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

Miami offers more than one way to live with art. In South Beach, a photograph might share a room with Art Deco curves and warm coastal light. In Brickell, it can bring intimacy to an interior shaped by glass, height and views across the bay. In Coconut Grove or Coral Gables, it might find its place among textured materials, tropical greenery and quieter spaces designed for contemplation.

That variety makes Miami an interesting setting for my golden diptychs and triptychs. I am Zack Zublena, and since 2016, I have photographed people painted in gold, exploring the relationship between light, movement and the human form. But behind each finished composition is something more personal: an encounter, an unexpected moment, or a photograph that waited years for its companion.

The city’s cultural landscape offers different perspectives on those relationships. At Pérez Art Museum Miami, architecture, tropical planting and the waterfront create a dialogue between art and its surroundings. ICA Miami provides another point of entry into contemporary art, while Art Basel Miami Beach connects the local art scene with an international audience.

For me, choosing photographs to bring together begins with the relationship between the images themselves. Sometimes I spend years finding or creating the photograph that belongs beside another. The purpose is to deepen their emotional and energetic resonance. Their connection must mean something before I consider how they will occupy a wall.

Here are the stories behind these works, followed by ideas for choosing fine art photography for Miami homes, hotels, resorts and wellness interiors.

From Kruger National Park to My First Golden Portrait

This diptych brings together two beginnings in my life as a photographer. The animal photographs came from a visit to 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.

By combining those worlds, I wanted to express the animal presence that lives within each of us. Her femininity carries warmth, sensuality and instinct, but also elegance and composure. The feline imagery reveals another dimension of that presence: something untamed beneath a graceful exterior.

In a Miami interior, I would give this work enough space to hold that tension. It could bring character to a Coconut Grove living room or a private lounge in a South Beach hotel, where a more intimate encounter with the image is possible.

Golden Dreamscape: One Exposure, Two Spaces

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

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

I deliberately wanted the photographs to be blurred. Achieving that balance between the figure, the reflection and the surrounding flowers felt like a technical challenge worth pursuing. The result gives the impression that she is sitting among the roses, even though she remained inside.

What touches me most is the atmosphere: dreamy, romantic and gently elusive. The blur allows the nude to become a suggestion. You sense a presence without being given every detail.

For a Miami Beach bedroom or a quiet suite overlooking a garden, this triptych could introduce a softer rhythm. Its connection between an interior and the landscape also speaks to the pleasure of living close to nature.

A Seated Diptych Especially Dear to My Heart

This pairing 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 two photographs together.

I wanted to marry their gestures while preserving their individual presence. They share a visual language, yet each brings a different sensitivity to it.

There is a quiet intimacy between these images. For a private residence in Brickell or a bedroom in Coral Gables, I would consider them where the viewer has time to notice that relationship, rather than passing them quickly in a corridor.

The Divine Feminine and the Divine Masculine

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

I subsequently created a masculine companion. Together, they express what I see as the divine feminine and the divine masculine: two different presences entering into a relationship.

They could have been arranged back to back. I chose instead to have them face one another. That decision changes the feeling of the work. It introduces recognition, attraction and an exchange between the two figures.

When considering this diptych for a Miami home or hospitality interior, I would preserve that orientation. The conversation between the figures is central to its meaning.

Golden Lips and Garden Flowers: A Personal Connection to Spa Interiors

These flowers were photographed in my own 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, bringing those close-ups together with the flowers created a feeling of freshness, intimacy and spring energy.

This pairing was selected for a David Lloyd spa. That connection matters to me because the work carries the warmth and softness I associate with a space dedicated to wellbeing. You can read more about the wider collaboration in the story of my artwork across more than 120 David Lloyd clubs.

For readers considering art for a Miami spa, the relationship between the human form and botanical imagery offers a useful starting point. The tropical collections at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden provide a local opportunity to look closely at the shapes, colors and textures of plants. The flowers in my photographs, however, came from my own garden.

