There are hotels all over the world famous for their art collections. Some of these collections boast mostly contemporary works while others feature works from many different time periods going back to classical and up to modern.
Some of these artsy hotels include curators who will take guests on tours of the art works and will even design art tours around the city. Some have art openings featuring exhibitions that change periodically.
The Millennia in Singapore has 4,200 works on display, luxury lodging and is in the running for the world’s largest hotel and art collection. This Ritz-Carlton Hotel has works by Frank Stella, Henry Moore and David Hockney, to just skim the surface.
The Rome Cavalieri has an incredibly prestigious art collection with works by old masters such as Tiepolo, famous tapestries, a commode from the king of Poland and works by Andy Warhol.
Le Royal Monceau, one of the famous hotels designed by Philippe Starck, is a fantastic melding of old world and modern Paris. The hotel is home to an art concierge who informs interested guests on what’s happening in the current art news and will design custom art tours of the city and the hotels’ private art collection.
The Villa Copenhagen, The Watson in Adelaide, Australia and The Silo Hotel in Cape Town, South Africa are at the top of all the famous art hotel lists. There are many of these incredible places all over the world.
And the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas will knock your eyes out with the sparkle of the Chihuly glass collection and the other exhibitions of contemporary art.
The Angad Arts Hotel in Grand Center not only displays contemporary art curated by professionals but it’s the only hotel I know where you can choose the color of your room according to your mood. The hotel features the works of mostly local artists that are for sale.
And downtown St. Louis’ recently opened 21c Museum Hotel is one of 10 museum hotels nationwide, and North America’s only collecting museum dedicated to art of the 21st century. Each of these properties features exhibition space open free of charge to the public, combined with a boutique hotel and first-class restaurants.
The concept was begun in Louisville in 2006 by Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson: philanthropists, preservationists and collectors committed to expanding access to contemporary art as a means of catalyzing revitalization and civic connection. The 2lc presents a range of arts programming curated by museum director/chief curator Alice Gray Stiles, including both solo and group exhibitions that reflect the global nature of art today, as well as site specific, commissioned installations and a variety of cultural events.
I have been to four of these incredible museum hotels, which also feature unique culinary experiences with fine and casual dining, art-filled lobbies and incredible rooms for rest and sleep teeming with exciting contemporary art. On our way home from a road trip through the Midwest last summer, I got to thinking about how St. Louis was about to open its own 21c Museum Hotel and wondered how it would compare to the others.
At the opening, I literally burst into tears at the masterpiece museum hotel located in the rearranged, remixed and refurbished historic YMCA building. Founders Brown and Wilson also were teary-eyed at the opening, and I was lucky enough to shake their hands and thank them for what they’ve given to so many people.
Now St Louis has another jewel in its crown to share with visitors from all over the world.
