In the heart of San Antonio, Kimpton Santo blends contemporary design with an 1850s German Schoolhouse—a physical convergence that inspired our creative approach. When Kevin Barry Art Advisory partnered with design firm KTGY, we embraced curiosity as our guiding principle.
The art program emerged through exploration and discovery, following each thread of inquiry to see where it might lead. By embracing curiosity, we were drawn into interconnected stories about San Antonio’s environment, heritage, and artistic community—each discovery leading to new questions and artistic expressions that would define the hotel’s distinctive character.
Nicolás Leiva’s ceramic globes transform the entryway into a space of wonder.
This spirit of inquisitive exploration is evident the moment guests enter the hotel, where Nicolás Leiva’s ceramic globes create unexpected moments of delight. These sculptural elements emerge from the historic brick walls like celestial bodies, inviting visitors to pause and wonder at their intricate patterns and vibrant glazes.
Louis Vega Treviño’s cocktail napkin series transforms humble bar ephemera into mesmerizing geometric compositions.
Moving to the bar area, Louis Vega Treviño’s cocktail napkin drawings reveal how curiosity can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. What began as casual sketches during quiet moments at a bar evolved into a rigorous geometric language that now comprises thousands of pieces. From a distance, these works appear to be complex weavings; only upon closer inspection does their humble origin become clear—a perfect metaphor for how attentive curiosity can reveal hidden depth in seemingly simple things.
Kevin Chupik’s playful interrogation of Western imagery invites guests to see familiar cultural symbols through new eyes.
The prefunction ballroom showcases Kevin Chupik’s curious reimagining of Western iconography. By approaching familiar Texas motifs with fresh eyes and playful inquiry, Chupik creates works that prompt viewers to question their own relationship with regional heritage. His blend of pop art sensibilities with traditional imagery opens conversations about how we understand and interpret cultural symbols.
DAAS’s “Echoes of Celebration” mural captures the spirit of Mexican dance through abstract forms, translating curious observation into a vibrant visual language activating the outdoor space.
In the outdoor courtyard, artist DAAS translated curiosity about movement into visual form through the mural “Echoes of Celebration.” By questioning how the swirling motion of Mexican dance dresses might be captured in abstract composition, DAAS created a dynamic piece that embodies the kinetic energy of San Antonio’s cultural celebrations—inviting viewers to experience traditional dance in an entirely new way.
Doerte Weber’s suspended textile installation maps San Antonio’s cultural geography from four directions—a serendipitous discovery that became the hotel’s signature artistic moment, born from a curious detour during the creative journey.
Perhaps no element better illustrates the power of curiosity than Doerte Weber’s textile installation above the lobby bar. This stunning feature wasn’t part of the original plan—it emerged from a scheduled studio visit with photographer Ansen Seale, who introduced the team to Weber, his wife and an accomplished weaver. This chance encounter, born from the willingness to follow unexpected paths, resulted in one of the hotel’s most distinctive artistic statements.
Weber’s suspended panels explore San Antonio from four directional perspectives: vibrant southern colors celebrating Hispanic influence, western blues referencing the nearby river, northern patterns honoring German settlement, and an eastern patchwork representing cultural diversity. Each thread in her weaving, like each question in our creative process, connects to create something greater than the sum of its parts.
The Kimpton Santo art program stands as testimony to what can unfold when curiosity leads the way. By approaching each artistic decision as an opportunity for discovery rather than merely a decorative choice, we created a collection that invites guests to engage with San Antonio’s multifaceted identity—and perhaps to nurture their own sense of wonder about this remarkable city.
