We are thrilled to have been featured in a recent article published in Forbes Magazine: 'Art & Artist Are The Guests of Honor At This Boutique Hotel':
It’s rare to come across a hotel brand that appreciates art, let alone build an entire property around it. For art lovers and casual collectors who find themselves in London, there’s one property that’s become synonymous with the celebration and appreciation of local artist and artists: the Bankside Hotel, Autograph Collection.
The buzzing and creative area of Bankside’s neighborhood, South Bank and Southwark, has a deep-rooted association with arts and culture. The hotel was purpose built to capture that essence across all aspects of the property: it was, according to Philip Steiner, the hotel’s general manager, to be “an art school without the dust.”
This, in essence, is what the hotel has become: part luxury oasis, part art studio. The studio itself (a real, breathing, working space that adjoins the hotel’s lobby) is known as the Art Yard Maker's Studio, a permanent creative space in the hotel, filled by an ever-changing roster of artists. The studio is run in collaboration with Contemporary Collective and DegreeArt.com, who champion up-and-coming creatives. Residencies at the studio are typically two months long, during which time the artists use the space to develop their creative process, showcase their work, as well as host a range of workshops that engage both guests and the local community.
The studio has an open-house policy, meaning hotel guests and those visiting the neighborhood’s major art galleries are invited to walk in to witness the artists at work, as well as partake in interactive art and design workshops. Many of these are often held in the hotel’s lobby, which encourages creative play and discussion and itself functions as a mini-gallery of sorts.
The hotel part is in itself a minor work of art: each of the hotel’s 161 rooms and seven suites are thoughtfully decorated, maximizing space and emphasizing the hotel’s surrounding views of the River Thames. Each guest room also features a creative toolbox, featuring a drawing pad and pencils, to inspire creativity.
This article also explores The article explores how current Artist in Residence Lana Matsuyama, as well as Luke M Walker, Samuel Ryde, Ernesto Romano and Joshua Donkor; our previous Artists in Residence, have fully embraced the local community during their time in the space. In addition to this, the piece touches on the hotel’s support of The Signature Art Prize, including The Aldridge Foundation’s, Junior Signature Art Prize that is now in its fifth year.
We currently have artist Lana Matsuyama to the Art Yard Studio, for her first solo artist residency in the space. In the studio from 20th June - 15th September, Lana will focus on her signature ‘Of Katatchi’ series, exploring the themes of work and play. Inspired by the relationship between work and play, Lana will examine how our everyday lives have become a delicate balance and conversation between contrasting concepts and how these ideas influence her artworks. Focusing specifically on the Bankside Hotel and its surrounding area, Lana will explore how the hotel functions as a place for both exploration and collaboration, both in work in play, ultimately articulating this through her artwork, the residency space, and various projects and events that she plans to host.
If you would like to pop by the studio for a personal tour of the artist studio, please do email Jenna Sachs to set up a suitable date and time.
