ABOUT

FLATS is a woman-founded, artist-run photography space located in the heart of Houston’s Montrose neighborhood. Established in 2016, FLATS began as a nomadic photography exhibition series held in apartments—or “flats” as British would say—throughout the Houston area. Since its inception, FLATS has showcased over 100 local artists and has grown to include a photo lab, a community darkroom space, and a magazine, FLAT Files.

FLATS aims to be a thriving home for local artists, with a primary goal of fostering artistic collaboration not only in the Houston community, but in the wider Texas and southern regional lens based communities as well. FLATS hopes to build a more substantial base for artistic practice in the South, ensuring accessibility, diversity, and growth for new generations of lens based artists.

Our Mission

At FLATS, we are dedicated to supporting Houston and the South’s vibrant photography community by building sustainable infrastructure for lens-based artists. We believe art should be accessible to all, and everyone deserves the opportunity to connect with impactful work, regardless of their background.

Our mission is to break down barriers, foster collaboration among artists, and highlight their unique perspectives through intimate exhibitions and our publication, FLAT Files—the only Southern-focused photography magazine. By offering community spaces, including a darkroom, we nurture creativity and support artists’ journeys.

FLATS strives to be a hub for artistic collaboration, not just in Houston, but across Texas and the Southern region. Our goal is to provide a strong foundation for lens-based artists by celebrating their diverse voices and recognizing their distinct contributions to American photography landscape. By creating inclusive, collaborative spaces, we strive to inspire, engage, and strengthen the local lens-based art community.

Debbie, Model 21Photo Booth

FLATS has the first analog photo booth back in Houston in over 15 years. Debbie was made in the 80s, and is the youngest of her analog booth siblings. There’s not many like these around these days and it’s because They’re special! Analog photo booths use a set of chemicals, flash, and light sensitive paper to provide you with a photo relic similar to a darkroom print.

That means that the images taken are one of a kind! Please be patient with her as she takes 4-5 minutes to work her magic, but we promise, it’s worth it!

Our photo booth is on a long term loan from Photo Illusion and is available during our shop hours, listed HERE.