Cambria Hotel,
Denver
Denver, Colorado
- Hospitality
- Mountain West
- Large-scale, exterior mural and artwork for guest rooms and amenity spaces, including fitness center and restaurant
- HighSide Development, Choice Hotels
Collection toes the line between the grittiness of RiNo’s past and the refinement of its present - coined as “refined grit.”
60% of the collection is made by underrepresented and minority artists
60% of the artists in the collection are local to Colorado
5 site-specific murals use energy, time, and place as grounding narrative motifs
At the hotel’s grand opening, artist Chris Haven created a collaborative installation featuring contributions from attendees that now hangs in the hotel lobby.
The Story
Denver’s famous River North Arts District blossomed from industrial workshops and railroad tracks in the 1980s to the certified creative district it is today. Boasting over 400 artist studios and a plethora of the trendiest bars and restaurants, the area has become a go-to destination for locals and visitors alike.
The Cambria Hotel Denver Downtown RiNo by Highside Development and Choice Hotels is the newest addition to this bustling area, with an art collection that carefully toes the line between the grittiness of the past and the refinement of the present – coined as “refined grit.” Featuring primarily local artists, the collection takes inspiration from the hundreds of murals that line RiNo’s streets, celebrating diverse backgrounds and artistic styles while distinguishing the hotel from the masses.
The collection begins on the building’s exterior with a large-scale mural by artist team Jessie Unterhalter and Katey Truhn, which immediately sets the tone for an exciting stay. The abstract imagery of the mural is repeated inside the building, where three more screenprints by the artists adorn the second floor.
Once inside the lobby, guests are greeted by Robyn Francis (GrowLove)’s mural spanning the entire reception wall, featuring both the natural and urban elements that contribute to Denver’s appeal. Nearby, Jessa Gilbert’s “Golden Evenings” celebrates the joy of wilderness and adventure, while Moe Gram’s “Dashing” adds intrigue to the lobby with its colorful assortment of mixed media and printed bike safety documents. Gram’s artwork was even cropped and digitized to create unique prints for the guest rooms, complimenting another guest room print by Beck Wareing Steele.
In the hotel’s restaurant, commissions by local artists Pat Milbery, Taylor Herzog, and Chris Haven fill the dining niches, creating a captivating backdrop for visitors. At the hotel’s grand opening, attendees were invited to add their own unique touch to another installation by Chris Haven, a collaborative artwork that now hangs in the hotel lobby.
The collection continues with vibrant collages by Risa Friedman at the elevator landing on each floor. “Each collage is a color and texture study incorporating my personal photography.” And in the suites, geometric, abstract works by Ramón Bonilla reflect topographical observations from his hikes and drives throughout Colorado, exemplifying the collection’s theme of “refined grit.”
