Located within walking distance of the ski runs of Aspen Mountain and its celebrated restaurants, shops and nightclubs, the newly renovated Limelight Hotel Aspen features 126 guestrooms and suites with an upgraded modern aesthetic that feels like Aspen itself. Eaton Fine Art (EFA), an Austin-based art consultancy firm, collaborated with the Limelight Hotel Aspen to curate the art collection for this newly renovated property. Aspen Skiing Company and its hospitality brands, The Little Nell and Limelight Hotels, are owned by the Crown family. Mrs. Paula Crown, a renowned artist and activist, represented the family in directing the vision for this curation.

For Limelight Hotel Aspen’s guestrooms, the team at EFA collaborated with several women artists throughout the state of Colorado and one from Europe. Meredith Nemirov, a Colorado-based artist, created a mixed media art series titled, “Rivers Feed the Trees”, which addresses issues of climate change. Highlighted by vintage topographic maps combined with paintings of trees in Aspen, fed by rivers and their tributaries—Nemirov depicts extreme temperatures affecting the surrounding landscape. United Kingdom-based artist, Emma Lawrenson, created a series of graphic, hand-pulled screen prints that embody the simplicity of nature found throughout the region. Continuing to express the natural beauty of Aspen, EFA collaborated with several artists to conceive unique, yet simplistic, art for the guest suites. U.S.-based artist Matthew Shlian expertly crafted hand-folded geometric paper sculptures, reminiscent of the surrounding mountains.

Transitioning away from a locally inspired experience to a more expansive perspective, the curated artwork in the public spaces sets the stage for prominent artists to express their unique voices. Eaton Fine Art collaborated closely with ownership in the curation of an art collection to engage guests and locals alike. A few pieces from the collection include a Robert Rauschenberg signed print titled “Earth Day, 1990”, which adorns a wall in the lounge. Selected for his messaging and importance about the environment, this piece also represents Rauschenberg’s importance early in his career as an openly gay artist and his inclusion as a renowned artist of the 20th century.

Continuing through Limelight Hotel Aspen, works from Scott Reeder and UK-based David Shrigley, both of which have a sense of levity and humor about them, creatively use text to engage with the viewer. Moving into the communal spaces, a screen print from Brazilian artist Beatriz Milhazes, sits across from a pair of prints from Brooklyn-based artist Derrick Adams. While Milhazes work is inspired by blending her Brazilian roots with inspiration from classic French artist’s Henri Matisse and Piet Mondrian, Adam’s work leans into pop culture to depict contemporary Black Americans and their communities.

“Art has the ability to promote thought and discussion; the art in this program was curated to showcase artists whose work does just that,” said Terry Eaton, president/chief curator, EFA. “Included are artists from across the world, with unique points of view and varying backgrounds, all utilizing art to make their voice heard.”

Photography: Shawn O’Connor