What better way to immerse yourself in a destination’s culture than to stay in accommodations teeming with art?
Museums and art galleries are often at the top of many travel itineraries, but what if you could surround yourself with art and culture as soon as you check into your hotel?
Lodgings all over the world have taken the time to carefully curate their own art collections, from rising local artists to renowned masters.
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Here are just some luxury hotels that have masterfully blended exceptional hospitality with works of art.
The Dolder Grand in Zurich
Tucked away beside a forest, The Dolder Grand sits on a hilltop overlooking the streets of Zurich. The hotel, designed by architect Jacques Gros, was built in the late 19th century.
Housing over 100 museum-worthy pieces, the hotel features art by Salvador Dali, Ferdinand Hodler, Fernando Botero, Henry Moore, Zaha Hadid, and more.
A 36-foot-long Andy Warhol piece called “Big Retrospective Painting” welcomes guests at the reception area, a striking hint of what’s to come during each stay at the hotel.
Rome Cavalieri in Rome
Rome Cavalieri by Waldorf Astoria encompasses over a thousand pieces, from 16th century masterpieces to contemporary art, making it one of the greatest private art collections in the world.
Three of the most precious paintings in the collection are by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. Dating back to 1725, the pieces are titled “Odysseus finds Achilles among the daughters of Lycomedes,” “The Flaying of Marsyas,” and “Hercules and Antaeus.”
The Silo Hotel in Cape Town
Located above the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA), The Silo Hotel has its own collection of art highlighting both young and aspiring artists as well as established creators.
The hotel’s exterior is an industrial, geometric steel-and-glass structure. Meanwhile, its interior is bursting with vibrant colors and unique patterns. Its private art gallery, known as The Vault, features bi-annual exhibitions featuring African artists.
“I have always included wonderful art at each of The Royal Portfolio hotels. Art brings a space to life, it creates warmth and tells stories. But moreover, art takes you on a journey which evolves as we evolve,” said hotel owner Liz Biden, who acquired the pieces herself.
The Conrad in Downtown New York City
As soon as guests enter The Conrad in downtown New York, they’re immediately greeted by a Sol LeWitt painting, “Loopy Doopy (Blue and Purple),” rising 13 stories above the atrium level. The giant painting took more than 3,000 hours to create and required more than 100 gallons of paint.
Other notable pieces include Pat Steir’s “Topsy Turvy” located at the Gallery Ballroom and specially commissioned lithographs in the guest suites by Mary Heilmann, Elizabeth Peyton, and Sara Sosnowy.
In collaboration with the Public Art Fund, The Conrad houses over 2,000 works of art, providing a stunning introduction to the cultural richness New York City has to offer.
The Rosewood in Hong Kong
The Rosewood’s opulent interior also houses an art collection worth perusing. Some collection highlights include a bronze masterpiece called “Sleeping Lady” by British contemporary artist Thomas Houseago. The sculpture welcomes guests as soon as they make their way up the winding driveway.
Upon entering the lobby, guests are greeted by another bronze sculpture, “Pair of Walking Figures – Jubilee,” by British sculptor Lynn Chadwick. Abstract paintings by American artist Joe Bradley are located in the lift lobby while colorful depictions of Hong Kong by New York-based, Chinese artist William Lo are found in every guest room.
The Rosewood has “firmly established its role as an advocate of contemporary art and design in all its forms” with its extensive art collection that reflects Hong Kong’s unique history, culture, and sensibilities.
Banner image via Instagram @thesilohotel_.
