Palms Casino Resort is nearly completed with a $690 million hotel and casino transformation. The crown jewel of this renovation is the property-wide art program that includes original pieces by globally renowned artists Damien Hirst, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol.
“Guests are brought on a visual journey from the minute they walk in the door and will fi nd special touches at every corner, from our gaming felts down to the mini-bar,” said Jon Gray, general manager of Palms. “We have curated a collection that is bold, relevant to today’s traveler and most of all a truly interactive experience.”
In addition to the original works, there are several pieces on loan from the personal art collections of Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta and newly commissioned creations by leading contemporary artists such as Adam Parker Smith, Jason REVOK, Eric Haze, Scott Hove, Felipe Pantone, James Jean and Timothy Curtis. Other artists whose work is prominently displayed include Dustin Yellin, Takashi Murakami and KAWS.
The wide range of street, modern and blue-chip art is apparent in every detail of the newly remodeled hotel.
Here is some of the incredible art you can expect to see on property:
UNKNOWN (EXPLORED, EXPLAINED, EXPLODED) BY DAMIEN HIRST
In the middle of the dramatic center bar Unknown is Damien Hirst’s iconic The Unknown (Explored, Explained, Exploded) from 1999. On the walls surrounding Hirst’s shark sculpture are 16 new spot paintings from Hirst’s ‘Pharmaceutical’ series, which have all been created specifically for the bar. Guests can sip expertly crafted cocktails surrounded by works by the artist, who has also designed the unknown bar’s logo, napkins, and cocktail stir sticks.
Hirst’s The Unknown (Explored, Explained, Exploded) is an important work from the artist’s Natural History series. The work consists of a 13-foot-long tiger shark divided into three parts, each of the three sections suspended in a formaldehyde solution within a steel tank measuring over two meters in height.
SCOTCH 80 PRIME ART COLLECTION
Alongside certified Japanese Kobe Beef, flaming seafood towers and one of the city’s most impressive Scotch collections, the restaurant’s beautiful food and beverage offerings come with an equally bold gallery’s worth of blue chip and contemporary art. Incredible installations, famous masterpieces and unexpected displays of creativity from some of the world’s best artists including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst, KAWS, CRASH, Jason REVOK, Jenny Boot, Robert Munday, Kathryn Macnaughton, and an original piece by Scott Hove are seen throughout Scotch 80 Prime.
As guests arrive, they are welcomed by KAWS’ eight-foot Small Lies statue and Damien Hirst’s Grecian Nude which provides a transformative entrance into the steakhouse. Ladies heading to the restaurant’s restrooms will be pleasantly surprised as they step into Scott Hove’s newly-commissioned, immersive Cakeland installation. Andy Warhol’s Repent and Sin No More is joined by Damien Hirst’s famed spin and spot paintings, both in rarely seen black and white. The spontaneous nature of the Spin works is a contrast to his formulaic series of spot paintings – but both explore the idea of an imaginary mechanical painter. Also showcased is Hirst’s The Believer, part of the artist’s Kaleidoscope series of paintings that are made by placing thousands of different colored butterfly wings in intricate geometric patterns into household paint.
For those wishing for the ultimate private dining experience, the restaurant’s private dining room features three original works, including triptych Speaks for Itself, from famed artist Jean-Michel Basquiat and two pieces from The Athlete Series, from famed artist Andy Warhol. Each of the artist’s three eclectic pieces bring free-spirit style to the fine dining experience.
PALMS BY ADAM PARKER SMITH IN PORTE CHERE
Palms commissioned Brooklyn-based artist, Adam Parker Smith to create a PALMS sculpture in his signature steel Mylar balloon-like style. As soon as guests arrive to the hotel’s porte cochere, they are greeted with the artist’s energetic installation, comprised of colorful objects that spell out ‘PALMS’ over a lush, living greenery wall.
WISH YOU WERE HERE FRONT DESK BY OLIVIA STEELE AND KEEGAN GIBBS
The perfect greeting and an invitation to create an instant e-postcard, the Wish You Were Here front desk installation combines a larger-than-life photo mural and hot pink neon text to create a multi-dimensional and whimsical backdrop for guests’ arrival experience. The work is a collaboration between photographer Keegan Gibbs’ iconic sky-scape cloud imagery and light artist Olivia Steele’s signature neon messages.
VIP EXPERIENCE FEATURING CHRISTOPHER WOOL, JASON REVOK, MATT ABAD AND TODD JAMES
Providing the ultimate hotel experience from check-in to check-out, Palms’ new VIP Registration Lounge was designed to provide comfort and luxury for VIP guests with a high end residential feel, further elevated by artwork from renowned artists. Master street artist Jason REVOK’s newly commissioned geometric works of oil enamel & synthetic polymer Eric Haze infuses his New York street art aesthetic with his Kings Only acrylic on canvas painting while fashion and commercial photographer, Mat Abad, brings his unique uncensored artistic experiences and lust worthy travels to the lounge via a series of photographs. Finally, Todd James’ colorful and graphic paintings complement the custom-made furniture and luxe finishes throughout the VIP experience.
