About Sarah Balinskas Art Services · Houston
Four Decades of Fine Framing, Conservation & Display
Founded in 1983, Sarah Balinskas Art Services has spent over forty years serving private collectors, museums, galleries, and corporate institutions across Houston and nationwide — combining centuries-old bench craft with modern conservation science.
Our story & studio evolution
From La Branch to Taft Street.
Sarah Balinskas founded the studio in 1983 in a one-room space on La Branch at the Midtown Arts Center. Today it occupies a nearly 6,000-square-foot facility with a dedicated spray booth at 1114 Taft Street, in Houston's Montrose/Fourth Ward neighborhood just west of downtown. The studio was built on a single founding principle: framing is not a secondary accessory, but a vital conservation habitat engineered to protect and elevate the soul of an artwork.
A continuity of leadership. Built on decades of artistic reverence and uncompromising technical standards, SBAS continues its legacy under ownership dedicated to preserving the studio's standards of craft while expanding our custom display, collection care, and trade partnership capabilities for decades to come.
We’ve framed extraordinary things for extraordinary people — and we’ll happily help you figure out what to do with your grandmother’s painting, or your kid’s latest masterpiece.
Our mission
Stewardship, in close collaboration.
Sarah Balinskas Art Services protects and elevates fine art through bespoke framing, archival display, and the dedicated stewardship of collections entrusted to our care. In close collaboration with collectors, designers, advisors, and institutions, we ensure every work is presented with museum-grade structural precision and a depth of craft that endures for generations.
Our vision
The first call, once a work is yours.
To be the premier authority in art stewardship after the moment of acquisition — the first call a collector makes once a work is theirs, and the definitive resource the art and design worlds turn to for the knowledge of how to live with art well.
Our 5 core values
“We create work that we are proud to put our name on.”
The Sarah Balinskas approach
A philosophy of preservation.
The journey of a new acquisition — whether a contemporary masterpiece, a cherished family heirloom, or a historical artifact — truly begins with its environment. We believe framing is not merely a finishing touch; it is a vital act of stewardship. Our approach is defined by a balance of museum-grade discipline and quiet elegance, ensuring that every piece is not only displayed beautifully but preserved for the century to come.
The anatomy of the frame
A study in materials & craftsmanship.
We believe a frame should be a sculptural extension of the artwork it protects. Our studio specializes in the tradition of finished-corner construction: frames joined in their raw state, then sanded, hand-finished, and gilded as a single object — a continuous finish that honors the art within. For projects where this level of customization isn't required, we also offer a curated selection of high-quality “chop” frames, ensuring we have a beautiful solution for every collector's needs.
The science of safety
Protection & preservation.
At the heart of our practice is a commitment to the “Museum Standard.” We adhere to the rigorous guidelines set by the American Institute for Conservation (AIC), ensuring that every material that comes into contact with your artwork is chemically stable and archival-grade. We use 100% cotton rag mats and pH-neutral components — the primary defense against foxing — and specialized UV-filtering glazing that blocks up to 99% of harmful ultraviolet rays. For larger or more sensitive pieces we often recommend Optium Museum Acrylic®: shatter-resistant, anti-static, and remarkably clear.
Conservation isn't limited to works on paper. Textiles are secured with archival stitch-mounting — no adhesives, no tension — and three-dimensional objects are housed in custom shadow boxes with appropriate internal depths.
A partnership in presentation
Specialized services & collaboration.
Great framing is rarely a solitary endeavor. We act as the bridge between a specific artwork and the room it will inhabit, collaborating with interior designers on scale, lighting, and palette. For works requiring restoration, we work in tandem with a vetted network of independent painting, paper, textile, and object conservators. We partner with artists and galleries on exhibitions, and consult for corporate clients and public institutions where durability matters as much as beauty.
Different traditions require different techniques: delicate Asian art and scrolls receive fully reversible Japanese paper hinges and wheat starch paste, and our period framing analyzes the artist's intent so every choice feels authentically rooted in the work's history.
Beyond the studio
Logistics & ongoing care.
Our relationship with a piece of art doesn't end when the last spline is set and the gold is burnished. We coordinate professional delivery and secure installation with a vetted network of professional art handlers, recommend experienced crating specialists and coordinate the process for collections on the move, and facilitate secure local pick-up and delivery through trusted partners — so the art never leaves a professional chain of custody.
The art of the timeline. Bespoke craftsmanship requires a balance of precision and patience: hardwood and metal frames typically require 4 to 6 weeks, and gilded or complex projects 8 to 10 weeks. We provide project-specific estimates at the start of every consultation and can often accommodate rush requests for exhibition deadlines when the schedule allows.
The people & the place
Made by artists, in a studio built for art.
Our team unites practicing artists, master woodworkers, gilders, fitters, and art handlers. Meet the team.
1114 Taft Street: showroom, sample library, fabrication floor, gilding studio, and secure art storage with 24/7 security. Tour the facility.
Simple maintenance preserves the work for decades: dust frames with a soft, dry microfiber cloth, apply glazing cleaner to the cloth rather than the glass, and keep art away from direct sunlight, high humidity, fireplaces, and bathrooms.
Begin
Once a work is yours, make us the first call.
Consultations at our Taft Street showroom, or at your home or office.
Schedule a Consultation