About Greg Drinkwine Studio
Where Mastery Meets Innovation in the Art of the Gilded Frame
Welcome to Greg Drinkwine Studio, where gilded picture frames are elevated to high art—sculptural, architectural, and imbued with centuries of inspiration. Under the leadership of Greg Drinkwine, a nationally recognized Master Gilder, the studio is a sanctuary for those who seek craftsmanship of the highest caliber, paired with a bold artistic vision that bridges the past and the present.
Greg Drinkwine is an American artist and master gilder whose gilded masterpieces now reside on the walls of prestigious museums across the country. His journey began with formal artistic training at the Art Students League of New York and L’École Albert Defois in France, where he studied under renowned realist Ted Seth Jacobs. But it was during his time at the Metropolitan Museum of Art that Drinkwine encountered the world of frame-making—a moment that sparked a lifelong passion. Intrigued by their hidden beauty and overlooked artistry, he acquired traditional tools and materials and began crafting frames that would eventually garner national acclaim.
His first solo museum exhibition, "Triumph of Craftsmanship: Arts and Crafts Frames by Greg Drinkwine," held in 2011 at the Nevada Museum of Art, offered a rare spectacle: frames displayed without paintings, so viewers could fully experience their craftsmanship as standalone works of art. Sponsored by the Wells Fargo Foundation, this exhibition announced Drinkwine’s arrival as a visionary in the field.
Today, Greg’s client list includes the Crocker Art Museum, Coeur d’Alene Art Auction, and Nevada Museum of Art, as well as prominent art dealers, collectors, artists, and fine art restorers.
But Greg Drinkwine is not simply a master of tradition—he is an innovator. His studio draws from a vast reservoir of historical influence: the classical elegance of Stanford White’s pierced and ornamented frames, the architectural harmony of Santa Maria Novella in Florence, the mesmerizing geometry of Moorish arabesques from the Alhambra, and the dramatic contours of the Art Deco design. Yet his ambition is not to recreate the past—it is to reimagine the frame as a contemporary art form, breathing new life into its aesthetic potential.
Each gilded masterpiece that leaves Greg Drinkwine Studio is a singular creation—crafted with obsessive precision, deep historical insight, and a modern sensibility. Here, the frame is not an accessory, but a narrative object, designed to resonate with the artwork it holds and the space it occupies.
Greg’s ultimate aspiration is to define a new era of frame-making—one in which classical beauty and modern innovation merge seamlessly. Through collaboration, experimentation, and reverence for the craft, he envisions a future where gilded frames are not only functional but unforgettable.