Art lovers went wild when The Whitney Museum in New York held the first Andy Warhol retrospective organized by a U.S. institution in 30 years. But after that closed in March, fans have been looking for a spot to get an intense dose of the pop pieces from the famous artist. Well, now they can. Gramercy Park Hotel is unveiling an exclusive Warhol exhibit on September 5. Better yet, it’s in the property's iconic hidden bar.
Situated on the ground floor of the swanky hotel and tucked away behind a velvet curtain lies the celeb-favorite Rose Bar. It’s here, between the stately fireplace and solid walnut bar, that 16 Warhol pieces will be on display. The team finds that Warhol pieces are particularly personal to each viewer, so the emphasis is put on sentimental value. However, in terms of collector value, the two Giorgio Armani pieces out of this collection would be the most valuable.
This exhibit, which is likely to last anywhere between six and 12 months, marks a significant change in the works displayed in the famous bar. Guests had so much fun with the personalities on display in the David LaChapelle photos that hung in the bar for two years—one of the longest periods any dedicated exhibit has been up in Rose Bar.
Of course, Gramercy Park Hotel has long been known for its impressive art collection. The famous annual Armory art fair started 25 years ago in the hotel—then called The Gramercy International Art Fair—where galleries came together to host an international art fair taking over the top three floors.
Today, the property boasts the largest hotel art collection in New York with over $50 million worth of art hanging on the walls. Masterpieces from Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Tom Wesselmann, Fernando Botero, Damien Hirst, Enoc Perez, Mel Ramos, and others can be found scattered throughout the 1920s-era hotel. Artist Julian Schnabel even designed the hotel, making it one giant piece of functional art.
As far as the new exhibit goes, the unveiling will be celebrated in true Warhol style. To kick off New York Fashion Week, VIPs will be invited to see the intimate exhibition while jazz musician Brian Newman (Lady Gaga’s trumpet player) performs.
