Where local art comes to life, artists earn their first taste of success: Inside Art Direct

When Art Direct opened its brick-and-mortar gallery in late 2020, it wasn’t just about selling art. It was about creating a space where artists, collectors and neighbors could connect in meaningful ways. Since then, the business has quickly become a hub for local creativity, hosting gallery events and offering support to local artists.

“We used to host featured artist events with single artists. Now, we’re actually hosting featured group events instead,” gallery coordinator Giovanna Martin said. “We want to make sure more artists are seen in a gallery setting, and we’re trying to connect [them as well].”

Why focus on local art?

While Art Direct has access to nearly a million images online, the gallery intentionally prioritizes local work.

“If we’re focusing on local artists within our gallery, we can give them an area, a voice … and a chance to compete,” founder and CEO George Prichard said.

These opportunities for artists are a major part of Art Direct’s mission.

“We’ve worked with artists who have never been involved in the business side of the art world,” Vice President Brent Howard said. “We show them how to turn their art into income and provide them with a marketing plan to grow their careers.”

This personal guidance now happens one-on-one.

“When an artist reaches out to us, I schedule a 20 to 30-minute conversation with them to go through what they have already done and what they need to start doing in order to increase their business,” Martin said.

Seeing business breakthroughs firsthand is one of the most rewarding parts of the job.

“We’ve been seeing a lot more of those gleaming smiles [from artists],” Martin said.

How does framing bring people closer to art?

From kid’s posters to luxury hotel installations, Art Direct’s 5,000-frame selection ensures that anyone can find a way to display what they love.

The business also launched its Phone to Frame service to make art more accessible.

“Instead of keeping [photos] on their phone, we want to just say, ‘Hey, bring them in here.’ We can take [a photo] directly from your phone … print it and frame it, all within the same day,” Prichard said.

The impact of this service is huge.

“[This service] allows people to have accessible art,” Martin said. “Just by simply putting a piece of art or a picture on your wall that you absolutely love can completely change your mood.”

At its core, Art Direct exists to enrich lives through creativity, but it also partners with organizations such as the American Heart Association and Garrison Brothers to auction donated pieces for charity. Additionally, after the recent floods across Texas, Art Direct donated to the Shady RV park in Lakeway to help support flood victims.

Whether helping a first-time artist sell their work or donating to flood recovery efforts, every project is infused with community spirit.

“We just love to give back,” Martin said.

Visit Art Direct today at 720 S. Bell Blvd., Bldg. 9A, or go to their website to dive deeper into their products, services and events.

The above story was produced by Multi Platform Journalist Sydney Heller with Community Impact’s Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their “sponsored content” purchase through our advertising team.