Contessa Art Gallery and Frame Shop

Very reasonable prices and outstanding customer service. I worked with Ray to have a regular photo framed nicely as a gift and he was extremely helpful, making the process so easy for me. I highly recommend their services and will definitely be a repeat customer.

This is a great place. Reasonably priced, great location, great service. The people were helpful, and the drawings I got framed looked fantastic. They lost my order– and I had to call 3 weeks later to pick them up, when I was told they would be ready within a week and would receive a text notification. A little disorganized, but worth the wait. I would definitely go back.

I’ve never owned anything worthy of being framed, but the overwhelmingly positive reviews led me to Contessa when I finally acquired «art» that wasn’t purchased from the college bookstore.
I wanted to surprise my wife with a large print, but was unsure about how to frame and mount it. They talked me through the options, and helped me a select a frame that would really make the print pop. He was even able to get it done before Valentine’s day, getting the entire thing turned around in 10 days.
The framing wasn’t initially what either my wife or I had in mind, but we put our faith in Contessa and it paid off huge. Really impressive stuff. If I had any complaint at all, it’s that their parking lot is tiny, and street parking is pretty much nonexistent since Kerby Ln café is right across the street.

I had a vintage concert poster framed here, and while I don’t have much experience with custom framing, I can only say the my experience with their actual work was OK. They did a fine enough job of framing the piece itself. However, they said that they were looking at potentially having the framing work done within the week since my job was so «straightforward.» They did not get the work done within the week, and so I took the initiative of calling them the following week to see if it was near completion. The person who answered the phone went to check on the job for me, and said the frame was ready, all he needed was 15 minutes to insert the poster, which he did immediately. It makes me wonder if they got everything ready, and then just let my job sit. Who knows how long it would have sat untouched if I had not called.
Also, I was quoted at a (reasonable) price of $ 65 for the framing, and because my poster was several inches smaller than I had indicated over the phone, he said that it would probably end up being less than that. The final cost was $ 63 — not much of a discount if you ask me.
Recently, I called the shop to ask their advice about budget framing a 8×10 photo within a 11×14 frame. What I wanted to know was if it is possible to mat a 8×10 photo paper in a conventional (i.e. store bought) 11×14 frame without having a custom mat cut. He did not know, and instead referred me to another custom framing gallery. He then just told me «good luck» and blew me off, which made me feel that since I wasn’t asking for his business, I wasn’t worth his time. I went online and found the answer in only seconds (below), so I feel he couldn’t even answer a routine framing question. I plan to order a few frames and mats from Amazon to do some inexpensive self framing.
The answer I sought, in case it helps anyone else: «Mat exact opening: This is the dimension of the hole cut in the mat. A typical store-​bought ready-​made frame for an 8×10 photo will have a mat opening of 7.5×9.5. This will allow the mat to overlap the image by ¼ inch on all 4 sides. It also helps to hold the image down. Mats cut by custom frame shops will usually have an opening of 7.75×9.75 so there is less masking of the image.»

This is the only custom frame shop I recommend in Austin. Pricing can’t be beat in most cases. And even if they were a little more, it would still be a 5 star experience. Nicest staff and perfection with framing.

I had a print framed here recently and was very satisfied. The owner was personable and professional. The job was done quickly and the finished product looks terrific. Anytime you get something framed it will be a little pricey, but I felt the $ 50 I spent was very reasonable. Highly recommended.

I chose Contessa for my first professional framing job due to all of these great reviews, and they absolutely lived up to my expectations. I had three pieces to frame, two prints (one of which was very large) and a smaller ink drawing on a parchment scroll. I asked for very simple to-​the-​edge black framing, no matting, and the gentleman that helped me offered the suggestion that an inch of matting around just the ink drawing would allow the natural edging of the parchment to show. Great idea, and I was glad for the expert opinion! My pieces were done a little over two weeks later, and in total I paid less than $ 250. My artwork looks beautiful!

Just picked up my law school degree and law licence from the guys at Contessa, and I couldn’t be more impressed with the job they did. We spent maybe 15 minutes on a full consultation about how the finished product should look. They gave me a lot of great feedback and suggestions, and then perfectly executed our vision for these very important mementos.
This was probably the 10^th or 12^th job they’ve done for me over the last 10 years or so, and each one seems to be better than the previous one… and they’re ALL fantastic. Locally owned and operated, friendly, professional, and incredible results. I can’t recommend them highly enough!

These guys are great, and I’m glad I found them before wasting a lot of time and money elsewhere.
I had 2 pictures I needed frames for — one in a standard 18″ x 24″ size, the other slightly smaller but with a wider aspect ratio. I went to a different frame shop first, where I was told that each would be over $ 100 to have framed. Then I went here, where they quoted me about half the cost, and were helpful enough with their suggestions for matting and the frame type that I had them take over on the spot. 2 weeks later the pictures were done and they look great.
If you need pictures framed at a reasonable price and you’d like to support a small local business run by friendly, knowledgeable folks, check these guys out first.

If I had ten stars to give, I would give them. These guys are fantastic. I had a delicate map that needed a shadow box for the frame. They said ‘of course’ and had it ready the next week. The finished product was very attractive and the job well done. But the most amazing service they gave was to build a custom cardboard box for the piece so that I could transport and store it easily. What service! Obviously, I will trust them with any of my art in the future.

I am constantly needing things framed, and I was getting super frustrated with the option being either cheap and bad, or super pretentious and crazy expensive. Followed a Unilocal review to Contessa, and have been super pleased with everything that I have gotten done here. They provide input without talking down to you, and are always helpful about doing creative framing — PLUS they actually seem to like seeing the new things that people want framed :)
Good framing costs money, but it isn’t crazy expensive. Had two odd sized posters framed with some extras for under $ 100 each, which was super awesome!

Fantastic work, quickly done and priced completely reasonably. Totally satisfied.

Contessa has been my go-​to framing shop for years. Often a fraction of the cost as the other places in town with quality equal to, or surpassing, the others.

They did a great job on a difficult piece for us. While smiling all the time. Great folks.

I have used Contessa for over a decade now. They are the best game in town for black frames and white mats, but they are also super for just about everything else frame-​wise. They have framed dozens of prints, etc. for me and I am constantly amazed at how good everything looks and at the reasonable price.
I am what you might call a «frequent framer» and they have never let me down. PLUS! They are nice as hell and very patient with me and fast. I recommend them to everyone.

«Don’t forget the golf joke, Chris,» reminds Alex as I walk out with newly framed wall art.
«Okay!» I reply. Wondering what the hell WAS that golf joke he JUST told me. Not so good on the joke memory thing. But I do remember the wonderful creations they come up with when presented with a print, painting or objet ‘d art. (They framed an antique purse for me once.)
Contessa has framed art, photos and wall décor for me since before dirt was born. Today, I picked up some handsomely framed magazine covers for a library. I love the way they turned out – simple and sleek. The materials and craftsmanship at this frame shop seem always to be superior (and less expensive) to other options in Austin.
And the cool thing about going here for framing needs, you can see what UT Coach Mack Brown is having framed or Governor Perry. Not that I remember what I just saw. But whenever I’m there, it is a blast. Especially if Papa Alex is present. Love that guy.