20 Best Art Hotels in America

Art hotels continue to pop up across the country, setting themselves apart from more vanilla stays with cream-colored walls and framed lithographs that hang over guest room beds. Art hotels transform spaces with bold colors, curious sculptures and creative vibes that inspire hotel guests, encouraging exploration of on-site art galleries, oversized murals and sophisticated installations. Here are 20 of the best art hotels that are so much more than a place to lay your head for the night.

Milwaukee's Saint Kate celebrates art in all its forms, including music, theatre, dance and visual arts. Named for Saint Catherine, the patron saint of artists, this boutique property rotates exhibitions in its 1,700-square-foot art gallery to expose guests to the works of emerging local and national artists. Guest rooms and public spaces were designed by interior design firm Stonehill Taylor, often incorporating art in unexpected ways, like on shower curtains, bathroom tile and guest room blankets. Guests can also book five hotel rooms designed entirely by local artists, like Leopard Room (shown above). Created by Lon Michels, this space fully immerses guests in a funky, glamorous leopard print.

Situated in Denver's bustling LoDo District (as in, Lower Downtown), the Kimpton Hotel Born was designed to reflect a hip, urban vibe intertwined with modern mountain inspiration. A collection of more than 700 original and limited run contemporary works of art are on display across the Kimpton Hotel Born, including in each of the hotel's thoughtfully-appointed guest rooms. Guests are encouraged to connect with the creative spirit of Denver, including the 32 talented local artists behind the works. At check-in, guests can gaze at paintings by Denver's Molly Bounds, whose artistic illustrations capture faceless female forms.

While some white-wash walls to remove graffiti, The Alexander in Indianapolis has done just the opposite. This stylish boutique hotel hired British street artist Nick Walker, a Banksy contemporary, to spray paint graffiti murals across the hotel parking garage, as well as in various public spaces throughout the hotel. Walker even went so far as to create a "Vandal" character that appears across the car garage. The Alexander boasts 16 large-scale contemporary works that were commissioned specifically for the hotel. Each has a tie to the area or tells a story about Indianapolis.