A Curation of Creativity

At Runo Hotel Porvoo in Finland, biannual exhibitions showcase rising regional artists. Currently, the hotel acts as a stage for pieces by Inka Bell, Linda Linko, and Lisa Maaranen—three young Helsinki-based female artists. A figurative ceramic sculpture by Riku Riippa also makes a statement on the ground floor, and every guestroom features a unique serigraphy painting. 

Stockholm’s Blique by Nobis also features rotating exhibitions along with live music performances and release parties. Previous events hosted at the hotel include an intimate concert by Swedish singer/songwriter Veronica Maggio on the rooftop and a talk during the leading Nordic fair for contemporary art, Market Art Fair. DJ sets are hosted every Friday and Saturday night at the onsite Origio Bar, where an exhibition also currently displays works by contemporary feminist icon Marilyn Minter.

Visual art plays a central role in establishing rejuvenating atmospheres at both Minos Beach Art Hotel, on Crete’s northeastern shoreline, and Palazzo Daniele, in Gagliano del Capo, a village in Puglia, Italy. The former boasts 2.5 kilometers of pristine private beachfront complemented by an onsite sculpture garden filled with stunning pieces from the G. & A. Mamidakis Foundation’s art collection. Plus, site-specific artworks were inspired by the natural surroundings and island’s heritage, and the property also hosts an artist residency program. 

Palazzo Daniele, meanwhile, is housed in a former monastery in Gagliano del Capo that now juxtaposes the ancient with the contemporary. Here, restored centuries-old frescoes adorn the ceilings, while walls and floors host modern pieces, such as a sculpture by Roberto Cuoghi, a light box by Simon d’Exea, and lithographs by Carla Accardi. The artworks found onsite are complemented by the town’s annual international exhibition Capo d’Arte, and live music events are hosted in the hotel’s orangery throughout the summer months.

Situated in city centers, AthensWas and Node Kyoto offer direct connections to the cultural heritages and contemporary movements of their locales. Through a partnership with Polis Hammam – Polis Loutron, guests at AthensWas can experience an authentic traditional hammam, which finds its roots in the rituals of ancient Greek baths, and indulge in Grecian therapies. The property is also the only downtown hotel with a view of the Acropolis, which is only a stone’s throw away, along with the Acropolis Museum and famous district of Plaka, or Old Town. 

At Node Kyoto, Japanese and international culture are reflected through the museum-quality artworks lining the walls. The public and private spaces of this property function as a living gallery space and works on view are by local and world-renowned artists, including Gerhard Richter, Rashid Johnson, Bernard Frize, Kiki Smith, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Izumi Kato, Kei Imazu, and Eikoh Hosoe. In addition, the hotel hosts events ranging from DJ sets to pop-up fashion shows to special exhibitions.

Both the Downtown L.A. Proper Hotel in Los Angeles and Atix Hotel in La Paz, Bolivia, foreground local artists. For Downtown L.A. Proper Hotel, designer Kelly Wearstler commissioned members of the Los Angeleno creative community to craft custom pieces. A vibrant mural by Abel Macias covers the entirety of the lobby’s vaulted ceilings, while black, richly textured ceramics by Morgan Peck cover the reception desk. Another L.A. ceramicist, Ben Medansky, also created a wall-spanning piece in the property’s standout Pool Suite, which features a 32-by-12-foot indoor swimming pool. Moreover, the two onsite restaurants, helmed by L.A. James Beard award-winners Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne, have become some of the buzziest hotspots in town. 
    
Similarly, Atix Hotel showcases Bolivian craftsmanship and art. Native artist Gastón Ugalde—also known as the Andy Warhol of the Andes—traveled to South Lípez Desert, Lake Titicaca, and Salara de Uyuni to create works specifically for the hotel. These idyllic spots are now reflected in fine-art photographs and wall-based sculptural pieces found throughout the corridors, rooms, and common areas. Additionally, local materials like Comanche stone, which was used in the hotel but also to pave the streets of La Paz in the 1920s and 30s, speak to the heart of Bolivian culture.

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