034: Integrating Art Into Your Brand Story w/ Lindsey Lyons

In this episode of Hospitality Design Talks, host Rachel Larraine Crawford sits down with abstract artist Lindsey Lyons to explore how art can become a living part of a hospitality experience—not an afterthought.

Lindsey shares her path from early “perfect” art-making to process-driven abstraction shaped by California’s rugged coastlines, volcanic landscapes, and a fascination with deep time. Her work is tactile and intentional—often built with sand, found materials, and embedded remnants that carry subtle histories—inviting guests into a sensory pause in a world dominated by screens.

Together, Rachel and Lindsey discuss how thoughtfully selected art supports flow, strengthens brand story, and creates emotional touchpoints guests remember (and return for). They also unpack common misconceptions around cost and accessibility, and what it can look like to commission original work through a clear, collaborative process—especially when art is considered early alongside lighting and spatial planning.

About Lindsey:

Lindsey Lyons is a Southern California–based artist who divides her time between Los Angeles and the mountains of the Los Padres National Forest. She holds a Master of Fine Arts from California College of the Arts and a Bachelor of Arts from Mount Holyoke College, where she designed a major, Art and Social Change. In addition to her studio practice, Lyons has been deeply engaged in the arts community as an independent curator, educator, and advisory board member for the nonprofit Root Division. She spent many years working in alumni relations and events at California College of the Arts and the San Francisco Art Institute before relocating to Los Angeles in 2016, where she co-founded the Binder of Women art collective with fellow artists and worked in communications at the contemporary international gallery Regen Projects. Lyons has exhibited throughout California, including at Guerrero Gallery, The Pit, Southern Exposure, and the Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, among others. Her work has also been shown internationally in Copenhagen, Denmark, and she has completed artist residencies in Iceland, San Francisco, and the Mount Hood backcountry. Originally from Sarasota, Florida, she has a lifelong interest in coastal environments, and her abstract paintings and sculptures are deeply informed by geology, memory, and the varied landscapes of California. Lyons often incorporates sand and found materials into the layers of her work, creating tactile complexity. These textured surfaces respond to shifting light, revealing changes in shadow and depth throughout the day, offering an evolving presence within a space.

Connect with Lindsey:

lindseylyons.com

[e-mail]

instagram.com/lindseynlyons

instagram.com/lindseylyonsstudio

Connect with Rachel Larraine

Website

Instagram

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