Santa Monica Framing Shop Since 1987: L.A. Art Exchange

L.A. Art Exchange is a Santa Monica framing showroom and studio at 922 Santa Monica Blvd, and it is open Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 6pm and Saturday from 10am to 5pm. It is closed on Sunday. The shop has been framing since 1987, and its own website says the showroom holds the largest collection of frames in Los Angeles. Standard production takes two to three weeks, so the useful move is to come in early, choose the moulding and the mat in one sitting, and let the studio build the rest. If you are looking for a framing shop that treats posters, family keepsakes and serious fine art with the same archival care, this is the kind of place to start.

The shop's About page gives a short, specific history. L.A. Art Exchange was founded in 1987 by Stuart and Jayne Zehngut, who built it on a simple idea: exceptional framing, thoughtful design and personal service. What began as a small family operation grew into a studio serving collectors, designers, galleries, businesses and institutions. In 2016 the team moved to Santa Monica Boulevard, where the larger showroom and production space now sit, and the site records that ownership later passed to Tobias McGuigan.

That timeline matters for a visitor because it explains the layout. This is not a small counter with a few corner samples. It is a showroom with a wall of mouldings, a design team and a production team behind it. The website describes the work as a flow from consultation to craft to delivery, and the whole process is meant to happen in one place under one roof, rather than being sent out to a distant workshop.

The services menu on the site is broad. Fine art custom framing is the core, and the shop says every material it uses is archival and acid free. Poster framing has its own page, where the tone is refreshingly honest: sometimes all you need is a basic black frame, and sometimes a poster looks best when it is elevated to look like original art. Either way, the shop says it has it covered.

Beyond frames, L.A. Art Exchange builds custom mirrors in round, metal, wood, cathedral top and floating styles, with beveled, antiqued or frosted glass, and the site says the mirrors are non-distorting. Other listed services include canvas stretching and framing, mounting, acrylic and display boxes, gallery wall design, art installation, and pickup and delivery of artwork throughout Los Angeles. A commercial arm handles framing and art presentation for offices, hospitality and public spaces.

The shop's pitch is that preservation is the foundation rather than an upgrade. The site lists three pillars. Archival materials, meaning acid-free, lignin-free and chemically stable boards, protect against discoloration over time. Protective glazing, UV-protective and anti-reflective, limits light exposure while keeping color and detail clear. Preservation-minded methods, such as reversible hinging and careful handling, mean a piece can be removed from its frame later without damage.

These are the three questions to bring to the counter if you are framing something you cannot replace: which board is behind the art, what kind of glazing sits in front of it, and how is the piece attached. The answers tell you whether you are buying museum-quality framing or just a nice moulding.

One service stands out for anyone with a damaged print or painting. The restoration page says the shop offers a consultation at no charge. The team unframes the artwork, photographs it and sends the pictures to an appropriate conservator to get an estimate and advice on the work needed. If you approve, the shop hand-delivers the piece to the conservator and picks it up when the work is finished. The page asks for patience, noting that good work takes time and conservators cannot be rushed.

That makes L.A. Art Exchange a sensible first stop for a faded family portrait or a watercolor with foxing. You pay nothing to find out what a conservator would recommend, and you can decide whether to restore, reframe or leave the piece alone.

The site lays out the timeline in three steps. First comes design, either in the showroom, at home or remotely by email, where you and the team weigh the artwork, the room, proportions, materials, glazing, style and budget. Then comes craft and production: standard production is two to three weeks, with rush service available, and handcrafted and gilded frames take four to eight weeks. Finally comes pickup, delivery or on-site installation, with delivery throughout Los Angeles and shipping farther away if needed.

Plan backward from the date you need the piece on the wall. A holiday gift ordered a week ahead should be a rush request, and a gilded frame for a special painting should be ordered a couple of months out. The site also offers an appointment booking button, which is worth using for a larger project such as a gallery wall.

Santa Monica makes it easy to turn a framing errand into a short outing. Drop off or select your piece in the morning, then walk to the Third Street Promenade or head toward the pier and the beach, both a short trip from the showroom. If you are dropping off several pieces, ask about pickup and delivery so you do not have to carry finished work back across town.

Saturday hours are shorter, ending at 5pm, and the shop is closed Sunday, so weekday late mornings are the calmer time to browse mouldings. Bring a photograph of the wall and a swatch or photo of nearby colors, which helps the design team choose between warm gilded profiles and cooler black or white ones.

Address: 922 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401. Phone: 310-828-6866. Email: gallery@laartexchange.com. Hours: Monday to Friday 9:30am to 6pm, Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday closed. Standard production is two to three weeks, and handcrafted and gilded frames take four to eight weeks.

Bring the artwork flat and protected, along with the measurements of the wall. Ask for a quote through the website or by phone if you want a price before visiting, since the site does not publish a price list. For more framing, art and neighborhood ideas around Santa Monica, ask the Karpo APP for local suggestions near your route.