Imagine walking past the boundary of a traditional framed photograph, stepping directly through the looking glass, and finding yourself physically inside an elaborate, cinematic world. This November, celebrated narrative photographer Adrien Broom is bringing her critically acclaimed and deeply imaginative Living Tableaux series to Dallas, transforming the terrace of the striking, Kengo Kuma-designed Hôtel Swexan into a surreal, dreamlike environment titled The Garden of Unexpected Guests.
Created in an exclusive collaboration with the Martine Chaisson Gallery, this upcoming temporary installation is set to redefine how visitors experience contemporary art and photography. The ambitious project invites hotel guests, art enthusiasts, and curious travelers alike to step off the streets of Texas and into an otherworldly topiary garden. Within this handcrafted ecosystem, visitors will find themselves sharing space with an eclectic menagerie of larger-than-life figures, including a towering 10-foot-tall rabbit, elegant giraffes, graceful swans, professional dancers, and a host of other whimsical characters. More than just a passive exhibition to be admired from afar, the installation is interactive by design. During the limited engagement, visitors will have the rare opportunity to participate in private portrait sessions with Broom herself, effectively casting themselves as the central subjects in their own surreal, custom photographic compositions.
For Broom, whose artistic practice frequently bridges the gap between fine art photography, sculpture, and theatrical set design, the project represents a continuation of her lifelong exploration of narrative and memory. Drawing heavy inspiration from the rich traditions of mythology, folklore, and the uninhibited wonder of childhood, Broom painstakingly builds her elaborate sets entirely by hand. Rather than relying on digital manipulation or post-production wizardry to fabricate her fantastic realms, she constructs physical spaces using a combination of intricate sculptural props, meticulously tailored costumes, and carefully controlled lighting schemes. These physical environments are deliberately engineered to blur the boundary separating reality from fantasy. Furthermore, she works extensively with natural and atmospheric elements—such as controlled light, mist, and shifting air currents—to shape the mood and tone of the final photographic image.
“Every Living Tableaux starts with a world I build by hand and then invite people into,” Broom explains, shedding light on her collaborative and deeply personal creative process. “When a sitter steps in, they cross a threshold into the story. I control everything around them, even the wind, and we make the picture together. It’s an art form that combines sculpture, production design, light, and photography, with a little therapy mixed in. Helping each person feel at ease is part of the art for me. No two portraits are ever alike.”
The upcoming residency at Hôtel Swexan marks a significant milestone for the Living Tableaux series, which has previously taken root in a variety of site-specific locations ranging from traditional art galleries and private homes to other intimate, curated venues. This marks the very first time the immersive concept has been adapted for a luxury hotel setting. From November 11 to November 22, Broom will take up residence at the Dallas property, officially launching an innovative artist-in-residence program. This initiative is specifically designed to grant both hotel guests and the broader Dallas arts community unique, meaningful opportunities to engage directly with an artist’s creative workflow and vision.
Julian Payne, the general manager of Hôtel Swexan, views the residency as a natural extension of the property’s cultural identity and architectural ambition. He describes the newly launched artist-in-residence initiative as an exciting calendar of partnerships that authentically reflects the hotel’s existing DNA of art, music, culture, and diversity.
Hôtel Swexan itself provides a fittingly avant-garde backdrop for Broom’s whimsical and boundary-pushing art. The name Swexan is a clever portmanteau blending “Swiss” and “Texan,” a linguistic nod to the unique cultural and aesthetic synthesis that defines the boutique property. The hotel successfully marries the precision and refinement of European hospitality with the bold, unapologetic design spirit characteristic of Texas. This playful juxtaposition of contrasting styles is woven into the architectural fabric of the building, which was envisioned by renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma. The design ethos extends far beyond the guest rooms and public spaces, spilling over into the hotel’s distinctive dining and nightlife venues. These include Stillwell’s, an upscale steakhouse named in honor of a pioneering West Texas cowgirl, and Babou’s, an intimate and atmospheric subterranean nightclub centered around a dark wood-paneled library where rare books and bespoke cocktails comfortably coexist.
During her residency in November, Broom will offer a strictly limited number of exclusive, 90-minute Living Tableaux portrait sessions. These sessions are open to a wide range of participants, including individuals, couples, families, groups, and even beloved pets. By participating, sitters are not merely having their photograph taken; they are actively drafted as living characters into an unfolding narrative artwork orchestrated by one of contemporary photography’s most imaginative practitioners.
The Garden of Unexpected Guests will run from November 11 through November 22 at Hôtel Swexan, located in the heart of Dallas. Private 90-minute portrait sessions are priced at $3,500, a fee that includes five fully retouched, high-resolution final images capturing the subject within the handcrafted dreamscape. Because of the intimate nature of the installation and the limited availability of the artist’s schedule during her residency, advance reservations are strictly required. Interested participants can secure their spots and find additional information by visiting the official hotel website at hotelswexan.com.
