What’s the first thing you see as you walk through a new hotel? You might say you’re simply looking for your room number but truth be told you’re seeing much more. Hotel halls and rooms around the world are lined with some of the most beautiful artwork available. So beautiful, in fact, that you might be just as entertained roaming the halls of your hotel as you would have been had you gone out and paid admittance to a local art museum.
Not every hotel, of course, is famous for the artwork adorning its halls. Some, including those featuring works by Picasso, Warhol, and other famous artists, are obviously more well known. So in which hotels should you book your room if you want to see some incredible artwork? Travel and Leisure put together a great list of the Best Hotel Art Collections in the wold. Find out which ones made the cut.
10. Gramercy Park Hotel – New York City, New York
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The Gramercy Park Hotel, just one of the great hotels in New York City, is owned by Ian Schrager and features design work completed by an astounding filmmaker and painter known as Julian Schnabel. Schrager hired him to model all of the hotel’s public spaces and his work features some of his own contemporary furnishings as well as artwork from some of today’s finest artists. Throughout the halls you’ll find pieces by Andy Warhol, Basquait, and even Keith Haring.
9. 21c Museum Hotel – Louisville, Kentucky
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The buildings that make up the 21c Museum Hotel in Louisville were once 19th century bourbon and tobacco warehouses. Today they feature over 9,000 square feet of art gallery space stuffed with millions of dollars worth of contemporary artwork. The museum features work by Vik Muniz – a Brazilian artist who loves to photograph strange and recycled materials.
8. Chambers Hotel – Minneapolis, Minnesota
Owned by Ralph Burnet, the inside of the Chambers Hotel was designed by the renowned David Rockwell. Inside these incredible buildings you’ll find more than 200 pieces of art from Burnet’s private collection. The collection includes two pieces by Damien Hirst as well as a number of silk-screen prints and sculptures.
7. The James – Chicago, Illinois
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The building where The James hotel is located was built back in the 1920’s and features a number of incredible art installations. The most popular is the sculpture called Room 28 by Joel Ross. He used 50 vintage suitcases to transport the contents of a motel room he stripped and then set the cases up as a display later on. You’ll also find works by Wolfgang Ludes and Michael Kenna here. You’ll find incredible works of art in other Chicago hotels but we guarantee you won’t find another collection like this.
6. Semiramis – Athens, Greece
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Semiramis is a 51-room hotel owned by Dakis Jonnou. Inside the hotel you’ll find his private collection of pop art, including artist Jeff Koon and his wife posing porn-star style. The hotel also features works of art by Spencer Tunick, the amazing artist known around the world for his nude group photo shoots.
5. Dodler Grand – Zurich, Switzerland
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The original Dodler Grand hotel was built in 1899 but recently closed for renovations. After four long years the hotel reopened in 2008. The building’s new style blends both old and new architecture and the walls throughout the hotel features some stunning works of art. Inside you’ll find works by Sol LeWitt, Salvador Dali, and Tamara de Lempicka.
4. The Joule – Dallas, Texas
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The hotel now known as The Joule opened in 2008 and is located in what used to be a bank building dating back to the late 1920’s. Inside you’ll find pieces of some of today’s hottest contemporary artwork including those by Andy Warhol and David Levinthal. The collection was put together by John Runyon with the help of Tim Headington, the hotel owner, and is known as one of the most popular Dallas hotels.
3. The Four Seasons – Florence, Italy
Construction of The Four Seasons in Florence was particularly difficult. Throughout the construction process, as two 15th and 16th century buildings were renovated, a number of artist discoveries were made. Each time a piece of artwork was uncovered construction at to stop working and wait for the Belle Arti national committee to approve continuation. The collection of artwork here features an image of Michelangelo painted by Bertoldo di Giovanni in the mid 1500’s as well as several other dated pieces. To make things even better, the ceilings in each guest room are painted with Renaissance scenes – an ambiance unlike anything you’ll find in the other hotels in Florence.
2. Rodwell House – St. James, South Africa
The Rodwell House, which opened in the 1930’s, isn’t far from beautiful Cape Town. The hotel, which boasts only 9 guest rooms, features artwork created by Jacob Hendrik Pierneef and George Pemba – famous African artists. Other modern paintings and sculptures line the halls as well.
1. Byblos Art Hotel Villa Amista – Verona, Italy
Remember the Byblos fashion house? Well, the Byblos Art Hotel Villa Amista was created by the same people. The hotel opened in 2005 and features a collection of contemporary artwork with more than 300 individual pieces. Features include Cindy Sherman’s clown photographs as well as works by Vanessa Beecroft and Robert Indiana.
Art lovers will enjoy staying in one of these incredible hotels. Make sure you take the time to explore the halls. You won’t regret making one of these magnificent buildings your home during your stay.
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