Stay at any of Melbourne's Art Series hotels and that hoary euphemism, 'Would you like to come up and see my etchings?', takes on a whole new meaning. The Olsen, The Blackman and The Cullen are not only inspired by Australian artists John Olsen, Charles Blackman and Adam Cullen but are filled with their artwork and imbued with their personalities.
The hotels are owned by Melbourne property developers and avid art collectors the Deague family and, in 2001, this philanthropic Renaissance clan invited 10 leading Australian artists on a million-dollar painting expedition into the Outback. In return for their patronage, the family gained a collection of 100 works, but it was during campfire conversations with the artists that the vision of the Art Series crystallised, becoming a reality in 2008.
'By surrounding guests and staff with each artist's work, the owners have created a living-with-art experience,' says the hotels' curator, Jane O'Neill.
O'Neill conducts art talks and tours for guests while her monthly briefings to staff keep their art knowledge fresh and must-see lists sharp.
In addition to the hundreds of museum-quality giclee prints, other features that unite the hotels include chic neutral decor, upholstery stamped with nature's text- ural imprint, compact bathrooms with sleek Italian fittings, kitchens and living zones and enough art books to keep you engrossed for days. The hotels have bicycles and scooters for hire, or you can zoom responsibly around town in a Smart car adorned with the artists' broad brushstrokes.
Rising 14 storeys above Melbourne's trendy shopping mecca Chapel Street, The Olsen's 239 guest suites, restaurants, penthouses and day spa are imbued with the refinement and calm serenity of Olsen's delicate interpretations of Australian flora and fauna. His six-metre triptych The Yellow Sun and The Yarra has welcomed guests such as tennis player Venus Williams and singer Michael Buble, who may well have been entranced by the freshness, vitality and subtle use of colour of Australia's most lyrical painter.