Golden Diptychs and Triptychs for Palm Beach Interiors: The Stories Behind Zack Zublena’s Art

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In Palm Beach, an interior can hold many layers of history: a Mediterranean Revival doorway, a collection assembled over decades, a garden glimpsed through French doors, or contemporary photography placed beside an antique. From homes in the North End to residences around the Estate Section and intimate interiors near Worth Avenue, choosing art is an opportunity to make a space more personal.

That relationship between a home and the stories it holds is what interests me. I am Zack Zublena, and since 2016, I have photographed people painted in gold, exploring light, movement and the human form. My golden diptychs and triptychs bring together photographs connected by something I feel deeply: a gesture, a shared presence, or an emotional resonance that becomes stronger when the images meet.

Palm Beach’s architectural heritage offers a thoughtful setting for that dialogue. The Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach’s archives document the town’s architectural, environmental and social history. Along Worth Avenue and its adjoining vias, smaller passages and sheltered spaces offer another perspective on how scale and atmosphere shape an experience.

Across the Intracoastal Waterway, the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach includes photography among its collecting departments. Its founders began collecting art for their home before their interest grew into the collection that helped establish the museum. That connection between living with art and looking more closely at it feels especially relevant here.

Behind each of my compositions is a personal story. Sometimes I spend years before creating the photograph that belongs beside another. I am looking for a connection that elevates the energy of the work. The relationship between the images must have meaning before I consider their place on a wall.

Here are those stories, followed by ideas for choosing fine art photography for Palm Beach homes, hotels, resorts and wellness interiors.

Two Beginnings: Kruger National Park and My First Golden Portrait

This diptych brings together two beginnings in my life as a photographer. The wildlife photographs came from Kruger National Park in 2012, where my relationship with photography truly began. The woman belongs to another defining moment: she was the very first person I photographed painted in gold, in 2016.

Bringing those worlds together allowed me to explore the animal presence within each of us. Her femininity carries warmth, sensuality and instinct, alongside elegance and composure. The feline imagery reveals something untamed beneath that graceful presence.

I feel a particular attachment to this work because it connects the discovery of photography with the discovery of the artistic language I would continue developing.

For a Palm Beach residence, I would consider this diptych in a personal sitting room or a space overlooking a garden, where its relationship between the human figure and the natural world can be experienced slowly.

Golden Dreamscape: A Singer, a Garden and a Single Exposure

This triptych was photographed at the end of a session with an Italian singer. She was seated on a chair in my living room, while I stood outside in the garden with the French doors open.

With an assistant and a system of mirrors and reflections, I captured her together with the rose bushes behind me within the same exposure. Each image is one photograph. The figure and the garden were not photographed separately and then superimposed.

I deliberately wanted the photographs to be blurred. Capturing the person, the reflection and the flowers in that way became an absorbing technical challenge. The result suggests that she is sitting among the roses, although she remained indoors.

What I love is the atmosphere: dreamy, romantic and gently elusive. The softness allows the human form to remain suggested, leaving space for imagination.

For a Palm Beach bedroom or a quiet sitting room opening toward a courtyard, I would consider this triptych for its connection between interior life and the garden beyond. Its story began in my own home, but that relationship can find a new resonance in yours.

A Seated Diptych Especially Dear to My Heart

This diptych is especially dear to my heart. I loved the woman’s femininity, her grace and the natural elegance of her seated pose. Later, I asked a male model to create a similar position so that I could bring the photographs together.

I wanted to marry those gestures while preserving the individuality of each person. Their positions share a visual language, yet their presence and sensitivity remain distinct.

I love the quiet relationship between them. In a Palm Beach bedroom, dressing room or private lounge, I would give the pairing a setting where its intimacy can unfold without competing with too many surrounding objects.

The Divine Feminine and the Divine Masculine

The photograph of the woman in this diptych is an award-winning work. I love the flowing silhouette and generous curves that give her such warmth and confidence.

I later created a masculine companion. Together, the photographs express what I see as the divine feminine and the divine masculine: different presences brought into a shared field of connection.

I could have arranged them back to back. Instead, I chose to have them face one another. That orientation introduces recognition, attraction and an exchange between the figures.

For a Palm Beach home or hospitality interior, I would preserve that relationship when installing the diptych. The way the two images face each other belongs to the meaning of the work.

Golden Lips and Flowers: Sensuality Meets the Garden

The flowers in this pairing were photographed in my backyard. The lips came from a spontaneous moment during another session: while the model’s partner was having his makeup done, I began photographing her more closely.

I was drawn to the sensuality of her gold-painted lips. Later, combining those close-ups with the flowers created a feeling of freshness, intimacy and spring energy.

This pairing was selected for a David Lloyd spa. It is a meaningful connection for me because the photographs carry a softness and warmth that can belong naturally in a space devoted to wellbeing. You can explore the wider collaboration in the story of my artwork across more than 120 David Lloyd clubs.

