Art-inspired hotels that are also art galleries are on the rise. More establishments are taking their art collections seriously as more guests love being surrounded and inspired by art.
From the bustling metropolis of London to the oft-overlooked city of Incheon, here are hotels whose art collection runs the gamut from paintings to carpets.
5 Art-Inspired Luxury Hotels Around The World
Hotelito by MUSA, Mexico
It only has 13 rooms, but it has a huge art focus. Hotelito by MUSA (Modern Utopian Society of Adventurers) is a beachfront Design Hotels member that also opened last January on the Costa Grande coast to the south of Mexico City. The visionary couple behind it owns LOOT, an architecture and construction firm turned surf lifestyle brand. MUSA is the evolution of LOOT’s work and now a blank canvas for creation and connection with other creatives. The decor is minimalist, modern and cool. Rooms are filled with works by international artists – such as Ryan Estep, Linnea Goransson and Ricky Lee Gordon – some of whom have been MUSA’s artists-in-residence, and whose works have become part of the hotel’s permanent art collection.
The Londoner, United Kingdom
The West End is creative, colourful and theatrical. The Londoner Hotel, which opened in 2021, references Leicester Square’s rich history through art and design with a modern sensibility. As a nod to Wyld’s Great Globe, a major attraction of Leicester Square in the 19th century, the sun and moon are recurring themes throughout the hotel. The Londoner also has permanent art exhibits in partnership with The National Gallery and The Serpentine Galleries. Guests can find sculptures by Glasgow artist Zachary Eastwood-Bloom alongside modern reinterpretations of historic British characters like Henry VIII’s wives, whose chopped portraits can be found in The Residence, a 24-hour clubhouse exclusive to in-house guests.
Mitico, roving art exhibition by Belmond
In 2022, Belmond collaborated with international contemporary art gallery Galleria Continua to launch Mitico. It started at four of Belmond’s Italian properties, followed by an extended 2023 global line-up of six artists, and expanded to Mallorca and Oxfordshire, going beyond Sicily and Tuscany. The 2024 Mitico is dedicated to acclaimed French artist Daniel Bure and will feature six of his original, never-seen-before commissions at six of Belmond’s most legendary properties. The series kicked off at Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, Cape Town in February. This month, it will be at Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel, in time for the Rio Carnival. In spring, Hotel Cipriani will launch its installation during the Venice Art Biennale.
The Ned Doha, Qatar
Housed inside Qatar’s former Ministry of Interior is The Ned Doha, which opened last January. The 1970s building by Lebanese architect William Sednaoui, which is widely recognised as one of the finest examples of brutalist architecture in the country, has been re-imagined by Pritzker-winning David Chipperfield with interiors by Soho House Design. The rooms are spread over three floors, while the top floor houses the members-only Ned’s Club. The stunning views of the Arabian Gulf and Doha skyline, and seven dining options aside, the hotel’s permanent collection of over 350 artworks – mostly by women, is reason enough for booking a stay. The works, most of which are acquired by the hotel, are curated by the founders of Mathqaf Arab Museum of Modern Art. These pieces by almost 100 regional artists, with more than half based in Doha, include textiles and a carpet with coordinates of the building woven on it.
Art Paradiso Hotel, South Korea
Reopened last year after a three-year Covid-related closure, Art Paradiso Hotel in Incheon, South Korea, combines contemporary design with Korean art and culture. All 32 suites at the Small Luxury Hotels of the World member are decorated with unique artworks, including traditional Korean crafts by local artists. Taking centre stage in the lobby is “Hitchcocked” by the late Nam June Paik, widely considered as the father of video art. While the interiors of this hotel have edgy modern boudoir vibes, guests may seek a change of scenery and sunshine by stepping outside. It is part of an integrated resort called Paradise City with over 3,000 artworks by local and international artists including Jeff Koons and Damien Hirst. Art tours are available.
(Main Image and Featured Image: Art Paradiso Hotel)
