When going on vacation, people can expect to be immersed in a new culture with new experiences. Luxury boutique hotels and resorts have become art galleries themselves, with rotating art pieces to transport guests on a culture trip right where they are lodging.
Luxury hotels across Florida have elevated spaces and set the tone with curated collections of art, featuring works by a range of talent, from internationally renowned artists to local artists – livening rooms with a mini art museum.
Hillsboro Beach Resort + David Paul Kay
Hillsboro Beach Resort, the only resort along Hillsboro Mile, has featured artwork by award-winning, New York City-based contemporary artist and muralist, David Paul Kay. Upon entry, guests are faced with Kay’s collection of abstract sculptures within the hotel’s showstopping indoor/outdoor lobby space with breathtaking views of the private beach and sparkling Atlantic waters. Towering, rounded sculptures of female silhouettes covered in streaks of paint are scattered across the property. Kay’s distinct artistic style is monochromatic – mainly black and white – with vibrant lines and intricate details that tell a narrative. His global exhibitions and contributions have been featured in global campaigns for companies like Montblanc and Equinox.
The Gabriel South Beach + Mikael B + Mr. Brainwash
The Gabriel South Beach, located along Ocean Drive, is an iconic Art Deco hotel with a glass-bottom rooftop pool enveloped by Danish artist and philanthropist Mikael B’s mural. With a full oceanfront view of South Beach from the pool, the mural combines Mikael B’s expressive graffiti with a South Beach twist. Mikael B leans into abstract art with spray paint and acrylic as an urban contemporary artist. He creates with the idea that everything can happen, hence his large collaborations with brands like Google and Nike, as well as his internationally renowned artwork. Guests can also find a 30-foot-tall mural by the French-born, Los Angeles-based street artist Mr. Brainwash, known for his large-scale installations and prints of celebrities like Madonna, Kate Moss, and Marilyn Monroe and his practice of subverting cultural iconography similar to Andy Warhol and Banksy.
The Balfour Hotel + Becky Robbins + David Cardenas
The Balfour Hotel is collaborating with artist Becky Robbins to showcase her impactful artistry. For the last decade, Robbins, a self-taught artist, has poured her time and energy into crafting oil paintings that intricately weave together her past and present. Robbins’ most recent collection is titled “Yūgen,” a concept that is at the core of the appreciation of beauty and art in Japan. Pieces in the collection and on display at the The Balfour Hotel include “Revolution of Consciousness”, which depicts a powerful yet comforting message around the pandemic, as well as changes and healing our world is undergoing. The stylized kanji symbol for the Kintsukuroi concept refers to repair. As Robbins worked through the painting, stories seem to interweave and come to life with a final call for a love revolution.
The Balfour Hotel has also collaborated with local artist David Cardenas, who has experience in craftsmanship in luxury residences and has used wood work and fiberglass for yacht interiors. Cardenas expressed Mehzcla’s story with unique table top designs featuring a variety of styles and colors that reflect its brand. These unique table tops serve as a reminder to guests of special occasions and memories.
The Gabriel Miami + Alberto Van Stokkum + Pérez Art Museum Miami (Rotating Artists)
The Gabriel Miami features provocative and eccentric photography by Alberto Van Stokkum throughout the hotel’s public spaces, adding an artistic touch to the property’s design features. Known for his work in Vogue, Van Stokkum’s pieces are often described as wild and experimental. Alberto captures the fun, cheeky side of his models, possessing a gift for releasing the inhibitions of his subject. In addition to the photography displayed throughout the hotel, The Gabriel Miami has partnered with Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) to showcase its collection of artists and exhibitions. This creates an opportunity for hotel guests to gaze at the artwork in the lobby screen through a series of videos on display – just across the street from the museum itself.
Hotel Effie Sandestin + Brendan Parker Art
Hotel Effie, located on Florida’s Emerald Coast and part of the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, maintains a laid-back beachtown character complemented by artwork that perfectly encapsulates this change-of-pace. Brendan Parker is the local artist behind several pieces at Hotel Effie, using mixed-media art with epoxy resins and abstract expression. He lives at the resort and wanted to elevate its beauty, especially as someone who would always vacation in Sandestin. Parker created a custom original piece for the presidential suite and his works are showcased throughout the property, including the lobby and guest rooms, drawing inspiration from what he thought the space was missing and incorporating slow movement into the pieces. Since the hotel opened in February 2021, it has become a highlight among travelers to take Instagram photos in front of his notable works, which can be purchased through the Hotel Effie App (available on mobile).
THesis Hotel Miami + Jaume Plensa
THesis Hotel Miami is an urban resort with modern hotel sensibility and artistic expression. Its chic design is complemented and elevated by Jaume Plensa’s outdoor sculpture, “Storm,”centrally located at the hotel’s Paseo de Riviera, home to the hotel’s al fresco dining, weekend market and outdoor activations. “Storm,” a marvel from Paris, France, sits at the center of the hotel’s open-air Paseo carved at the base of THesis. This plaza, nestled between the buildings, allows light to stream in and glisten off of “Storm” at every hour of the day — making it a spectacle to any guest. Artistic displays are important for THesis because they capture the essence and beauty of a tropical and culturally diverse Miami. Plensa uses his public art around the world as a means of unifying people, strategically incorporating materials like stainless steel into his work to signify the human condition and the ephemeral.
The Marker Key West Harbor Resort + John Martini
The Marker Key West Harbor Resort combines Key West charm with beachtown luxury for the best tropical escape. Artist John Martini perfectly captured its character with his colorful sculptures along Lazy Way at the front of the resort. Living and working both in Key West, Florida and Veuxhaulles-Sur-Aube, France, Martini’s artwork is internationally displayed for the public to enjoy. He uses materials such as wood and bronze to create unique standalone figures, drawing influence from animals and people. The sculptures on Lazy Way overlook the boats that enter the dock area, complementing the resort with a fun beach-themed color scheme. The property also partnered with local brand, Key West Pottery, who created a series of totem poles, which are placed on the hotel exterior. Originated in 2009 by the artists Adam Russell and Kelly Lever, Key West Pottery is made up of a small army of artisans who collaborate together to produce an authentic expression of modern, coastal life.