In Palm Beach, the relationship between gardens and art has a local expression at The Society of the Four Arts’ botanical and sculpture gardens. That dialogue offers a useful way to think about botanical photography in an interior: as an invitation to observe form, color and the living world more closely.

For a Palm Beach spa or a private treatment room, I would consider this diptych where its warmth can contribute to a welcoming atmosphere.

A Fire Dancer at Sunset in the Desert

The woman in this triptych is a professional fire dancer who also teaches her discipline. I wanted to photograph her painted in gold, so we went into the desert and worked as the sun was setting.

With the fire lit, the session brought together movement, flames, the gold on her skin and the last light of the day. The experience was extraordinary. Each photograph captures a different moment within that intensity.

Across three panels, her movement continues along the wall. For a Palm Beach dining room or a resort lounge, I would consider this triptych where the complete composition can be seen from a comfortable distance.

The photographs were created in the desert. Their warmth and movement can enter a coastal interior while retaining the story of the place where they began.

Two Women, Five Years Apart, One Composition

This is one of my favorite triptychs. The photographs portray two different women and were taken five years apart, although their relationship can feel immediate when you see them together.

I am deeply connected to these images. Their gestures, the pale backgrounds and the quality of light allow them to share an atmosphere across the years.

This is one reason I return to my archive. Sometimes a photograph must wait until a later encounter reveals the image that can deepen its presence.

In a Palm Beach home with pale walls, natural textures or an existing collection, I would give this triptych room to establish its own rhythm. Its connection can be appreciated without needing every element in the room to match it.

Hands in Prayer: The Photograph That Needed a Companion

The photograph of the man came first. I loved the position of his hands and the feeling it carried. I later wanted to create a feminine companion so that the two images could become a diptych.

I asked the woman to echo his position. The gesture connects them, while their individual presence gives each photograph its own meaning.

I love the result: two people brought together through stillness. For a private meditation room in the North End or a Palm Beach wellness studio, this pairing could offer a gentle human focal point.

A Star at the Center: A Shared Day in Downtown Los Angeles

These photographs were taken on the same day in Downtown Los Angeles. The two women had never met before. One was a contortionist and the other a yoga teacher, and they did the makeup that day.

The session became a meeting of different physical abilities and creative instincts. Their openness allowed us to explore positions and create images that work beautifully together.

I find the star-like shape at the center especially powerful. It anchors the composition while the neighboring images extend its movement.

For a Palm Beach yoga studio or a private exercise space, I would consider this triptych where the physical intelligence behind the poses can be appreciated alongside their beauty.

The Architecture of Strength, Photographed in My Backyard

These close-ups were photographed in my backyard. I wanted to explore the architecture of a strong body: the muscles, their contours and the way the gold responds to light.

The photographs feel powerful and sensual to me. Their sculptural quality comes from a living person, and I want that warmth to remain present within the image.

For a contemporary Palm Beach residence or a private fitness lounge, this triptych could provide a strong focal point. I would let its close attention to the body lead the experience of the wall.

Balance and Elevation with One of My Favorite Yogis

This yogi is one of my favorite subjects to photograph. I am drawn to his control, concentration and the expressive possibilities of the positions he creates.

In this triptych, the central photograph lifts the legs upward. The images on either side give that movement balance and a wider rhythm.

Together, I find them a powerful symbol of elevation and focused energy. For a Palm Beach wellness interior, I would choose a position where the viewer can take in all three photographs as a complete work.

Two Women in Movement, and the Lenses I Forgot

The story behind these photographs includes an unexpected delay. The women were ready to shoot when I realized that I had forgotten my lenses.

They waited while I went into Downtown Los Angeles to rent replacements. I returned with sophisticated Zeiss lenses, but I had to work with manual focus.

As the women moved, I sometimes repeated a photograph five times to make sure I obtained a sharp frame. Everyone’s patience became part of the process.

I love remembering that effort when I see the final images. A photograph that appears effortless can hold a story of trust, concentration and adaptation.

A Face Unseen, a Presence You Can Make Your Own

The yogi’s face remains unseen in these photographs. I find that openness compelling: the viewer can connect with his posture without being guided by a facial expression.

I love the kneeling positions and their quiet strength. They carry a feeling of grounding, attention and stillness.

For a Palm Beach meditation room, a private yoga space or a peaceful guest suite, this triptych could offer a presence that leaves room for your own interpretation.

Butterflies and Color: Creating a Feeling of Joy

Creating these images took considerable work with the butterflies, the colors and the overall composition. I wanted something buoyant, joyful and full of life.

The figure brings grace and sensuality, while the colors create a more playful atmosphere. I love that combination of an elegant human presence and an imaginative surrounding world.

