Art with a Sense of Place
How art rooted in local narratives deepens hospitality design
Across hotels, lounges and restaurants, art has become more than decoration – it’s a way of connecting people to the stories and textures of a destination.
We speak to three creatives who approach locality from different angles: interior designer Alessio Nardi of A-nrd Studio, Artstory Design Manager Clare Howlett, and British artist Anthony Fryer. They reveal how working with local narratives and materials can bring authenticity, meaning and a sense of belonging to hospitality spaces.
Images 1 & 2 above: A-nrd, project – Birch Selsdon.
Photo credits: Adam Firman
Left: Interior designer Alessio Nardi of A-nrd Studio
Photo credit : Charlie McKay
Authenticity through storytelling
For Alessio Nardi, locality begins with narrative. “Local artists and materials are part of the storytelling, they bring authenticity to a hospitality space,” he explains. “Guests today are looking for experiences that feel real and unique, rather than spaces that could exist anywhere in the world.”
That appetite for authenticity means that, rather than importing a universal aesthetic, more hotels are commissioning or sourcing art locally to create interiors that feel specific, not generic.
Clare Howlett explains that the best art “tells a story, but also works on different levels. Someone can enjoy it for its aesthetics, while others who look for longer will start to uncover the layers beneath.” She adds that artwork placed where guests linger, such as lobbies, lounges and corridors, rewards repeat encounters, “revealing new details or connections each time.”
Beyond the Obvious
Nardi believes the key to locality is subtlety. “If you take the local story too literally, it can become pastiche,” he says. “The goal is to make it meaningful, not obvious.”
Howlett agrees, explaining that “authenticity comes from going beyond the surface.” Her team’s research begins with “exploring archives, visiting the area and uncovering the stories that make a place unique.”
For Anthony Fryer, who has lived in Hong Kong for sixteen years, locality means noticing what others overlook. The narrow lanes, markets and side streets with real depth and perspective. He says. “It’s not about the skyline or landmarks; it’s the gritty backstreets and hidden alleyways that reveal the city’s soul. In hotels and lounges, I want the work to prompt questions – does that lane look familiar? Have I been there? – so guests connect not only with the art, but with the city behind it.”
His paintings distill these scenes into pared-back compositions. “I strip them down to their essence so people can read their own memories into the image,” he says. Fryer’s process also connects him physically to each place.
“I paint with stones I gather from the locations themselves, as opposed to brushes, so there’s a tangible piece of the place in the work,” he explains.
Local stories, shared spaces
For Howlett, locality is as much about people as place. “By telling local stories through art, a space becomes more entwined with its surroundings,” she says. “It celebrates where it is, rather than fighting against it.” She notes that hotels increasingly design their public areas for locals as well as guests – a shift that “makes sense commercially, but also strengthens community connections.”
Nardi sees the same dynamic from a design perspective. “Hospitality should give something back to its context, not just take from it,” he says. “Collaborating with local artists is one of the most meaningful ways to achieve that. It keeps the spirit of a place alive.” In his words, art rooted in local narratives can therefore be “an antidote to gentrification.”
A distinct identity
Locality also shapes how hotels express their brand. “Local art is key to giving a hotel its own identity,” says Howlett. “It anchors the property in its surroundings and makes it feel unique.” Even within large hotel groups, she adds, “local art helps each site feel like it has its own DNA. It adds an extra layer to the brand. Guests still get the familiarity of a global name, but with a genuine sense of place.”
For Howlett, that connection extends to the people who work within the space. “We always provide art guides for staff, so they can share the stories behind the pieces with guests,” she says. “It helps create conversation and connection.”
From the artist’s studio to the hotel lobby, locality has become a powerful creative force in hospitality. It grounds spaces in their surroundings and connects people – guests, locals and staff – through shared stories.