How to Find an Artist to Create Custom Art for Interior Design Projects

Why finding the right artist matters more than finding any artist

Most interior designers source art at the end of a project — as styling, as the final layer. That is a mistake, and it is why art so often feels like an afterthought in otherwise beautifully designed spaces. The right artist, briefed at the right time, creates work that belongs in the space because it was made for it.

The question is not just where to find an artist. It is how to find an artist who can work to a brief, deliver on a commercial deadline, and produce work at the scale and volume your project requires. Those are different criteria to finding an artist whose work you admire in a gallery.

What to look for when commissioning an artist for an interior project

Can they work to a brief?

This is the first question. Fine artists who only sell their own work on their own terms are not commission artists. You need someone who can take your palette, your mood, your dimensions, and your deadline and make something original within those parameters. Ask directly. Look at their commissioned work, not just their portfolio.

Can they deliver at your scale?

A residential commission of one or two large-scale works is very different to a hotel fit-out requiring 60 or 100 pieces. Not all artists can manage high-volume commercial work. I can — in acrylics I can produce up to 100 original framed works in eight weeks without sacrificing quality. Oil commissions take longer due to drying time, so for volume projects acrylics are typically the right medium.

Are the works professionally framed and ready to hang?

Every commission I deliver is professionally framed and ready to install. You should not have to coordinate a separate framer. Ask this upfront — it affects your project timeline and budget in ways that are easy to underestimate.

Do they have commercial fit-out experience?

Hotel and motel fit-outs, serviced apartment complexes, corporate offices, and hospitality spaces have specific requirements: consistent palette across a large number of works, staged delivery aligned with the build schedule, labelling for individual rooms, and often a client who needs help understanding what they are buying. An artist with commercial experience manages this. One without it creates problems.

How to approach the commission process

Start at the brief stage, not the styling stage

Build artwork into your project schedule when you are developing the interior concept, not when you are styling the space. Commission early and the timeline pressure disappears. Commission late and you are choosing from whatever is available or rushing an artist who should not be rushed.

Brief on feeling, not just specification

Give me dimensions, palette, and deadline — but also tell me what you want the space to feel like. Calm and grounding? Energised and bold? Quietly luxurious? Abstract work especially is driven by emotional intention. That is what makes it resonate in a space rather than just occupy it.

Allow for sample sign-off on large projects

For any commission involving multiple works, I produce a small number of sample pieces for approval before proceeding with the full volume. This protects the project and eliminates rework. It adds a week to the front of the process and saves weeks on the back end.

About Leah Justyce

I am a degree-qualified fine artist with 26 years of experience. My work has been featured in British Vogue, The World of Interiors, and House and Garden UK — all through direct relationships, without gallery representation. I create large-scale original works in acrylic and oils for residential clients, interior designers, and commercial fit-outs including hotels, motels, and corporate spaces.

I founded Solene Haus, an artist platform built specifically for the art market as it should work — direct, transparent, and without gallery markup. If your project requires multiple artists rather than a single-artist collection, Solene Haus has a brief desk built for commercial and trade buyers.

Frequently asked questions

How do interior designers find artists for custom commissions?

Through artist websites, platforms built for trade buyers like Solene Haus, direct referrals, and increasingly through search. The key criteria are: can they work to a brief, deliver on deadline, and handle your project's scale.

How many original artworks can be commissioned for a hotel fit-out?

Working in acrylics I can deliver around 30 original professionally framed works in eight weeks at a sustainable pace, with larger volumes achievable on an extended timeline. Oil commissions take longer. Engage me at the brief stage rather than the styling stage and timeline is rarely an issue.

What should I include in an art brief?

Exact dimensions, photos of the space (palette, lighting, furniture), the mood you are designing toward, your hard deadline, and any framing preferences. I will advise on medium based on the timeline.

Do you offer trade pricing?

Pricing is project-specific — it depends on scale, medium, number of works, and timeline. Enquire with your full scope and I will provide an accurate quote. There are no gallery markups, no hidden fees.

What is the difference between a single commission and a full fit-out?

A single commission is straightforward: brief, approval, delivery. A full fit-out requires palette development, sample sign-off, production planning, and often staged delivery. I have the commercial experience to manage both.