For over three years, artist and designer Lulu de Kwiatkowski—known professionally as Lulu DK—has been quietly redefining shell art from her studio in the Bahamas. With a background rooted in fine arts and a life shaped by global influences, she brings a richly layered approach to her work that transcends traditional craft and veers into the realm of modern design.
De Kwiatkowski’s artistic journey began early. The youngest of six children in a creatively inclined family, she recalls mimicking her siblings’ art projects and displaying a natural attraction to drawing and collecting. Her early passion led her to Parsons School of Design in New York, where she studied fine arts, followed by a move to Paris to study trompe l’oeil. These experiences led her to interior decorative painting, eventually culminating in the launch of her brand, Lulu DK, a successful wallpaper and fabric company.
It wasn’t until she relocated to the Bahamas—after stints in Los Angeles and Geneva—that she fell in love with shell collage. Inspired by the local aesthetic and the natural bounty around her, de Kwiatkowski began experimenting with shells, treating them not as souvenirs, but as elements of intricate, patterned compositions.
“I don’t just pile the shells together,” she explains. “I design them more like mosaics or visual patterns, drawing from Moroccan and Indian influences.” Her aesthetic is also informed by a fusion of cultural headpieces— from Ukrainian floral crowns to indigenous American adornments and the colorful costumes of Bahamian Junkanoo festivals.
Her first shell piece was born from a desire to make a statement during Bahamas Design Week. Tasked with presenting her own home, de Kwiatkowski adorned its entrance with an original shell installation—an ambitious move that paid off and sparked ongoing commissions.
Now, that passion is expanding. De Kwiatkowski is set to launch a new line of wallpaper in early 2026 that will be available at HIVE. While some of the designs feature hand-painted shells, others reflect her signature collaged aesthetic. “I tried photographing the original shell panels, but they didn’t translate. So, I hand-painted shells and laid them out as I would with real ones,” she explains.
Whether crafting intimate pieces from collected shells or creating expansive wall panels, de Kwiatkowski continues to blur the lines between art and design, bringing the spirit of her travels—and her inner world—to each project. Her enthusiasm is undimmed: “I do what I love on a regular basis,” she says. “And that’s a blessing.”
LINDA FENWICK SHELLS IN DESIGN
From her studio in England, Linda Fenwick transforms seashells into striking interior designs, adorning walls, ceilings, mirrors, lamps, and decorative objects. Her craftsmanship highlights texture, shimmer and sculptural detail turning organic forms into sophisticated statements. Blending coastal elegance with timeless artistry, Fenwick’s custom creations bring natural beauty and a luminous, ocean-inspired atmosphere into contemporary interiors.
WEXLER ROBICHAUX
Palm Beach seashell artist Wexler Robichaux displays a rare fusion of art and science. With BA degrees in both, (he has a degree in medicine), he employs the precision of a physician with the freedom of an artist. His fascination with marine biology began in childhood, and today his works showcase both rigor and imagination in an effort to turn “the ocean’s poetry into enduring art.”