For a Palm Beach interior that embraces color, this diptych could add a personal note to a bedroom or sitting room. I would choose it for the feeling it creates, then consider how its tones relate to the textiles and objects already in the space.

Invictus: A Real Fighter with Her Own Sword

The woman in these photographs is a real fighter. She wrestles and also fights with swords. When she arrived at the studio carrying her own sword, I was immediately interested in the possibilities of the session.

Her dreadlocks had just been done at the hairdresser, and we then painted her in gold. The confidence you see belongs to her experience and the way she inhabits her body.

That authenticity gives the diptych its strength. In a Palm Beach residence, I would consider it for a study or a contemporary sitting room where its presence can become part of a personal collection.

Presence and Absence: Gold Against Black

This pairing explores a similar position with the head visible in one photograph and absent from view in the other. I love how a simple change can make a composition feel intriguing and open to interpretation.

Against black, the gold becomes especially striking. The work feels contemporary and restrained, with very little to distract from the gesture.

In Palm Beach, a contemporary photograph can enter a room that also contains older objects and architectural details. The Flagler Museum at Whitehall offers a local reference for exploring the town’s Gilded Age history and the relationship between a residence, its interiors and the world it expresses.

For this diptych, I would choose a clear wall and lighting that preserves the depth of the black background. Its simplicity gives it the possibility of a compelling dialogue with a more layered room.

Choosing Fine Art Photography for Palm Beach Homes, Hotels and Spas

A personal story can help you understand your connection to an artwork. Choosing where it belongs requires attention to the room itself: its purpose, proportions, light and existing collection.

For a wider view of regional exhibitions and cultural conversations, readers can also explore Palm Beach ArtsPaper, which publishes arts news and reviews from Palm Beach County.

The Estate Section: Let Photography Enter a Layered Interior

In a room with architectural ornament, antique furniture or an established collection, consider where the photographs will have enough space to be read clearly. A contemporary diptych can introduce another perspective while remaining connected to the life of the room.

The seated figures or the composition on black could offer different starting points. Choose according to the relationship you want to create with the surrounding objects and the feeling of the space.

The North End: Consider Privacy and a Slower Pace

For bedrooms, private lounges and meditation rooms, begin with the kind of presence you want to live with each day. Golden Dreamscape offers softness and ambiguity; the prayer diptych and kneeling yogi invite a more focused stillness.

Place the work where you naturally pause. An intimate photograph can reveal more when it becomes part of a daily experience.

Near Worth Avenue: Choose Art for the Experience of Each Room

For a boutique hotel, a guest suite or a reception space near Worth Avenue, consider how the imagery relates to the property’s character and its guests.

A private suite allows a different encounter with figurative photography than a public lobby. The subject, scale and placement should support the atmosphere of that particular room.

Oceanfront and Lakefront Residences: Observe the Light

Before deciding on placement, look at the wall at different times of day. Strong daylight and reflected light can change how clearly a photograph is seen.

Discuss appropriate glazing, protection and framing with a professional framer. Also consider humidity and proximity to frequently opened doors or windows when selecting a position for photographic art.

Palm Beach Spas and Private Wellness Rooms: Begin with Feeling

For a treatment room or yoga space, I would begin with the emotional quality of the work. Golden lips and flowers offer warmth and intimacy. The prayer diptych or anonymous yogi introduces another form of attention.

Allow visual space around the composition. Its relationship with the room should make it easier to spend time with the images.

West Palm Beach: Make Room for Contemporary Photography

Across the water, an interior in West Palm Beach may call for a different scale or relationship with an existing collection. A triptych can establish a rhythm across a larger wall, while a diptych can create a concentrated conversation between two images.

The important question is the same: which work do you feel connected to, and where can that connection develop over time?

Measure the Complete Diptych or Triptych

Consider the full width of the arrangement, including the spaces between panels. Keep spacing consistent and assess the composition from the position where it will usually be viewed.

Orientation also matters. In the divine feminine and masculine diptych, the figures face one another by intention. Preserve that relationship when hanging the work.

For more practical guidance, read my article on choosing and displaying fine art diptychs and triptychs.

A Personal Place for Zack Zublena’s Art in Palm Beach

These photographs began with encounters and moments that matter to me. Some emerged from careful preparation. Others came from a spontaneous detail, an unexpected reflection or a photograph that found its companion years later.

Bringing them together allows those experiences to continue speaking to one another. Their energy comes from that connection, and from the people whose presence made the photographs possible.

Whether you are choosing art for a North End home, an Estate Section residence, a hotel near Worth Avenue or a private wellness space, begin with the images that move you. Then consider how they can become part of the stories your interior holds.

Explore Zack Zublena’s golden diptychs and triptychs →

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Golden Diptychs and Triptychs for Palm Beach Interiors — Zack Zublena

Discover the personal stories behind Zack Zublena’s golden photography, with inspiration for Palm Beach homes, hotels and spas.