Today's hotels are not just places to stay. Increasingly, they offer a multi-sensory experience that gives them an identity and leaves guests with lasting memories and a desire to return. For many, it is the presence of art that determines the character of a facility today.
Photo credit: Konrad Zaustowicz
Art as an element of a hotel's identity
Can a hotel be a gallery? For investors and interior designers specializing in hotel projects, the answer is obvious - not only can it, but it should. It is art that increasingly defines the identity of contemporary hospitality spaces. It's not about randomly selected paintings on the walls, but a holistic concept in which art permeates the architecture, design and even the hotel's operational strategy.
Photo: Konrad Zaustowicz
Art is not just a decorative element. It should be woven into the very structure of the place, like the fabric from which the guest experience is sewn. It is also worth remembering that it has an investment value, unlike other furnishings, which are subject to depreciation
- emphasizes Agata Łapuchowska, co-owner of AKA Studio.
Hotel as a space for artistic activities
Some establishments go a step further by organizing their own Art Fair, as exemplified by the cyclical event at the Warsaw Hotel in the capital. Temporary exhibitions are increasingly common in hotel lobbies, turning the space into an active platform for young artists, for example. It also happens that the hotel becomes the manifesto of a private collection of contemporary art belonging to its owner.
Photo: Konrad Zaustowicz
Artistic motifs are sometimes present in the name itself and become a magnet for guests. An example is the 21c Museum Hotels chain. The concept combines the function of a luxury hotel with the idea of a publicly accessible contemporary art museum, making art an integral part of the guest experience
- notes Karolina Kowalik, co-owner of AKA Studio.
Photo: Konrad Zaustowicz
One of the most interesting models for attracting art to hotel interiors are artist residency programs. Invited artists run their studios on site and create works inspired by the hotel, its architecture, location or guests. This is a unique form of collaboration that brings authenticity and a unique narrative to the space.
How do you match art to a property?
More and more hotel brands are developing their own guidelines for selecting artwork in line with the brand's DNA. Sometimes the art is meant to harmonize with the arrangement, to meld with the interior. Other times, it is the artwork that acts as a counterpoint in the space, catching the eye, evoking emotions and becoming memorable. Today it is difficult to imagine a four- or five-star hotel without its own art collection. An investment in art is an investment in a brand
- comments Joanna Polus, art advisor and owner of Your Art Maison Gallery.
photo: Konrad Zaustowicz
Higher-end hotels are increasingly abandoning mass-produced reproductions in favor of museum- and collector-level art. This is not only a way to stand out in a competitive market, but above all proof that hospitality can be a form of narrative, and art its language. www.studioaka.pl
The works seen in the photos are from Your Art Maison Gallery.
For more information, visit the company's AKA Studio page on the A&B portal.
