Spencer J Eggers/ The Daily Campus
Sophomore Luke Sanchez is one of over 150 local artists to have original work on display in multiple guest rooms at the Omni Hotel.
Sophomore Luke Sanchez is one of over 150 local artists to have original work on display in multiple guest rooms at the Omni Hotel. (Spencer J Eggers/ The Daily Campus)
Unique, original and one-of-a-kind aren’t words normally associated with art hanging in hotels across the United States.
Many guests have grown accustomed to seeing the same pieces repeated throughout rooms and hallways, lobbies and restaurants.
And for developer Jack Matthews, the monotony grew to be too much.
So when his company, Matthews Southwest, was brought on to build the Omni Dallas Hotel, a fresh take on art was a primary focus.
“I’ve spent too many days traveling for business in hotels,” he said.
“Same picture, same thing, it gets monotonous. You get the feeling that it’s nothing imaged.”
So not only are the artists earning a one-time commission from the Omni, they can also broaden their client base and gain the benefits of having exposure in the hotel.
The database will be located in the gift shop in the Omni, aptly called “Collections.”
Among the usual personal necessities and trinkets, the gift shop sells homegrown products unique to Texas, like chocolate crafted into various shapes, books devoted to the history of cowboy boots, products by local soap companies and handmade purses.
For guests looking for instant art gratification, there are a few pieces of art available for purchase in “Collections,” like architectural photography by Linda Wilson and abstract paintings by Willis Davis.
Matthews said that a lot of the art around the Omni was created in a working conversation between the artists and the hotel during a two-year-long-process.
“We looked at what the artists have done in the past, and of course encouraged Dallas themes, buildings, entertainment,” Matthews said.
“It was a delicate balance because we wanted to be true to what the artists’