The story of Editions Limited-Frame Designs begins 50 years ago in June of 1968. That summer John and Barbara Mallon opened a frame shop called Wonderlin Galleries, at the corner of 49th and Pennsylvania in the heart of Indianapolis’s Meridian Kessler neighborhood. Along with his partner Ron Mikulla, John began a business venture that would last for half a century. The business grew and developed over time into what would become a cornerstone of the Indianapolis picture framing, fine art and corporate art consulting market. John bought out his partner in the 1980’s.
In 1970, the name of the business was changed to Frame Designs. In 1974, the business expanded and opened a new division called, Framemakers. Framemakers was “Do-It-Yourself” framing, which was a very popular trend throughout the seventies and early eighties. Framemakers was the first store of it’s kind in Indiana. The first Framemakers store was opened at 506 S. Rangline Rd. in Carmel, IN. The store still stands in the same building today, under the name Editions Ltd-Frame Designs. John and Barbara would eventually have 5 Framemakers stores throughout the state of Indiana.
During the mid 1980’s, the business moved to downtown Indianapolis and opened a fine art gallery and focused on art and corporate art consulting. “The Gallery” started in the Merchants Bank building and eventually moved to Massachusetts Ave to join the early downtown art scene. During this same time, John and Barbara purchased Editions Limited Gallery, which was Indiana’s oldest contemporary art gallery, founded in 1969. This was a natural progression, as John knew many working artists, as he had been framing their work for many years. Editions Limited, located on the North side of the city and The Gallery downtown, hosted many exciting shows and openings for artists from Indiana and all over the US from New York to LA. The openings were always heavily attended, and there were many avid collectors throughout the city.
In the 1990s John and Barbara’s children came into the company in various roles, as did a few other key employees who all remain with the company today.
Throughout the 1990’s and 2000’s the business has continued to thrive and adapt to the changing retail environment. As things go, the “Do-It-Yourself” trend went out of style and the Framemakers division closed. The business now is streamlined to focus on fine art, custom framing and residential and corporate art consulting.
Editions Ltd-Frame Designs is still operating out of the same Carmel location where they have been for 44 years.
In the 50 years in business, the company has been privileged to serve many wonderful clients and interior designers, to add art to amazing projects both residential and corporate and to work with many, many incredible artists. Editions Ltd-Frame Designs hopes to serve the art and design community for many years to come! Stay tuned for a future new location.
The company will be having an Anniversary Framing Sale the week of June 18-23rd. Custom framing will be 40% off, and there will be a selection of ready- made frames and huge markdowns on artwork too!