Art and Architecture at the New 21c Hotel

The award-winning 21c Hotels were created in an effort to combine historic rehabilitation with contemporary art. The first property, 21c Museum Hotel Louisville, opened in 2006 as a unique boutique hotel mixed with a contemporary art museum, all set inside reclaimed 19^th-century tobacco and Bourbon warehouses. Following were properties in Ohio, Arkansas and North Carolina. With more than a dozen other properties in the pipeline, the most recent opening is the 21c Lexington.

A photo posted by 21c Museum Hotels (@21chotels) on Apr 18, 2016 at 6:45am PDT

The property, set inside the century-old Fayette National Bank Building, boasts a 7,000-square-foot art exhibition space, 88-room hotel and a dining venue. The 15-story building was the city’s first skyscraper, designed by the same architects responsible for the American Academy in Rome and part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  

Come Explore. #MuseumMonday Featured: #21cArtist @shonibarestudio in #21cDressUpSpeakUp at #21cLexington

A photo posted by 21c Museum Hotels (@21chotels) on Apr 18, 2016 at 6:45am PDT

The property’s art exhibition space is open and free to the public, and will feature a rotating collection of exhibitions, as well as cultural programs. Through September, guests can view the property’s inaugural exhibition, Dress Up/Speak Up: Costumes and Confrontation, a collaboration of paintings, sculptures, photographs and film from 22 artists from more than 12 countries, all highlighting the complexity of contemporary identity.

On-site dining can be found at Lockbox, a restaurant and bar focusing on seasonal and local flavors. The menu takes inspiration from the city’s agricultural heritage and Kentucky’s signature flavors. Private dining in the bank’s original vault can be arranged, with seating for 12.