A Fire Dancer, Gold and the Last Light of 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.

As she danced with the fire lit, several elements came together: movement, flames, the gold on her skin and the fading daylight. The session had an extraordinary intensity. Each photograph holds a different moment within that experience.

Across three panels, the movement continues along the wall. In a Miami dining room or a hospitality lounge, I would consider this triptych where its rhythm can be seen from a comfortable distance and where the surrounding lighting lets its warmth emerge.

Two Women, Five Years Apart, One Triptych

This is one of my favorite triptychs. Although the three photographs seem closely connected, they portray two different women and were taken five years apart.

I feel a strong connection to these images. Their gestures, the pale backgrounds and the quality of the light allow them to belong together despite the time between the sessions.

This is why I return to my archive. A photograph may find its companion much later, when another encounter reveals a connection I could not have anticipated.

For a light-filled residence in Key Biscayne or Coral Gables, I would consider this composition alongside restrained materials and a calm palette, giving the figures room to express their own rhythm.

Hands in Prayer: Creating a Companion Photograph

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 I could offer the two images as a diptych.

I asked the woman to echo his position. The shared gesture connects them, while their individual expressions keep the pairing alive.

I love the result: two people brought together through a moment of stillness. For a meditation room, a yoga studio or a quiet treatment space in Miami, this diptych offers a human focal point without overwhelming the room.

A Star at the Center: An Unforgettable 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.

What followed was a remarkable meeting of different abilities. Their movement, flexibility and willingness to explore allowed us to create photographs that work beautifully together.

I find the central star-like shape particularly powerful. Within the triptych, it gives the composition a point of focus while the neighboring images extend its movement.

Although the session took place in Los Angeles, I can imagine this work in a Miami yoga studio or a movement-focused wellness space, where the physical intelligence behind the poses becomes part of the conversation.

Strength in Close-Up: 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 gold responds to the light.

For me, strength and sensuality are closely connected in these photographs. The body has a sculptural quality, but it remains warm and alive.

In a contemporary Brickell residence or a private fitness lounge, this triptych could establish a powerful presence. I would let the photographs carry that strength without surrounding them with too many competing details.

Balance and Elevation: One of My Favorite Yogis

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

In this triptych, the central photograph lifts the legs upward, while the images on either side give the composition balance. Together, they form a powerful symbol of concentration and elevation.

For a Miami wellness interior, I would choose this work where the viewer can take in all three photographs at once. Their relationship is essential to the feeling of the complete piece.

Two Women in Movement, and the Lenses I Forgot

There is a very human story behind these photographs. The women were ready for the session 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.

With the women moving, I sometimes repeated a photograph five times to make sure I had a sharp frame. It required patience and concentration from everyone.

I love remembering that effort when I look at the finished images. What appears effortless can contain an entire story of adaptation, trust and persistence.

A Yogi Without a Visible Face: Space for Your Own Interpretation

In these photographs, the yogi’s face remains unseen. That gives the work an openness I find compelling. The viewer can connect with the posture without being guided by a facial expression.

I love the kneeling positions and the quiet strength they convey. They feel grounded, concentrated and deeply still.

For a meditation room in Coconut Grove, a private yoga space in Coral Gables or a Miami Beach wellness suite, this triptych could support an atmosphere of attention and calm.

Butterflies, Color and the Pleasure of Creating Joy

Creating these images required considerable work with the butterflies, the colors and the overall composition. I wanted an atmosphere that felt buoyant, joyful and full of life.

The figure brings elegance and sensuality, while the surrounding colors introduce a sense of play. I love that combination: a graceful human presence within an imaginative, vibrant world.

In a Miami interior, I would consider this diptych where color already has a meaningful role. It could enliven a creative living space near Wynwood or introduce a personal note to a room whose palette includes rich blues.

Invictus: The Woman with the Sword Is a Real Fighter

The woman in these photographs is a real fighter. She wrestles and also fights with swords. When she arrived at the studio with her own sword, I was immediately interested in what we could create together.

