Serena Williams doesn’t do "normal." You don’t win 23 Grand Slam singles titles by following the standard playbook, and apparently, that philosophy extends right into her home floor plan. When she moved into her 14,500-square-foot property north of Miami, she made a choice that would make most traditional interior designers gasp. She deleted the formal living room.
Honestly, most people have those stiff, formal rooms that nobody actually sits in. They just exist to look pretty for guests who visit once a year. Serena realized this. She told Architectural Digest that she’s just not a fan of having spaces just to have them. So, she and her sister Venus—who runs the design firm V Starr—gutted the traditional Mediterranean vibes and built a professional-grade serena williams art gallery right at the front door.
It’s a bold move. It’s also a deeply personal one.
The Serena Williams Art Gallery Explained Simply
When you walk through the front doors of the Williams-Ohanian residence, you aren’t greeted by a velvet sofa or a coffee table book about horses. You’re in a gallery. The space features 28-foot ceilings and expansive white walls specifically designed to showcase a curated collection of contemporary art.
Venus Williams basically summed it up by saying they wanted a space that sets a tone. Instead of a room where you "sit and wait," it’s a room where you "absorb and connect."
💡 You might also like: Wire brush for cleaning: What most people get wrong about choosing the right bristles
What's actually on the walls?
It’s not just random expensive stuff. The collection is heavy on Black excellence and pieces that challenge the viewer. One of the crown jewels is an 11-foot mixed-media work by Radcliffe Bailey titled Astro Black (2018). It’s massive. It features railroad tracks and, according to Serena, a piece of a real moon rock. She’s joked that when she wants to go to space, she just touches that piece.
Then there is the work of Leonardo Drew. She owns Number 184, a sculptural piece made of blackened wood that looks like it’s weathering or decaying. It’s gritty, industrial, and completely contrasts with the sleek, modern lines of the rest of the house.
Other notable pieces include:
- A KAWS x Campana Brothers chair made of a cluster of plush red Elmo toys.
- Sculptures by David Kracov.
- Hand-carved wooden doors imported from Nepal.
- A piece from the Konyak Naga tribe of India.
Why the living room had to go
Most celebrities build "museum-like" houses by accident because they’re too big to feel cozy. Serena did it on purpose. She’s gone on record saying that formal living rooms are basically emotionless. If you’ve ever been to a party where everyone awkwardly hovers in the kitchen because the living room feels too "nice" to touch, you get her point.
📖 Related: Images of Thanksgiving Holiday: What Most People Get Wrong
By turning that space into the serena williams art gallery, she turned the foyer into a destination. It’s the spine of the house. It leads you toward the more "fun" areas, like her secret karaoke room (hidden behind a bookshelf, naturally) or her trophy room, which houses those four Olympic gold medals and the mountain of Grand Slam silver.
The "Sérénade" Vibe
Even though the gallery is professional-grade, it isn’t cold. It flows into a media room with a neon sign that reads "Sérénade"—a play on her name. This is where the family actually hangs out. It’s got a popcorn machine and a stage. The gallery is the intellectual soul of the home, but the "Sérénade" room is the heart.
Serena as the Artist
Here is the thing most people get wrong about the serena williams art gallery: it isn't just for show. Serena actually paints. In the dining room, there’s a large red color-field painting hanging over the sideboard. She made it herself.
She also has a 3D piece in the gallery that uses paint and a needle, another one of her original creations. She’s mentioned that she finds the process of creating art similar to the focus required on the court—it’s about form, composition, and a bit of a release.
👉 See also: Why Everyone Is Still Obsessing Over Maybelline SuperStay Skin Tint
A Lesson in Modern Home Curation
Most of us aren’t going to commission V Starr to turn our foyer into a MoMA wing. But the takeaway from Serena’s design choice is actually pretty practical for regular people.
- Utility over Tradition: If you don't use your dining room, turn it into a library. If your living room is a "dead zone," make it a hobby space.
- Support Living Artists: Serena’s collection isn't just old masters; it’s contemporary artists like Titus Kaphar and Brendan Marshall. Curation is about what speaks to you now.
- Personal Flourish: Mixing high-end sculpture with a chair made of Elmo dolls shows that you don't have to take "fine art" so seriously.
Serena Williams didn't just build a house; she built a narrative. The gallery serves as a reminder that after the trophies are put away and the tennis career is in the rearview mirror, the things we choose to surround ourselves with—the stories on our walls—are what define our "off-court" life.
If you're looking to start your own home gallery, start by identifying the "dead space" in your house. Clear out the furniture that serves no purpose and pick one wall to be your focal point. You don't need an 11-foot Radcliffe Bailey to make a statement; you just need a piece that makes you want to stop and look instead of just walking past.