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Color Your World: 10 Best Art Hotels In the U.S.

February 11, 2015

Art attraction: hotels get in touch with their creative side

If art imitates life, then these creative hotels show that life is one colorful, adventurous and beautiful ride. With art as the primary focus, these properties from Santa Barbara to Chicago fully immerse guests in both the artistic process and also its amazing results. From the lobby to the gardens to the guest rooms, both curated and site-specific works surround guests as they sleep, eat and even check in and out of these art hotels.

Photo courtesy of The Alexander
The Alexander, Indianapolis

Indianapolis has a hip, new hotel to cater to its growing convention business and leisure visitors with The Alexander, the first ever art-curated hotel that has partnered with an art museum (Indianapolis Museum of Art). The Alexander features more than 40 original works of art throughout the hotel, all of which tie back to the Hoosier state. Guest favorites include a piece made entirely from hair combs that depicts Hoosier Madam C.J. Walker, whose beauty business led her to become the first self-made female millionaire, along with a work featuring birds that are made from old vinyl records, with Indiana's-own Jackson 5 front and center.

Photo courtesy of The Alexander
Hotel Indigo, Santa Barbara

Get your fill of contemporary art at Hotel Indigo in Santa Barbara's funk zone, a hip district of art galleries, microbreweries and wine tasting rooms. The hotel serves as a satellite space for the Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara, which houses edgy and thought-provoking works, and it also features an art library for even more art immersion. Colorful murals, a plant-filled living wall and private outdoor gardens with mountain views make this eco-friendly hotel a stylish and inspiring stand-out. Walking distance from the Amtrak station and trolley stops , Hotel Indigo makes it easy to travel car-free.

Photo courtesy of Hotel Indigo
Disney's Art of Animation Resort, Orlando

Want to learn more about how art is created? Walt Disney World's The Art of Animation Resort has you covered. This Disney resort, which opened in 2012, pays tribute to the many artists who've created beloved Disney films, from Finding Nemo to Cars. Throughout the resort, Disney tells the story of the animation process, featuring pencil drawings, sketchbooks, storyboards and, of course, the finished product that we know and love. Choose between four themed wings, which offer both standard rooms and family suites. Grab a souvenir at the Ink and Paint gift shop, and take some time off from the parks at one of three pools.

Photo courtesy of Walt Disney World Resorts
21c Museum Hotel, Louisville

An entire hotel chain centered around art, 21c offers three hotels currently open and more on the way. To create 21c Museum Hotels in Louisville, the owners renovated 19th-century warehouses along the city's West Main Street. The Louisville property features a unique installation in the basement of the hotel called "Asleep in the Cyclone" that also serves as a hotel room, allowing guests to be truly immersed in art. Constructed entirely of re-purposed barn wood, custom textiles, original sculptures and artworks, the room features a domed ceiling sculpture along with antiques, a cabinet of curiosities and a record player with a choice of records.

Photo courtesy of 21c Museum Hotel Louisville
The Sagamore, Miami

Art Deco is the theme at The Sagamore, a Miami hotel in South Beach that calls itself "The Art Hotel." Around every corner of this luxury boutique hotel is a work of contemporary art, many of which were commissioned specifically for the property. Discover quotes by artists on the walls, videos in the garden, murals in the stairwell and varying media, such as paintings, photography, sculpture and video art – all by world-renowned artists. The Sagamore offers 93 suites, including two-story bungalows with balconies overlooking the pool and video art garden and an 1800-square-foot penthouse with a rooftop terrace overlooking the ocean.

Photo courtesy of Roxy Paine
Hotel Palomar, Chicago

Set in the art-centric River North neighborhood of Chicago, home to the highest concentration of art galleries in the U.S. outside of Manhattan, Hotel Palomar carries the theme of art inside its doors. A Kimpton hotel, Hotel Palomar aims to tell the story of "Art in Motion" and infuse ever-changing art throughout a guest's stay. Through a program called “Sleeping with the Artists,” the hotel showcases the works of emerging local artists on three floors. The artwork, which is available for purchase, rotates throughout the year so there's always something new for returning guests.

Photo courtesy of Cris Molina
The Curtis, Denver

At The Curtis, a Doubletree by Hilton in Denver, the idea is to showcase art as fun. Guests are treated to a visual feast of color and pop art throughout the lobby, halls and themed guest rooms. Pick the theme of your room floor, from the likes of TV Mania, Sci-Fi, One Hit Wonders or Perfect Pair. Out front, gaze at a 42-foot high sculpture of steel blocks in vibrant colors that spell out "All Together Now." We dare you to check out of The Curtis without a smile on your face.

Photo courtesy of The Curtis
Le Méridien Chambers, Minneapolis

Some 250 pieces of contemporary drawings, paintings, sculpture and video fill both guest rooms and public spaces in this 60-room, boutique hotel in downtown Minneapolis. Owned by one of the world’s top art collectors, Le Méridien Chambers was designed specifically to house specific pieces. An Ellsworth Kelly or Alec Soth in your room? Check. A Tracy Emin, Sam Taylor-Wood and Yasumasa Morimura in the lobby? Check. Check. Check. When not soaking in the artwork, guests of the hotel can sip cocktails in the hotel’s open air courtyard or enjoy comfort fare in the hotel's restaurant Marin.

Photo courtesy of Le Méridian Chambers
Grand Bohemian Hotel, Asheville

Walking into the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Asheville is like walking into a museum. This Kessler Collection boutique property in charming Biltmore Village is a European hunting lodge-inspired luxury destination with eclectic artistry, characteristic of the Asheville area. The Tudor-inspired hotel is owned by the Kessler family,who display their art collections at their different properties. Inside the Grand Bohemian, guests will find rare and original works of art, such as hand-carved wood ceilings from Bali, bronze sculptures and contemporary paintings commissioned for the hotel. Guest rooms feature original artwork, custom lighting and large velvet-tufted headboards.

Photo courtesy of Grand Bohemian Hotel
Hotel Des Arts, San Francisco

In San Francisco's Hotel des Arts, you'll find imaginative art installations and edgy graffiti by emerging street artists in all 51 guest rooms. Each artist was given full license to paint the rooms and create an interactive experience. Lining the hallways on each floor is an art gallery of additional pieces, which rotate every three months and are largely available for purchase. Located in the French Quarter near Union Station and Chinatown, the hotel complements its art with simplistic design, modern lighting and furniture with clean lines.

Photo courtesy of Hotel Des Arts