Inside the World’s Most Expensive Hotel Suite Headed Up by Damien Hirst

Hayley Kadrou   |   11-03-2019

Most famed for his artwork that explores his fascination with death, British artist Damien Hirst has unveiled his latest project in the form of a hotel suite brought to life with some of his most iconic pieces.

One of the richest visual artists of modern times, Damien Hirst has, in turn, designed the most expensive hotel suite in the world.

 

The 53-year-old artist took over creative control within one of the suites located within the Palms hotel, based in Las Vegas.

 

And a night’s stay at the Nevada-based hotel would set you back approximately $100,000 – or Dhs 367,300  – a night.

 

Damien Hirst's creation within the Nevada hotel features six original pieces inspired by his earlier work

Damien Hirst’s creation within the Nevada hotel features six original pieces inspired by his earlier work. Credit: Palms

 

Working with architectural studio Bentel & Bentel, Hirst created a suite that included six original pieces of work by himself.

 

One of the hotel room’s key features is a supersized aquarium featuring two sharks suspended in formaldehyde, inspired by his 1991 work, The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living.

 

The suite also boasts panelling that is adorned with butterflies and medicine cabinets taken from his 1991 exhibition In and Out of Love and early works Medicine Cabinets.

 

Damien Hirst is known for his medicine cabinet creations over the decades. Credit: Instagram/damienhirst

Damien Hirst is known for his medicine cabinet creations over the decades. Credit: Instagram/damienhirst

 

Elsewhere, the so-called Empathy Suite features home-theatre facilities that can accommodate 52 guests, an eight-seater dining table and a bar area with 17 bar stools. The suite is a revamp of the hotel’s existing two-storey, 9,000-square-feet abode.

 

As well as soaking up contemporary Britart, guests’ stay will also include 24-hour butler service, access to all the on-site entertainment and chauffeured car services. Art buffs will be offered a private Palms art tour with the room, too.

 

Damien Hirst rose to fame in the 1990 as a pioneer of the Britart movement

Damien Hirst rose to fame in the 1990s as a pioneer of the Britart movement. Credit: Instagram/damienhirst

 

In May 2018, the same hotel featured Hirst’s The Unknown (Explored, Explained, Exploded) piece  –which included three tanks showcasing a dissected shark – in its bar area. Hirst then complimented its setting there with addition original artwork running through the restaurant.

 

The Nevada-based hotel in the USA first opened in 2001, and was owned by the Maloof family, who own several business enterprises in the Western side of the United States. However, it was sold in 2016 to Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta, billionaire art collectors. Subsequently, The Palms underwent an estimated $620 million renovation.

 

Previously, Palms in Las Vegas featured Damien Hirst's dissected shark art in the bar area

Previously, Palms in Las Vegas featured Damien Hirst’s dissected shark art in the bar area. Credit: Palms

 

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