Her dreadlocks had just been done at the hairdresser, and we then painted her in gold. The resulting presence comes from who she is: her physical confidence, her experience and the way she carries herself.

That authenticity gives the diptych its power. For a Miami interior with a strong architectural identity, I would consider it as a focal point where both images can be experienced together.

Presence and Absence Against a Black Background

This final pairing explores a similar position with the head visible in one image and absent from view in the other. I love the simplicity of that change and the questions it creates.

Against the black background, gold becomes especially striking. The composition feels contemporary, restrained and intriguing.

For readers drawn to that dialogue between the body, design and contemporary art, The Bass in Miami Beach offers a local cultural reference through its contemporary art program and its engagement with disciplines including design and architecture.

In a residence near the Design District or a carefully composed South Beach interior, I would give this diptych a clear wall and lighting that preserves the depth of the black background.

Choosing Golden Fine Art Photography for Miami Homes, Hotels and Spas

The personal story behind an artwork can help you understand your connection to it. Its place in an interior requires another kind of attention: the room’s purpose, the available wall, the light and the people who will encounter it.

For another local perspective on exhibitions and the city’s art scene, explore the Miami Herald’s visual arts coverage.

Brickell and Downtown Miami: Consider Scale and Viewing Distance

In a spacious living room, a hotel lobby or a residential reception area, consider the complete width of the diptych or triptych, including the gaps between its panels. A composition should feel connected when viewed from across the room.

The muscular close-ups or Invictus could suit an interior seeking a strong focal point. The right choice depends on the atmosphere you want to create and the architecture surrounding the work.

South Beach and Miami Beach: Choose the Right Setting for Intimate Imagery

Bedrooms, private lounges and hotel suites allow a different relationship with figurative photography than public reception areas. The seated diptych or Golden Dreamscape may suit a space designed for intimacy and a slower pace.

For hospitality projects, consider the imagery alongside the property’s identity, its guests and the specific room where it will be displayed.

Coconut Grove and Coral Gables: Bring Attention to Quiet Spaces

For yoga studios, treatment rooms and private meditation spaces, I would begin with the feeling the work creates. The prayer diptych, the anonymous yogi or the golden lips and flowers can offer different forms of stillness, warmth and connection.

Choose the photographs that support the experience of the room, and allow enough visual space around them for that feeling to emerge.

Key Biscayne and Bayfront Homes: Plan Around Daylight

In a room with strong daylight, check how reflections affect the photographs throughout the day. Position the work so that it can be enjoyed without persistent glare, and discuss suitable framing and protection with a professional framer.

For coastal interiors, also consider humidity and the conditions near open doors or windows when deciding where photographs should hang.

Wynwood and the Design District: Let the Artwork Express Your Personality

A colorful diptych and a restrained composition on black create very different experiences. Begin with the work you feel connected to, then consider how it relates to the room’s materials, furniture and existing collection.

The photographs should have a reason to be there beyond matching a palette. Their story, their presence and the relationship between the panels are what give them a lasting place in an interior.

Keep the Relationship Between the Panels Intact

Consistent spacing and alignment help the images read as a complete composition. Before installation, measure the full arrangement and assess it in relation to the furniture and the usual viewing position.

Orientation can also carry meaning. In the divine feminine and masculine diptych, for example, having the figures face one another is part of the work’s emotional intention.

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

Find a Personal Connection to Art for Your Miami Interior

These photographs began with people, places and moments that matter to me. Some came from carefully planned sessions. Others emerged from chance, a reflection, an unexpected detail or an image I rediscovered years later.

Bringing them together allows those experiences to continue speaking to one another. That is what I hope you feel when you encounter my work: a connection that deepens as you spend time with it.

Whether you are choosing photography for a home in Coral Gables, a Miami Beach hotel, a Brickell residence or a wellness space in Coconut Grove, begin with the images that move you. Then consider how their presence can become part of the life of that space.

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