When you check into the Gramercy Park Hotel, you’re also gaining access to one of the most impressive art collections in New York City. Originally the location of the iconic annual Armory Show, four galleries used to come together to showcase their pieces, which completely took over the hotel’s top three floors. It had a different name when it kicked off in 1994: The Gramercy International Art Fair. Today, you’ll find the same fair, now known as the Armory Show, at Piers 90 and 94 on Manhattan's west side.
According to Forbes, the pieces that are still shown today are curated by the hotel owner, Aby Rosen. His personal collection rotates through the building, including the Jade Bar, Rose Bar, hallways, and the hotel’s special event spaces including the rooftop Gramercy Terrace. Inside, you’ll find artwork from masters like Keith Haring, Damien Hirst, and Jean-Michel Basquiat (and many, many more). Given the program’s constant rotation, there’s a good chance you’ll see something different every time you stay.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, The Armory Show is unlike any other spectacle in New York City. From a host of David LaChapelle photographs celebrating late 1990s and early 2000s pop icons like Eminem, Britney Spears, and Paris Hilton to a handful of pieces by the famed Andy Warhol, a stay at this hotel is more like an overnight in a highly curated gallery. And while the pieces rotate through the rooms and suites, there's also a host in public areas—like Damien Hirst’s Spot Painting series in the Rose Bar.
You can view a selection of the art available to see, which, as you’ll notice, leans toward contemporary American masters, on the Gramercy Park Hotel website.
