The Soul of a Room: Bringing the Magic of Bowie House Into the Home

One of my favorite local rituals is attending artist events at Bowie House. These intimate fireside chats offer a backstage pass to the stories and processes that inspired the eclectic pieces lining the walls of the iconic hotel. The recent Auberge destination has quickly become an authority on the luxury Western aesthetic – a reputation I see perfectly encapsulated by its funky, unexpected art collection. Leading these sessions is my dear friend Emily Brzyski (like brisket for the Texans among us). Her name feels right at home in a hotel dedicated to the heritage of a city known for being "Where the West Begins."

The Magic of Ingrid Magidson

I recently attended a talk featuring Ingrid Magidson, whose work stopped me in my tracks the first time I saw it in the Gallery at Bowie House, which is essentially the entire property. From the lobby to the guest rooms, art has been seamlessly woven into every facet of the hotel experience.

While every piece the collection is stunning in its own right, Magidson’s work delivers a visual tension that’s impossible to ignore. Perhaps best known for her depictions of dogs as renaissance muses, her work is a masterclass in multimedia storytelling. She plays with texture and light as she navigates the space between the industrial and the ethereal in a way that subtly commands attention. This intentional restraint allows her to use a whimsical surface as a gateway to deeper reflection. As she explains on her website:

“My work uses transparent layers to reveal the depth that is hidden at first glance. I like to use renaissance, or sometimes later, imagery to convey the fleeting quality of life. The people painted so long ago were as alive as each of us now. They had hopes, dreams, and lives we can never know. I bring them back to life, perhaps only for a moment, but alive nonetheless. It is this mix of transience and permanence that is so captivating to me. This is also why I so often use butterflies in my work. They are such exquisitely delicate creatures, with so much complexity and beauty, but live such a short life – some, only a single day. We are like them in many ways.”

Bringing the Gallery Home

Much like Ingrid, I walk the line between opposites in my staging projects. Marketability invites a crowd, but soul wins over a heart. Balancing the two is a strategic play on supply and demand that expands the audience while securing an emotional connection. This balance achieves what is so often elusive: a win-win. One party secures a coveted sanctuary that stood out in a crowded market; the other realizes the highest return on their investment through that very same demand.

These shared victories are rooted in a harmony of opposites, and Ingrid visually captures this duality in her renaissance pet portraits. Take, for example, “Lady Amber,” a 33”x26” portrayal of a yellow lab that I used to stage a recent listing. While the visual jolt is immediate, the work’s duality begins with its medium, layering elements that appear entirely incongruous at first glance:

• The Foundation: A cold, industrial metal canvas.
• The Details: Delicate hand-embellished butterflies and miniature antique keys.
• The Subject: A dog in full Renaissance regalia.

Separately, these elements lack a common thread, but together, Magidson weaves them into a masterfully cohesive narrative. She finds harmony where others might see conflict, proving that even the most disparate pairings lead to transcendent results when curated with intention.

The thread connecting Ingrid’s work to my own is leveraging creativity to find harmony where it seems unlikely. Every house is imperfect, and every house can be beautiful. My job is to bring existing potential to the surface with a fresh perspective and thoughtful curation.

Just three short blocks from Bowie House, Lady Amber was the natural muse for my latest project at 1204 Virginia in the heart of the Fort Worth Cultural District. She serves as a striking reminder that one soulful piece can redefine an entire space, pulling the energy of the neighborhood right into the home.

Wherever you are, I encourage you to lean into the unexpected; you might be surprised by the balance you find there. If your journey brings you to Fort Worth, I invite you to experience 1204 Virginia firsthand to see this harmony in practice. Afterward, make your way to Bowie House, a destination simply impossible to depart uninspired.