Today we’d like to introduce you to Armaan.
Hi Armaan, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My parents founded US Art Frames in 1997 in Mableton, Georgia. At our peak, we were one of the largest suppliers of wholesale art and picture frames in the Southeast United States. With the rise of e-commerce platforms like Amazon and eBay, we transitioned fully into online retail, reaching customers nationwide.
I was born into the business in 1998 and grew up surrounded by art and frames. After graduating high school, I attended the University of Georgia, beginning as an upright bass performance major before shifting my focus to film and photography. I later worked in Atlanta’s film industry until the recent WGA and SAG strikes. Around that time, US Art Frames was gaining momentum online, and with my parents considering retirement, I saw the opportunity to step in and carry on the family business.
When we moved away from in-person wholesale, we no longer needed our 4,000 sq. ft. showroom. That space has since been transformed into Happy Cat Studio — a photo, video, and event space featuring a large cyclorama wall, 35-foot ceilings, a kitchenette, and a drive-in garage door.
Today, we’re proud to support home and office decorators across the country through US Art Frames, while also serving local creatives, filmmakers, and event planners through Happy Cat Studio. Together, these ventures carry forward the family legacy while opening doors to new creative communities.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t been completely smooth, US Art Frames saw a sharp dip in sales earlier this year, the lowest its been since I was born. We almost sold our business to a competitor, but after careful research and implementation of a proper course of action, we have been growing exponentially month over month! Happy Cat Studio is still getting it’s footing as an option for creatives to host events or create art, but the biggest obstacle in my opinion for the studio is that people just need to know that it exists. Once artists come into the space and actively use it, they fall in love with it!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I come from a family of entrepreneurs and artists. My dad did everything from busboy to HVAC before finding his path in picture framing, all while being a talented painter. My sister serves in the National Guard and is also skilled in sketching and crochet. My mom, once a chemistry teacher in India, now runs operations at our frame factory, though she is just as known for her eye for interior design. As for me, I have always felt like I came from left field. I take after my grandparents: my mother’s side lived and breathed music, while my father’s side had a natural gift for photography.
Throughout school, my life revolved around upright bass performance. I trained under a member of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and attended music camps in Italy, fully set on becoming a professional musician. But once I got to college, I reached a crossroads. I still loved music, but burnout was setting in. That was when I discovered photography and filmmaking. I pivoted fully into that world, and after graduation, I worked on a range of film sets, most notably as a full-time staff member in the Assistant Directors department on Marvel’s Hawkeye and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
When the strikes hit, the industry slowed, and I began finding new creative outlets. With Happy Cat Studio taking shape and through reconnecting with friends via the Earworm Expo, I gravitated toward concert photography, a natural blend of my love for music and imagery. Late last year, I began reaching out to bands, asking if I could shoot their shows. Thankfully, a few gave me a chance, and I have since had the privilege of photographing artists like Glass Beams and Glixen. I have also been given the opportunity to take photos for local bands. One of which is the band Arkose, whom I collaborated with to take photos for several of their albums.
These days, I am still exploring where I fit best creatively. I love picking up my guitar and jamming with friends, and I love capturing moments behind the lens across subjects that range from live music to studio work and everything in between.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
I truly believe that being easy to work with, showing up on time, and keeping your ego in check are the most important qualities for growth. Approaching situations with a calm, collected mindset and treating both superiors and subordinates with respect goes a long way. At the end of the day, 90% of what matters isn’t what’s on your résumé or who you know – it’s whether you’re someone people don’t mind spending 12+ hours a day with, day after day.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.happycatstud.io
- Instagram: @usartframes, @studio.happycat
- Other: https://www.usartframes.com
Image Credits
Armaan Najhawan
