For Cara Hines, art is something to live with; something that carries energy, memory and human presence into the spaces people inhabit every day.
Hines, an artist, owner of MixHaus Gallery and co-owner of the historic Hotel Giles in Comfort, approaches art not as decoration, but as an active participant in daily life. Her curatorial philosophy centers on work that feels physically and emotionally present, art that occupies a room the way another person might.
“I’m drawn to artwork that feels like you’re in the room with it,” Hines said. “Even if it’s two-dimensional, it feels object-like. It has texture. It feels raw. It feels made by a person’s hands.”
That sensibility guided the rebranding of her gallery, formerly Studio Comfort Texas. When her business partner stepped away, Hines said she took time to reconsider not only the business itself, but the emotional environment she wanted to create.
“I knew I needed to retool it and focus,” She said. “I asked myself what excites me and what I want my daily life to feel like.”
The answer became MixHaus, a name that reflects her commitment to mixed-media work, her interest in blending people and idea, and Comfort’s German heritage. But the “mix,” she said, extends beyond materials. “It’s not just mixed media,” Hines said. “It’s mixing people together, mixing ideas and presenting things in a way that makes people look differently.”
That philosophy carries seamlessly into Hotel Giles, where contemporary artwork lives within a carefully restored 19th-century building. The hotel functions as a domestic environment rather than a gallery, allowing guests to experience art as part of their daily rhythms rather than as something formally encountered.
“People aren’t used to seeing fine contemporary artwork in a historic hotel,” Hines said. “It surprises them, but it also makes the space feel more grounded and more welcoming.”
Hines believes original artwork brings a distinct sense of presence into a space, something that subtly shapes how a room feels and how people respond to it. For her, art carries the imprint of the person who made it, and that human touch adds a depth that goes beyond visual appeal. “There’s something about artwork made by a person’s hands that brings life to a space,” she expressed.
That sense of life often becomes evident once art enters a home. Collectors frequently send photographs of newly installed pieces, describing how thoughtfully they’ve chosen where the work will live. “They’ll say, ‘This is where I’m going to have my coffee in the morning,’ or ‘This is the first thing I’ll see when I wake up,’” Hines said. “It becomes a daily touch point. It elevates their experience of their space.”
As a gallerist, Hines sees her role less as directing taste and more as offering reassurance, especially to those who feel uncertain about trusting their instincts.
“My job is often to give people permission to choose something purely because they love it,” she said. “Joy is one of the greatest gifts you can give the world.”
That permission is closely tied to storytelling. At MixHaus, artists’ stories are shared alongside their work, creating a human connection that many visitors did not realize they were seeking. Or as Hines states it, “People connect to the artist’s story. That human element is missing from a lot of our lives now. Art creates space for that connection.”
Across her roles as artist, gallerist and host, Hines said a single thread runs through everything she does: a belief in the importance of authentic human expression.
“Authentic human expression is really vital to the well-being of people,” she stated. “Whether it’s the artist’s story or the viewer’s story mixing with it, art creates a safe place for that exchange.”
For Hines, bringing art into the home is an invitation — an opening toward connection, reflection and meaning. While art can function as decoration, she believes its deeper value lies in its ability to foster dialogue and reflect the lives of the people who live with it.
“Art can be decoration, and that’s fine,” She said. “But it can also be a gateway into something deeper, into connection, into story, into yourself.”
MixHaus Gallery is in Comfort, Texas at 716 High Street. If interested in booking the space for an event, gathering or retreat, call the gallery at 830-995-3750. Visit the gallery online at mixhausgallery.com.
Cara Hines, MixHaus Gallery and Hotel Giles can be found on social media by the following handles:
@CaraHines
@mixhausgallery
@hotel_giles_comfort
“I’m drawn to artwork that feels like you’re in the room with it,” Hines said.