Hotels
with Art
Dining under the gaze of Banksy, enjoying a cocktail in front of an original Salvador Dalí, or sharing a room with a Picasso is no longer just possible in museums: more and more hotels are integrating art as an essential part of their offering. What once was mere decoration is now visual storytelling, conscious curation, and an experience that enriches the guest’s stay.
Art and hospitality are becoming increasingly intertwined. More and more hotels have stopped being simple stopovers to become vibrant spaces of cultural expression, where museum-worthy works are displayed and emerging talent is promoted.
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Staying in them is not just an aesthetic experience, but also a sensory, creative, and transformative one.
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Although art in hotels is nothing new, a new generation of accommodations is taking the concept further—acquiring original pieces, installing ambitious works, and supporting emerging and local artists—all with the goal of enriching the guest experience and introducing art to a wider audience.
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In these hotels, art stops being a decorative accessory to become the protagonist.
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They are spaces that stimulate, move, and tell stories. For the contemporary traveler, staying in them is not just about resting: it’s about living a cultural experience that begins the moment you walk through the door.
HOTELS WITH ART 025
(01)
21c Museum Hotels:
Rooms with a Narrative
The 21c Museum Hotels group has taken this concept to a new level. Founded by collectors Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson, their first hotel in Louisville (2006) transformed the city center into a creative hub. Today, 21c is present in nine cities across the southern and midwestern United States, with more than 3,000 works of contemporary art.
Each hotel incorporates site-specific installations, such as Astrid Krogh’s fiber-optic tapestry in Cincinnati or the monumental golden replica of Michelangelo’s David in Louisville. “Visitors immerse themselves in artistic narratives that address issues such as the environment, gender, or race,” explains Alice Gray Stites, the group’s museum director and chief curator.
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The Dolder Grand:
Art as Immersion
In Zurich, The Dolder Grand—owned by collector Urs Schwarzenbach—houses works by Dalí, Kapoor, and Miró. Its Saltz restaurant, designed by Rolf Sachs, turns art into a sensory experience. “It’s not mere decoration; it’s part of the guest’s journey,” says James Hedges, curator for iconic hotels such as The Beverly Hills Hotel and Hotel Bel-Air.
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Palace Hotel Tokyo:
The Subtlety of Japanese Art
With a collection curated by Art Front Gallery, the Palace Hotel Tokyo integrates works by artists such as Huang Yuanqing, Masahito Katayama, and Naoto Sunohara. “Many guests enjoy the art as if they were visiting a museum,” comments Masaru Watanabe, its general manager.
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The Fife Arms:
From Classicism to Punk
Located in Scotland, The Fife Arms boldly mixes a sketch of Queen Victoria, a piece by Martin Creed, and a Picasso hanging on a tartan wall. A curatorial approach that engages in dialogue between tradition and avant-garde with a provocative spirit.
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The Lanesborough:
Art Among Georgian Mouldings
In London, The Lanesborough houses a Regency art collection that rivals the National Gallery. Its restaurant combines this heritage with works by contemporary British artists. “Our Georgian setting offers a warm, sophisticated counterpoint to the white cube of a gallery,” says Stuart Geddes, the hotel’s general manager.
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BnA Hotels:
Sleeping Inside an Artwork
In Tokyo and Kyoto, the BnA Hotels (Bed and Art) network offers a radically immersive experience: each room is conceived and executed by a local artist. Psychedelic murals, suspended installations, and visual narratives turn every night into an aesthetic experience. “We create an ecosystem where artist and guest feed off each other,” explains Keigo Fukugaki, co-founder of the project.
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La Colombe d’Or:
The Artful Lodgers
In Saint-Paul de Vence, La Colombe d’Or is a hotel-restaurant that became a refuge for 20th-century artists. Founded in 1920 by Paul Roux, it brought together figures such as Picasso, Matisse, and Chagall, who often paid for their stay with artworks. Today, its walls, terraces, and rooms display this unique legacy, blending hospitality and art in an intimate and vibrant atmosphere.
Platforms
for Emerging Art
Other hotels act as true incubators of talent. art’otel, in Rome and London, features works by artists such as Pietro Ruffo and Banksy, while The Hoxton promotes young creators through its Hox Gallery and programs like Artist Open Call. “Contemporary art allows us to tell the unique story of each place,” notes Katherine Gass Stowe, curator of The Beekman (New York).