When Travis Kuhl and Elisa Carozza opened the doors to Kuhl Frames + Art in April 2021, they introduced the community to their own interior worlds inspired by color, nature, and movements in art and music from around the world. Originally hailing from New Jersey (Travis) and the Philadelphia area (Elisa), the couple are artists themselves and see things through a lens of creativity. Travis is a fine-art photographer and Elisa has a BFA in painting, and both of their works represent a fascination with pattern and nature. Having previously operated Kuhl Frames + Art in Uptown Oakland for 13 years, they most recently bring the energy of the arts to Central Oregon via their connection to diversified culture, and from their travels, especially to see Elisa’s family in Argentina. Every culture brings its own way of styling things, says Travis. “Creating gives a lot of meaning to life,” adds Elisa. “It’s a privilege to get to express yourself through creativity that can be shared with others, and hopefully it enriches their lives too,” she says. Learn more about Travis and Elisa through some of their favorite things:
Nature: The color, textures, and patterns as elements of nature change with the seasons and inspire Elisa’s paintings. The two enjoy hiking and camping to take in, “All the sights, sounds and smells,” says Travis.
Outsider art: Travis and Elisa are inspired by artists who are self-taught and push boundaries, like Bill Traylor, Henry Darger, and Isaiah Zagar, says Travis. The pair are supporters of Oakland, California’s Creative Growth Art Center that nurtures the disabled and disadvantaged by helping them create art.
Music: “We both have an extremely eclectic taste in music, from indie, punk, folk, and rap to world music and we prize our eclectic vinyl collection which spans decades,” says Elisa. She has been a longtime college radio “fanatic” because the programming is so diverse and has introduced her to so much underground and obscure music over the years.
Antique Stores & Flea Markets: The unexpected finds and discovery of timeless design pieces are the rewards of a treasure hunt. “We’ve framed up found images and old photos,” says Elisa.
+ Architecture. Libraries. Ceramics. Art Books. Beading. Gardening. Interiors. Buenos Aires, Argentina & Barcelona, Spain.
