WITHIN THESE WALLS
Worldwide, The Peninsula Hotels maintain a strong commitment to arts and culture. Throughout the year, the hotels support various initiatives partnering with local museums, galleries and artists. In addition, The Peninsula Chicago, along with other Peninsula properties, is also home to its own striking art collection.
From its Superior Street entrance to the window wrapped spa on the top two floors, The Peninsula Chicago houses an expansive collection of art that contributes to the contemporary elegance of the luxurious hotel. Commissioned works by well-known artists including Sol Le Witt, Martha Diamond, Sean Scully, Chuck Arnoldi, Robert Mangold, Jean-Jacques Porret and Le Corbusier enhance the hotel's public spaces, restaurants, guest rooms and suites.
A striking installation of glass panels in shades of yellow, green and blue greets guests upon arrival in the Superior Street lobby. Rhode Island glass artist Paul Housberg was commissioned to design the fused backlit wall of multi-coloured glass, which is reminiscent of the traditional stained glass popular in early 20th century Chicago architecture.
The series of five etchings opposite the lobby elevators are by British artist Sean Scully. The geometric ‘Mirrors' match and mimic the precise lines and shapes of the stained glass piece nearby. The dark but colourful ‘Russian Abstract' by Marc Robertson completes the area.
On the fifth floor, a majestic 15-by-7-foot mural of textured oil and sparkling gold, silver and copper leaf beckons guests from behind the Concierge desk. In this unusual combination of French Art Deco and Art Nouveau styles, French artist Gerard Coltat painted six colourful figures in elaborate flowing dress amid Chicago's famous Tribune Tower, Board of Trade, Wrigley Building and historic Water Tower. Two large oil paintings, ‘Color and Circles' by Bob Keller, border the elevators on either side.
Works in and around The Lobby and registration desk include ‘Floating Floral', a soft pastel-coloured acrylic painting by Los Angeles artist Geoff Bedrick. Three contemporary commissioned ‘Cubist Landscapes' by another Los Angeles artist, Susan Woods, hang behind the registration desk. A bright and flowery lithograph by Chuck Arnoldi, and a large oil painting in warm fall colours by Germany's Rainer Grosz surround the guest elevators. Decorative cast plaster reliefs depicting industry, agriculture and transportation, symbolising Chicago and the Midwest, adorn The Lobby walls. The fixed, golden bronze panels are in the art moderne style.
Le Corbusier, lithography (Millennium Park meeting space)
The Ballroom and Pre-Function Area
A commissioned work in brilliant shades of red, blue and violet greets visitors as they descend the stairs into the pre-function area. The lively Art Deco painting, ‘People in Motion' by Jes Reese, depicts couples dancing, summoning guests into the adjacent Ballroom. Rich Samsel's beautifully classic ‘Untitled Building', an etched glass and antique mirror piece, completes the pre-function space.
Dining Establishments
In Shanghai Terrace, the 1930s Asian-inspired supper club, patrons will find a large abstract dragon, a reflection of the hotel's Chinese heritage. Just steps outside, a large abstract statue by Chicago artist, Jean Jacques Porret, stands tall on the Terrace.
Guestrooms and Suites
The Peninsula Chicago positions itself as "Eastern graciousness meets Midwestern hospitality”. It is for this reason that it highlights its heritage and honours it within the hotel's guestrooms through stunning Chrysanthemum artwork. The concept for this design was done by artist David Qian, whose team spent over 320 hours to hand embroider each floral piece in the suites. Jean-Jacques Porret designed the ‘ldole', a bronze replica sculpture, which is displayed in every guestroom.
The Water Tower and Lake Suites
Distinguished art also decorates the premier suites of the hotel. The Water Tower Suite showcases ‘Unknown 2004' and ‘Unknown 2011' by Alicia LaChance. The cool blue tones of the Lake Suite mirror the work of Lincoln Shatz' ‘Lake Series' image, part of an ongoing photographic exploration of Lake Michigan, that decorates the living room of the suite.
The Peninsula Suite
The 3,500 square foot Peninsula Suite is home to an impressive compilation, including original works by Sol Le Witt, Robert Mangold, Marc Tobey, Le Corbusier and Robin Keller. Sol Le Witt's aquatint ‘Black Loops & Curves #3' decorates the living room, along with Rainer Grosz's etchings ‘Manle & Centini #I', ‘Shaw & Centini #2', and a lithograph by Marc Tobey. The Suite's study is adorned with Robert Mangold's ‘Attic Series 11' and colour photographs by lmageen.
Fifth Floor Meeting Space
The Millennium Park meeting space on the fifth floor of the hotel showcases an outstanding series of six modern lithographs by renowned Swiss-French artist Le Corbusier.
Sixth Floor
The Peninsula Hotel's parent company, The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Ltd., was founded in 1866 in Hong Kong, at a time when global travel was a great and luxurious adventure, establishing the Company's passion for global transportation and the glamour of travel. The Peninsula Chicago's sixth floor is home to a collection of vintage aviation artwork that explores the history of transportation in the Midwest. Historical bronze-cast busts are featured, including that of Edward Henry "Butch" O'Hare, an American naval aviator whose bravery during WWII resulted in Chicago's International Airport being named in his honour, and Bessie CoIeman, the first woman pilot of both African American and Native American descent, who has a Chicago public library named in her honour.