Want Better Decisions from the Executive team? Put Art in the Boardroom
Soren Meibom and Stefaan van Hooydonk
"Pool" by Soren Meibom
" Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.
— Pablo Picasso
Picture two executive teams tasked with solving a strategic challenge. One team meets in a sterile, undecorated boardroom. The other team gathers in a space where a bold piece of modern art dominates the wall: a canvas of uniform green crosses with one striking yellow cross. Neither team is told why the room looks the way it does. The group exposed to the artwork consistently generates more and better ideas.
What made the difference? The picture on the wall influenced their collective thinking.
The quality of decisions made in boardrooms is often attributed to the experience and expertise of those around the table. An overlooked driver of collective intelligence is the physical space itself; and specifically, what’s on the walls. Recent research shows that thoughtfully chosen visual art can influence team dynamics, boost cognitive flexibility, and foster a mindset of inquiry and innovation.
"Justice the Rainbow" by Soren Meibom
Why Art Works
Visual art, especially modern art and thought provoking pieces, stimulates parts of the brain linked to imagination, pattern recognition, and open-ended thinking. Even passive exposure to such imagery can subtly prime the mind for curiosity and openness. MRI studies show that viewing modern visual art increases brain activity in regions associated with complex problem solving, risk taking and learning.
In practice, when they are surrounded by art, leaders and teams are more likely to ask better questions, challenge assumptions, and engage with diverse perspectives.
The Boardroom Blind Spot
Despite widespread investment in tech and interior design, the walls of most executive spaces remain either bare or filled with literal representations—photos of products, founders, or achievements. These may reinforce the past, they do little to provoke the kind of cognitive tension that leads to deeper questions and better answers to prepare for the future.
This opportunity is gradually being recognized by leaders: in research by the Global Curiosity Institute, senior leaders consistently cite their physical office environment as the most overlooked factor limiting curiosity in the workplace.
Modern Art as Strategic Infrastructure
Many larger companies, e.g. JPMorgan Chase, Progressive Insurance, UBS, Google, and Etsy, have long recognized the value of art-filled workspaces to boost curiosity and fuel innovation and creativity. Forward-thinking organizations can follow suit to engage their executives and employees emotionally and intellectually.
Think of visual art not as decoration, but as part of your leadership toolkit. Just as the right question can unlock new thinking, the right image can unlock new mental states. Modern visual art introduces ambiguity, which is a key ingredient in kindling curiosity. Thoughtfully selected pieces invite reflection, slow down automatic thinking, and encourage divergent perspectives.
In this way, modern art becomes a quiet co-facilitator in your most important meetings.
"Dwyer Circle" by Soren Meibom
A Practical Framework for Designing with Art
Choose art that sparks curiosity or creative tension, not just beauty or comfort. This isn’t about inspiring others; it starts with leaders themselves. In a world of complexity and change, modern art can disrupt routine thinking, challenge assumptions, and push leaders out of their comfort zones. It’s a subtle but powerful tool for more reflective and expansive decision-making. Modern art is a simple yet underused lever to do just that.
Consider an industrial equipment manufacturer updating its flagship meeting room, used for executive sessions, client visits, and cross-functional collaboration. Designers weigh three design options:
(1) Blank walls: functionally neutral but uninspiring
(2) Literal images: such as detailed photos of the company’s machines, which reinforce pride and identity but do little to shift thinking, or
(3) Thought-provoking visual art: ambiguous and emotionally engaging, capable of sparking curiosity and opening the mind to new perspectives and innovation
While the first two options maintain the status quo, modern art transforms the space into a cognitive catalyst—inviting reflection, encouraging dialogue, and subtly raising the quality of decisions made in the room.
In your next boardroom redesign, don’t just think about furniture and tech. Think about what’s on the walls. The future of leadership may depend on it.
"Girl in Room" by Soren Meibom
What Leaders Can Do Tomorrow
1 Audit your executive meeting rooms
Take a fresh look at the physical environments where key decisions are made. Are the walls empty or filled with images that reflect only legacy? Or do they invite curiosity and fresh thinking? Ask your team how the space makes them feel and whether it stimulates or stifles creative dialogue.
2. Introduce one piece of thought-provoking art
Start small: replace a literal image or blank wall with a single piece of modern art: abstract, ambiguous, or emotionally evocative. Choose work that invites interpretation and doesn’t prescribe meaning. Observe how people respond, even unconsciously, to this shift.
3. Use art as a conversation catalyst
Begin a high stakes meeting by asking a simple question about a new artwork in the room: “What do you see?” or “How does this make you feel?” This warm-up exercise boosts cognitive flexibility, lowers defensiveness, and fosters a spirit of curiosity.
4. Partner with local artists or galleries
Make art curation part of your workplace design strategy. Many local artists and galleries are eager to collaborate with businesses, either by lending work on rotation. Or you can go one step further and co-creating modern art pieces that incorporate your company’s values, ambitions, or transformation journey.
5. Make the link to innovation explicit
Explain to your teams why you’re introducing modern art isn’t for decoration, but to stimulate better thinking. Tie this move to core leadership goals like better collaboration, psychological safety, and openness to change. This builds buy-in and sets the tone for a curiosity-driven culture.
About the Authors
Soren Meibom is a visual artist and astrophysicist (PhD) whose work explores the intersection of perception, science, and imagination. His modern artworks are featured in corporate and public spaces to encourage open-mindedness and reflection.
Stefaan van Hooydonk is the founder of the Global Curiosity Institute, author of two books: The Workplace Curiosity Manifesto and Curiosity: The Secret Ingredient for Success, and a global speaker on workplace curiosity.
Together, they are part of a growing team of fellows at the Global Curiosity Institute. They advocate for curiosity as a catalyst for better leadership, decision making, and innovation.
