Nine-Ten Restaurant

I am thrilled to announce the completion of a major site-specific commission for Nine-Ten, the acclaimed oceanfront restaurant in La Jolla, California. Executed as part of the venue’s comprehensive 2018 renovation, this installation represents a significant integration of my fine art practice into a high-end hospitality environment. The work serves as the restaurant’s primary visual anchor, spanning an impressive 35 feet across the main dining wall. I composed the piece as three monumental sections, each measuring approximately 7.5 by 10 feet, further subdivided into panels to create a rhythmic, architectural flow that guides the viewer's eye through the space.

This project presented a unique challenge: I needed to create a "fresh" visual experience that respected the venue’s existing interior palette while still asserting a distinct artistic identity. Working with full creative autonomy, I developed an organic visual language designed to bring the exterior environment inside. Rather than relying on literal seascape imagery, I sought to abstract the essence of the West Coast oceanfront. The result is a composition that compliments the restaurant’s proximity to the Pacific Ocean through suggestion and atmosphere rather than direct representation, allowing diners to experience the coastal setting in a new, contemplative way.

To achieve the desired aesthetic of modernity and fluidity, I produced the final compositions as high-definition photographs face-mounted to acrylic. I chose this specific medium for its ability to mimic the depth and reflective quality of water. The sleek, glossy surface interacts with the restaurant’s lighting, refreshing the space with a light-reflective energy that shifts throughout the day. By harmonizing my rigorous conceptual approach with the sensory needs of a dining space, this installation successfully bridges the gap between architectural element and fine art experience.