Turning Curtains into Canvases: A Creative Story from a Gallery Wall
Now and then, we get a request that makes us pause, smile, and say, “Yes. Let’s make this happen.”
Two years ago, an artist reached out with a vision we’d never heard before. She wasn’t looking for window coverings for her home—she wanted to feature her artwork on custom pull-up shades… for her solo gallery exhibition.
She even shared some sketches—hand-drawn, full of feeling. We were floored.
A Gallery Display with a Twist
Her concept was straightforward on the surface: a smiling portrait on the front-facing curtain. But tug the cord, and suddenly you’re met with a second image behind it—same subject, different emotion. The contrast caught us off guard. It was quiet, honest, and somehow deeply human.
Of course, no off-the-shelf solution would work for the artist. She needed shades at a very specific size, with her artwork printed directly onto the fabric. The mechanism had to be smooth, quiet, and easy for gallery visitors to use. And the print quality? It had to be spot on.
Custom, Right Down to the Details
We got to work. Our team tested different fabrics to find one that would hold the richness of her black-and-white portraits without stretching or fading. We experimented with linings, adjusted the pulling mechanism, and even fine-tuned the fabric weight to make sure the shades rolled just right.
It took a few tries, but when the final samples came through, they looked incredible.
The Big Reveal
Seeing the shades installed in the gallery was one of those pinch-me moments. Viewers didn’t just look at the portraits—they interacted with them. Every pull of the cord told a story. Every raised curtain revealed something new.
This wasn’t just art on display. It was art in motion.
Why This Project Stuck with Us
We’ve always believed curtains can do more than block light or bring softness to a space. They can tell stories. They can surprise you. They can become something more.
Working with this artist reminded us why we started Curtarra in the first place: to give people tools to express their style, solve unique challenges, and create spaces (or, in this case, shows) that reflect who they are.
Have a wild idea for your space? We’d love to hear it.
— The Curtarra Team
