While Chicago is home to some of the most well-known museums, galleries and cultural institutions, travelers and locals alike might discover a trove of art and exhibitions in their hotel lobby. The trend is reshaping the hospitality industry by using art to elevate the guest experience and engage the local community.
From rotating art exhibitions to curated installations and partnerships with local artists, the trend sets new standards of art, culture and community integration in a brand’s core values. Arlo Hotels recently expanded its signature Living Room Gallery series to Chicago, featuring the works of Antonius-Tin Bui and David Antonio Cruz on loan from Chicago-based Monique Meloche Gallery. Created by Arlo Hotels art curator Jasmine Arakel, Arlo’s Living Room Gallery serves to showcase contemporary art typically reserved for galleries and private collections in publicly accessible spaces at Arlo Hotels across New York, Miami and, now, Chicago.
The pieces, included below, were unveiled at Arlo Chicago at 168 N Michigan Ave during a special opening reception on July 20 and will be available for public viewing and purchase through the end of August when a new set of pieces will be showcased.
- Antonius-Tin Bui’s Don’t call me sir, call me strong call me shooting star, call me sea, call me wave upon wave, call me womb, call me woman, 2022
- Antonius-Tin Bui’s Every morning I said my hungers aloud, rehearsing for my future body, 2021
- David Antonio Cruz’s Thosetreasuresthatyoukeepjustoutofreach,theycomeandgointruckloads,butnoonestopstoseethem, 2022
In Chicago’s coveted Gold Coast, NINE dot ARTS drew inspiration from the city’s architecture for The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago’s art collection, combining contemporary and modern design to abstractly reflect the city’s iconic skyscrapers. As part of the hotel’s $100 million renovation, some of the pieces in the collection can be viewed from public spaces like the lobby, while others are reserved for the crown jewel of the property – The Presidential Suite. With the hotel’s proximity to the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, the collection reflects and appeals to Chicago’s sophisticated art community, timelessly imbuing luxury and sophistication through the juxtaposition of modern art masters with contemporary artists. Notable pieces throughout the property include:
- Tseng Kwong Chi’s Andy Warhol, New York, 1986, from the series “Artists in Their Studios.”
- René Magritte’s Le Fils de l’Homme (The Son of Man), 2004, #103/300
- Roy Lichtenstein’s Wallpaper with Blue Floor Interior, 1992
- Roger Reutimann’s Perception #11, 2013-2014
- Roy Lichtenstein’s Modern Art II, 1996, #35/50
- James Rosenquist’s Memory Continues but the Clock Disappears, 2011, edition of 45
