Local Art Integration Across Our Projects
Design + Art: How Local Collaboration Creates Memorable Spaces
When you walk into a memorable restaurant or cafe, chances are it isn’t just the food or the lighting that sticks with you. It’s often the art…the mural that makes you pause, the handcrafted details that spark conversation, or the small moments of surprise that tell you, this place is special.
At Team B, we believe local art is a bridge between architecture, brand, and community. By working with artists from Cincinnati and beyond, we’ve helped clients turn their spaces into cultural touchstones that guests connect with on a deeper level.
Why Local Art Matters
Art adds dimension to design in ways that finishes alone cannot. A mural, textile, or sculpture brings in the voice of the community, grounding a project in a specific place. For entrepreneurs, that authenticity is invaluable.
It creates identity. Guests remember places with personality.
It fosters connection. Art often reflects neighborhood stories, making guests feel part of something larger.
It supports community. Collaborating with local artists keeps investment circulating within the city and builds goodwill.
For hospitality businesses, these benefits translate directly into loyalty and word-of-mouth marketing. A photo-worthy mural or striking custom feature becomes part of the brand.
Case Studies in Integration
Wildweed Mural: In a historic Walnut Street storefront, we worked with a local muralist to create a vibrant artwork that anchored the dining room. The mural reflects the energy of the brand, creating a backdrop that draws guests in and photographs beautifully.
Pettibone Coffee: At Pettibone, art isn’t static. The client commissioned local artists to create works live during events, allowing guests to witness creativity unfolding in real time. This approach turned the cafe into a stage, where the boundary between artist, guest, and space blurred.
Sen: Custom Lamp Shades. In this intimate dining space, we collaborated with a local artisan to produce custom lamp shades that softly diffuse light. Each shade carries subtle variations, reminding guests that they are surrounded by handmade craft. It’s a small touch, but one that transforms atmosphere from generic to soulful.
Decibel: Street-Facing Mural. What began as a blank white-box shell was transformed into a landmark through art. Inside, the cave-like space received its own “cave paintings”: bold Sharpie linework etched across gypsum walls. The effect is both raw and deliberate, connecting to the energy of a place that serves quick grab-and-go food by day and late-night bites after dark. More than surface decoration, the mural gave Decibel a recognizable identity visible from the street. It signaled to passersby that something distinctive was happening here, long before they stepped inside.
The Process of Collaboration
Integrating art is not as simple as “adding it at the end.” It works best when artists are brought into the process early.
Our approach typically follows three steps:
Identify opportunities: blank walls, ceiling features, lighting elements, or even furniture or dishware.
Match with talent: we use our network of local artists, or help clients run open calls to find the right partner.
Collaborate with intention: balancing artist freedom with project vision and budget.
When art and architecture are designed together, the result feels cohesive.
Conclusion
Hospitality spaces succeed when they create emotional connections. Local art does this better than any imported finish or catalog fixture. It makes spaces personal, memorable, and rooted in community.
For us, integrating local artists is both a design choice and a value to the overall success of the project. It helps build places worth caring about, while supporting the creative ecosystems that make our cities vibrant.
