Grand Admiral Thrawn has a predilection for alien art. One thing I found especially interesting in Zahn's books was the art that he invented for Grand Admiral Thrawn to look at.

Thrawn holds that a species' psyche is intimately tied to their art, and that by sufficient examination of this art, one can find psychological weaknesses. He uses this to great effect in a number of invasions, where he combines military genius with a deep understanding of the target species' psyche, to whup booty.

Keeps the Noghri around as his bodygaurds. This is not a good idea.