Gone are the days of sterile hotel walls. Today’s properties are increasingly embracing art, transforming stays into immersive experiences that go beyond plush beds and room service.
Whether you’re a seasoned collector or simply appreciate a touch of creativity, these hotels with noteworthy art programs will have you checking in and checking out the latest artistic finds.
Located just steps from Union Station in the heart of Denver, Colorado, lies Limelight Denver, boasting a vast collection of original and diverse artwork commissioned exclusively for the hotel by 32 different local artists, including video art, watercolor pieces, and even black and white photographs of Denver from years past. Additionally, all guests of Limelight Denver are granted complimentary access to the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, which is located just a few steps from the property.
Located within the grade II-listed building and former Police Station and Magistrates Court, the design-forward NoMad London boasts an impeccable in-house art program, drawing inspiration from the rich heritage and history of the building. Curated by the Parisian Studio Saint-Lazare, there are over 1500 artworks in the hotel — most of which are original pieces. Photographs, collages, watercolors, oil and gouache paintings, color pencil and graphite sketches, exhibition posters, ceramics, sculpture, murals, tapestries, lithographs, and engravings have been carefully resourced and curated throughout the public and private spaces of the hotel, coming from esteemed artists including Martin Parr, Joseph Alber, Weegee, Stephane Manel, and Caroline Denervaud, whose large-scale, kinetic, performance pieces pay homage to the nearby Royal Opera House.
Located in Baja California Sur’s first “Pueblo Magico,” Todos Santos Boutique Hotel is a 10-room property set within a meticulously restored historic estate previously owned by a Spanish countess. The property offers guests an intimate escape featuring lavish comfort and romantic allure, with each accommodation boasting its own unique hand-painted mural depicting the region’s storied past, created by artist Nef Espino and his team. These hand-painted murals feature a muted color palette effortlessly melding with the furnishings within, turning each accommodation into a private art museum. Additionally, the property is home to a bar, La Copa, featuring eclectic cocktails, a true farm-to-table restaurant, 1890, and La Cava, an intimate wine cellar featuring bottles from Mexico and beyond.
Located on the secluded island of Nantucket, Greydon House is a 20-room boutique hotel set within a restored house from the 1800s. Within each accommodation’s bathroom lies crisp blue tile murals, with each tile being hand-painted in Portugal and reassembled at the hotel. Each guest room features Roman and Williams’ custom-designed metal beds and pendant light fixtures. With vaulted ceilings and a corner location in the 19-room hotel, the Broad Suite offers an especially original experience with an eclectic mix of old and new pieces, including wood-framed French ceremonial chairs, found objectives (from Native American ceramics to whaling artifacts), and brass fixtures made of old ship portholes that activate the space and add a layer of narrative.
A once dilapidated bank building from the 1920s, The Joule is a fully restored boutique luxury hotel that artfully integrates historic preservation with contemporary design – from a museum-worthy art collection to unique architecture, like a glass front pool that cantilevers 8 feet out over the edge of the hotel, 10 stories above the ground. The Joule’s art collection is displayed throughout the property so that guests can enjoy notable pieces from renowned artists like Andy Warhol, Tony Cragg, Los Carpinteros, and Roger Hiorns while exploring the hotel. The centerpiece of the collection is “Eye” by Tony Tasset, a 30-foot-tall resin, fiberglass, and steel optic structure located on a lush lawn owned by The Joule across the street from the hotel. The property is also home to more than 70 large-scale mosaics by mid-century artist Millard Sheets that were originally commissioned in the ‘40s and salvaged from downtown’s former Mercantile Building.
When curating Park Lane New York, bringing the outdoors in was of the utmost importance to design firm Yabu Pushelberg. In the lobby, guest rooms, and throughout the hotel’s public spaces, murals from local artist studio En Viu brighten a swath of rust-hued walls framed by arches, artfully guiding the hotel experience. Those wrapping the staircase leading to the second floor, through the lobby, and gilded on the bar wall glass at Rose Lane — the lobby’s 80-seat bar — are all inspired by famous operas and ballets. The murals within the guestrooms, suites, and park-view rooms tell a daytime story of the park with playful nods to nature and wildlife, featuring soft creams and verdant hues, with each guestroom telling a 360-degree story of the surrounding city.
