Luxe Surfaces Celebrates Fluid Art of Christopher Martin with Wallcovering Collaboration

Based in Dallas’ vibrant Design District, Luxe Surfaces prizes cutting-edge manufacturing practices and artistic excellence for their wall coverings. This lead to a collaboration with American artist Christopher Martin. Martin is a self-taught expert in the verre églomisé technique, and recently opened an eponymous gallery showcasing his and other artists’ works in Dallas.
“My works are a challenge to me on many levels,” explains Martin. “I seek a balance between organic formation with a painterly construct. I start with a clear acrylic panel and apply heat, wind, water, brush, and pigment in a reverse order to create my paintings. I paint to create a strong aesthetically engaging presence that evokes a calm excitement of natural beauty.”
Luxe Surface owners Mike and Marie Leon naturally were drawn to Martin’s work, seeing an opportunity to combine high art and high design. They set out to identify a ground that would marry perfectly with the artwork. They selected a fine silver leaf that the studio Craft Wallcovering then hand-flaked and artfully applied to a paper ground.
The main challenge in translating Martin’s work to wallcoverings was how to preserve its provenance. Digital files had to be masterfully pieced together and the artwork transferred to the paper ground that perfectly mimicked the look of paint strokes melting into the material, echoing Martin’s works on acrylic and glass. Ultimately, the endeavor was a success, resulting in a wall covering collaboration that transformed mixed media art into high design.