UNRIVALED VIEWS AND ICONIC ARTWORK FROM DUSTIN YELLIN AND RICHARD PRINCE AT APEX ROOFTOP BAR & LOUNGE
Located on the top of the Ivory Tower, APEX Rooftop Bar & Lounge not only boasts what has been deemed as “the best view of the Las Vegas Strip,” meticulously crafted cocktails and lively music, but also houses artwork from Dustin Yellin and Richard Prince. Guests can enjoy their evening in the sky surrounded by four of Dustin Yellin’s Psychogeographies. Each weighing nearly 3,000 pounds, these humanoid sculptures are comprised of collages cut from magazines and books, laid down on glass and fused together with resin to create 3D paintings. Also in the boutique lounge, is Richard Prince’s Untitled (Vegas After Dark), which captures the allure and stimulating energy of the town that glistens below.
CAMDEN COCKTAIL LOUNGE OFFERS CRAFT COCKTAILS WITH A SIDE OF ART BY RICHARD PRINCE AND OLIVIA STEELE
Palms’ new mixology hot spot, Camden Cocktail Lounge, offers guests the opportunity to imbibe in style. Contemporary light artist, Olivia Steele’s newly commissioned All I Ever Wanted Was Everything shines within the room as a nod to the excess of Las Vegas. Steele’s work is joined by two of Richard Prince’s nurse paintings, Nurse in Las Vegas and Las Vegas Nurse. These mysterious ladies match the tone of the lounge that leads into the High Limit Lounge.
SEND NOODLES’ ALIMENTAL THREAD BY JAMES JEAN
Drawing guests into the intimate Send NOODLES restaurant at Palms are two newly commissioned immersive art murals by famed Taiwanese-American artist James Jean. The murals titled Alimental Thread were created using acrylic paint and acrylic gouache (an opaque acrylic matte finish paint) and took the artist over 60 hours to complete. The artist’s signature style, free flowing shapes and exaggerated elements can be seen throughout.
PEARL THEATER BY FELIPE PANTONE
Argentinian-Spanish artist, Felipe Pantone brings his style of cutting edge street art to the Pearl Theater foyer. His work depicting the word “Pearl” brings rhythm and dynamism to a room that will greet the lively spirits of those coming together to appreciate their favorite music artists. Influenced by the ‘80s and ‘90s, his style livens up the space above the main bar with its bright colored and geometric font. Pantone’s art is a welcome addition to the Pearl remodel that features some of the world’s hottest acts including Blink 182, Lady Antebellum and Billy Idol.
FANTASY TOWER, CASINO FLOOR AND HIGH LIMIT LOUNGE FEATURING TAKASHI MURAKAMI, DAMIEN HIRST AND TIMOTHY CURTIS
Timothy Curtis’ commissioned I Wear my Money on my Face painting greets those looking to cash out their chips at the Cashier’s Cage. This almost twenty-foot painting is a composition of faces made out of worldwide currency symbols.
The luxurious new High Limit Gaming Lounge provides an intimate experience for discerning gamers while encircling them in iconic art including Andy Warhol’s Dollar Sign paintings and Damien Hirst’s Sun Disc sculpture from his ‘Treasures from the Wreck of the Unbelievable’ project.
Hirst’s artwork continues to feature on the casino floor and at new venues at Palms, including the colorful abstract Beautiful Artemis Thor Neptune Odin Delusional Sapphic Inspirational Hypnosis Painting that spans the Fantasy Tower hallway before guests enter the elevators to the tower’s new renovated rooms. The hallways of the tower are further decorated with Takashi Murakami’s boldly graphic and colorful Open Your Hands acrylic painting which displays the artist’s signature joyful anime-like flowers.
LAMBORGHINI ‘TWIN TURBO’ COUNTACH BY BENEDICT RADCLIFFE AT THE VALET
Radcliffe is known for creating almost anything out of wire frames. He most recently sculpted the Lamborghini ‘Twin Turbo’ Countach that is parked in the Palms’ valet. This sculpture took the British artist five months to create and has been powder coated fluorescent orange, which is one of Radcliffe’s favorite colors. Radcliffe made his first full size wireframe car in 2005, which was exhibited in a parking space rather than in an art gallery, and has since made numerous wireframe sculptures including Range Rovers, a Jaguar E Type, Ferrari F40 and a Lancia Delta.
TIL DEATH DO US PART BY JOSHUA VIDES
First generation Guatemalan-American graphic designer and visual artist Joshua Vides, best known for his collaborations with everyone from Lebron James to Takashi Murakami, debuted one of his signature black and white installations at Palms Casino Resort tucked away inside the Pearl Concert Theater.
Recreating Las Vegas’ most iconic venue, A Little White Wedding Chapel, Vides’ newest installation, titled “‘Til Death Do Us Part,” is an 800 sq. ft black and white wedding chapel made perfect for an instagram-worthy wedding or vow renewal.
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