The Fenton — Austin, TX
A Boutique Hotel's Lobby Gallery Wall
A 24-piece salon-hung gallery wall of neighborhood regulars, commissioned for a new lobby refresh.
“We wanted our lobby to feel like the neighborhood actually walks through it. Twenty-four local regulars said yes to a portrait. Guests now stop and ask us who everyone is. It's our best-performing amenity by a mile.”
Challenge
The Fenton's lobby refresh needed a hero wall that didn't feel like stock hotel art. The brief: portraits of local regulars, but the kind of regulars who wouldn't want to sit for a real painter. Budget was tight and the opening date was nine weeks out.
Approach
We set up a two-week photo-submission window with an in-hotel QR code, coordinated a consistent style preset ('moody painterly editorial'), and produced all 24 pieces in two coordinated sizes for a salon-style hang. Our framing shop matched walnut profiles across the full set.
Outcome
The wall opened with the refresh and has been photographed more than any other element of the lobby. Two of the regulars have already been asked to appear in the hotel's marketing.
Have a project like this?
We love working on runs, gift programs, and commissioned sets. Get in touch — we'll reply the same day.
Email hello@portraits.com