Custom LUMEN Capiz Shell Art Commission for Kalea Bay, Naples

There are some installations where the artwork and the space simply make sense together, and this commission for a home in Kalea Bay, Naples was one of them.

The client commissioned a 42”W x 50”H piece from my LUMEN series, a body of work created using heat-manipulated Capiz shells arranged into highly textured, sculptural compositions inspired by movement, repetition, and natural forms. The final artwork was designed to bring softness, texture, and dimension into the space while complementing the calm coastal palette of the interior.

The artwork itself is made entirely from hand-shaped Capiz shells that are individually manipulated and layered one by one. What I love most about working with Capiz is the way the shells react to light throughout the day. Depending on the angle of the sun, the artwork shifts between soft ivory, pearl, warm sand, and subtle champagne tones, giving the piece a constantly changing presence within the room.

When Presentation Becomes Part of the Artwork

For this project, the artwork was framed in a custom acrylic shadowbox by Wexel Art. The framing process itself became a bit of a journey. The first acrylic shadowbox arrived with the mounting holes positioned in the wrong direction, which meant the screws would have been visible on the sides of the artwork once installed. Because I prefer a cleaner presentation without visible side screws, the frame had to be exchanged and remade in the correct portrait orientation.

Details like this matter to me. When creating contemporary coastal art, the presentation is just as important as the artwork itself, especially in modern interiors where clean lines and simplicity allow texture and materials to stand out.

Once the replacement frame arrived, everything finally came together exactly as envisioned. The acrylic shadowbox protects the dimensional shell surface without visually competing with it.

When the client later sent installation photos from their home in Kalea Bay, I honestly had to stop for a moment. The waterfront view is hard to beat, but somehow the artwork still felt completely at home in the space. The soft natural tones of the shells mirrored the coastal landscape outside while adding warmth and movement to the interior.

Natural materials have a way of bringing depth, texture, and quiet movement into a space that photographs can never fully capture.

If you are looking for custom Capiz shell art, contemporary coastal art, or a one-of-a-kind shell artwork for your home or interior design project, feel free to get in touch through my contact page.