Today we’d like to introduce you to Sam Eddings.
Hi Sam, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I took over Foster’s Art Installation about a year and a half ago after spending 12 years running an interior design studio in Austin with my wife. We went to UT Austin together, and I always had an appreciation for art. Working in interior design also taught me how important professional tradespeople and vendors are in helping clients achieve the outcomes they want in their homes.
I had hired Foster’s to hang art for our clients and was already familiar with the business. When Tommy Foster, the founder of the company, was ready to retire, we got connected and I felt art installation was a great fit for the next chapter of my life.
It’s special to be trusted with people’s art, photographs and other meaningful objects and to help make their home their haven. Art can take a good home and make it great, and I love working with people who admire art. It’s also a lot of fun to meet our clients, see what they’ve collected and hear the stories behind it. Often they have a relationship with the artist, acquired something while traveling, or have admired an artist for years and finally pulled the trigger on that special piece. It’s fun to be part of that process.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s definitely been challenging taking over an existing business and learning the team, the clientele and a new skill. While I had spent many hours installing interior projects for clients, professional art handling is different, and there was a lot to learn.
But I’ve really enjoyed that challenge. Art installation is a unique balance of physical work, problem-solving and tremendous attention to detail. I’m an active and energetic person, so it suits me. One day we might be moving a 500-pound sculpture and the next we’re assembling and installing a delicate, one-of-one piece of wall art.
Every project presents a different problem to solve. A great installation should look effortless when it’s finished, but there’s often quite a bit of thought behind getting it there. Without the proper installation, the artist’s intent may not fully come across. I enjoy figuring out how all those pieces come together.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m the owner of Foster’s Art Installation, a professional art installation company serving Austin and Dallas–Fort Worth. Before owning Foster’s, I spent about 12 years working in interior design, so I’ve spent much of my career around art, interiors, designers, collectors, and the process of turning a space into something personal.
At Foster’s, we specialize in the part that comes after someone has found the right piece: getting it safely where it belongs and making sure it looks exactly right once it’s there. We install everything from individual works in private homes to large collections, mirrors, sculpture, and complex installations for designers, galleries, businesses, and collectors.
What I’m most proud of is the reputation Foster’s has built for being both highly skilled and extremely dependable. Art installation is a surprisingly specialized trade. It requires craftsmanship and precision, but also judgment, problem-solving, and an understanding of how art relates to a space. We try to bring all of those things together while making the process easy for the client.
What sets us apart is pretty simple: we handle it. Clients trust us with valuable and often deeply personal objects, and our job is to make sure they don’t have to worry about what happens between “I want this here” and seeing it perfectly installed on the wall.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Everyone has help along the way. I’ve been fortunate to work alongside some great designers and a great team at Shannon Eddings Interiors before coming to Foster’s. Shannon is a true artist and creative, and I learned a lot from her about design, art and how people experience their homes.
Both of my parents have also always been intellectually curious and incredibly supportive of me. I think some of that curiosity rubbed off. Every installation we do is different, and I’ve found that being genuinely interested in new things—how something was made, what an artist intended, how a building was constructed, or simply getting to know the people we work with—makes me better at what I do.
And, of course, I have to give a lot of credit to the team at Foster’s. They’re the ones out there every day taking care of our clients and their art, and the reputation of the company ultimately rests on the quality of their work.
Pricing:
- Most of our installations for residential homes range between about $350-$1000 for small projects
- Really complicated projects have a wide price range and are best discussed over the phone
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fostersart.com
- Instagram: @fosters_art