The Joseph is a Bonvoy Luxury Collection hotel located in downtown Nashville. Opened in 2020 by real estate developer Joel Pizzuti, the 430,00 square foot property pays homage to his Italian grandfather, Joseph Pizzuti, bringing to life the family’s Italian heritage with an unmatched experience rooted in art, cuisine, and hospitality. Designed by renowned interior designer, INC Architecture & Design, The Joseph boasts 297 rooms and a meticulously curated art program that reflects Pizzuti’s mission of blending two cultures with a unified aesthetic. The hotel is a living work of art that features hundreds of unique pieces, curated combinations, and galleries in addition to a Tennessee Portfolio, a series of limited-edition prints featuring abstraction, portraiture, and landscapes. It’s also home to the largest living green wall in square footage in all of North America. Each guestroom showcases a distinct print, painting, and drawing collection from 40+ global artists.
Centered in the city’s bustling Arts District, the award-winning Crossroads Hotel serves as Kansas City’s intersection of art, culture, and history. The hotel is home to 2,000 square feet devoted to public art and local creators, including a dedicated gallery space in the lobby reflecting and contributing to the surrounding arts district. Open 24/7 to the public, the gallery at Crossroads Hotel showcases exhibitions, performances, and artist-driven experiences, including an artist-in-residence program. Finding yet another way to highlight local artists, XR, the hotel’s signature neighborhood bar and lounge, has collaborated with local designer Frank Norton to introduce a limited-edition pizza box. The illustration on the ‘blank canvas’ features a pack of animals wolfing down pizza in the middle of the urban landscape, capturing an assortment of personalities playfully and expressively, and an Animal Style pizza will featured on the XR rotating pizza calendar for the entire month during the box launch in early April 2024.
Fairmont Pacific Rim is Vancouver’s definitive luxury hotel with unobstructed views of the harbor, nearby mountains, and city skyline. Combining the best of the Pacific Rim in its architecture and decor, the property offers guests a range of amenities focused on art, music, wellness, fashion, and dining. Giving a platform to local artists, Fairmont Pacific Rim is home to the Pacific Gallery, showcasing rotating exhibits with an emphasis on works from local Vancouver artists. From March 15 – May 15, 2024, guests will experience a solo exhibition of artworks from notable Canadian painter Jack Shadbolt.
Hutton Hotel, Music City’s original boutique hotel, is committed to supporting Nashville’s diverse creative community. Guests are immersed in the city’s culture through various commissioned artworks and collections that guide them from the lobby through the hotel to its on-site performance venue, Analog, and the property’s recently opened restaurant, Evelyn’s. In the lobby, visitors can view “Where Song is King,” curated by Hannah Penny of Nine Dots Art, which demonstrates the impact of Nashville in the music industry, as well as “The “Party Shoe,” expressing the curious moments behind the before, during, and after a night out in Music City and “Dueling Pianos,” full-scale wooden “dueling” pianos found behind the hotel’s reception desk. When entering Analog, the intimate listening venue with unparalleled acoustics, guests are greeted with an abstract mural commissioned by Nashville native Kim Radford. Inspired by the old-school Shure 44 displayed in the venue, Radford’s flowing mural of a woman singing into a vintage microphone highlights Analog’s excitement for the return of shows to its stage. Evelyn’s, Hutton Hotel’s Americana-inspired restaurant, pays homage to the spirit of women and showcases the work of women artists throughout the dining room and private dining rooms. Evelyn’s ambiance strikes a perfect balance between elegance and classic charm, infused with a vibrant spirit. The walls are adorned with art reminiscent of the personal collection of the restaurant’s namesake, featuring prominent works by local Nashville female artists, such as “I am Wilderness” by Sarah Kate Eberhart, Ally Sheppard’s “Evelyn with Feathers,” and Lizzy Love’s “Evelyn in Pearls.”
Next time you’re planning a trip, consider incorporating art into your itinerary. These hotels offer a chance to not only experience a new destination but also to immerse yourself in a world of artistic discovery.
