The Singulart Prize 2025 is a prestigious annual award that gathers art connoisseurs, collectors and artists and celebrates innovation and excellence in art. With a focus on originality and craftsmanship “this year”, the prize highlights the importance of fostering cultural dialogue and emotional connection through art, thus this years topic is “Deeply Human”. This year, we have the honor of inviting Florian Traxinger from Spagl, a renowned expert in framing, to discuss the critical role frames play in enhancing artwork and their partnership with the award. In the following interview with Florian Traxinger, we will learn more about his background and his perspective on art.
Could you introduce yourself, share a bit about your background, and explain your role at Spagl?
My name is Florian Traxinger and I am responsible for the Export customers at Spagl GmbH. For more than 20 years I have worked in this beautiful industry dealing with framers, galleries, interior designers and artists.
Spagl is a family-owned company with over a century of expertise in crafting wooden frames. What do you think sets Spagl apart in the art framing industry, and how has the company balanced tradition with innovation in its approach?
Since the foundation of Spagl factory in 1901 our main goal is to help our customers offer the perfect frame for an artwork. Good quality and constant availability of our product are the most important factors to be successful in this business environment for so many years. Of course interior trends change and so does the framing. As an innovative company we visit interior shows where we recognize trends and try to implement them in the design of our picture frames. Also we look at the market of machineries in order to produce better quality in less time.
Tradition is also very important for us. Gilding a frame did not change over the centuries. Still the technique and material is used. And we are very proud to be one the largest gilders in Europe giving the possibility to framers to offer this beautiful and precious kind of handfinished design.
Sustainability is clearly a priority for Spagl. How does this commitment to environmental responsibility shape the company’s values and influence your products?
We mainly use wood that grows in Europe. So the way to our factory is as short as possible for this main product of our company. For example, for a big collection we use wood which comes from just 40 kilometers away from the Spagl factory. For the finishing we only use water based lacquer. The environmental requirements in Germany are particularly high and are closely monitored. Lastly, for heating the company during the winter we use the byproducts of our production.
Selecting the right frame is a critical decision for artists and collectors alike. What advice would you give to help them choose a frame that enhances and elevates their artwork?
That’s a difficult question, because the right picture frame is very subjective. If the artwork is already very old, you should ideally choose a frame design (decoration) from the same period. Most museums are very meticulous about this, but this point is also usually very important to art collectors.
With contemporary art, we often find that artists prefer a very simple and plain frame, e.g. white or black frames in narrow profiles. But solid wooden frames in oak, walnut or maple are also popular with contemporary art. Personally, I really like frames that subtly pick up on a color from the artwork.
Spagl has partnered with the Singulart Award 2024 dedicated to prints. What inspired the company to support this initiative, and how do you see it aligning with your values?
The 80s and 90s were the heyday of print graphics. During this time, we developed many new frame designs to create suitable framing options for the various prints. After this time, acrylic or oil paintings on a stretcher bar became more and more popular, some of which were then hung on the wall without a frame. Stretcher frame pictures are now very often framed with tray frames (L profiles), which is good for the look, but also contributes to stability.
Nevertheless, the framer has many more possibilities to give free scope to his creativity with prints. The framer has more choice with the frames, but also with the matboards. We are happy to support this creativity.
What is one key piece of advice you would offer to artists and collectors to ensure their works are presented in the best possible way?
The most important advice is to use the knowledge of educated and experienced framers when it comes to framing their artwork. Of course there are always different ways to frame an artwork regarding design, but one thing should be mandatory: Quality products should be used during framing to give your work a special finish.
The Singulart Prize stands at the intersection point of artistry, tradition and innovation, focusing on the timeless beauty of craftsmanship. Florian Traxinger’s thoughts put us in mind of the basics of art, from the artist’s vision to the perfect frame. The Singulart Prize has long helped artists become empowered by fostering creativity and collaboration, and has continued to uphold the value of art by connecting and inspiring communities around the world. On behalf of Singulart’s artists we thank Florian for this interview and the insights. Keep tuned for more interviews with this year’s Prize jury!
Singulart Award 2024 partner:
