The Group: The Art Series Hotel Group provides guests with a unique visual experience. Offering a new concept in boutique hotels, each hotel is named after, and inspired, by a famous Australian artist. The brainchild of Asian Pacific Building Corporation CEO Will Deague, this young Australian boutique hotel group will unveil six hotels over the coming years. Spread throughout Melbourne, Australia, the first of the collection opened in November 2009 named after controversial artist, 2000 Archibald Prize winner Adam Cullen. A second hotel named after Dr John Olsen opened in April 2010, a third inspired by Charles Blackman opened August  2010 and hotels inspired by fellow Australian art icons David Larwill and Jasper Knight are to follow within the next few years. An as-yet-to-be-named artist will inspire the sixth Art Series Hotel.

 

The unique hotels will feature artist's original works, an in-room art channel and an on-site arts curator to answer questions and give expert advice about  art and local galleries and exhibitions. A limo service will run between the hotels to take guests on tours of the art on display in the hotels. Merchandise of the work will be available and proceeds will return to the artists.

 

The List: The Cullen, The Olsen, The Blackman (opened August 2010).

Will Deague, CEO of the Art Series Hotel Group

The Creator: Most of the art on display in the hotels has come from the Deague family's private collection. Family patriarch, David Deague, has been collecting art for 30 years and in 2001 spent more than $1 million taking a group of artists on a painting trip. In return the artists delivered 150 paintings to him. On this trip were artists John Olsen and David Larwill who now have Art Series hotels named after them. Will Deague, CEO of the Art Series Hotel Group, is David's eldest son.

New Luxury Hotels: The Larwill, The Knight and a sixth yet-to-be-named hotel will follow.

Luxury links: www.artserieshotels.com.au