiar with the challenge of making public spaces warm and inviting. "Businesses usually have an image that they're trying to project," he says. "Even though we did go out and buy some pieces, we were fortunate to work with someone who was practically an in-house artist. For that reason, Bank of Florida's headquarters came together well and is absolutely one of our best projects."