A look at some famous paintings that have ended up in Casinos

When it comes to casinos there is usually more to them than the gambling. In many cases, you will find that some casinos feature art galleries, where famous paintings and works of art are showcased as part of their tour. While there are various myths regarding the way casino-hotels keep their players within the walls of the casino and other myths about the games which can be seen in the Ladbrokes blackjack myths guide, the accessibility and abundance of incredible art that you can find featured at one of the famous casinos around the world is not a myth at all.

Bellagio, Las Vegas

One of the most notable is the Bellagio in Las Vegas, which is home to the gallery of fine art. This is a premier exhibition space and has featured works of art from some of the world’s most compelling artists, with past exhibitions including ‘Picasso: Creatures and Creativity’, ‘Warhol out West’, and ‘Classic Contemporary: Lichtenstein, Warhol and Friends.’ One of the more current exhibitions in the gallery features works from Van Gogh, Monet, Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec and many others, with some of the world’s most infamous paintings being displayed. One of the more infamous pieces that is displayed in the Bellagio is Chiluly’s Fiori di Como, and it is these art blossoms that his reputation and population has sincerely been influenced by. The Bellagio may be one of the main casino/art exhibitions, but other casinos are beginning to combine the two worlds with exhibitions and showpieces that combine the art and casino industries.

Artefacts

In some cases, some casinos see artefacts as a form of art, with the Luxor having hosted the ‘Artefacts of the Titanic’, which recreated the opulence of the doomed liner and includes almost 250 different artefacts that have been recovered from the wreck. Although this may not be the type of art that you would be expect, the Luxor has utilised this in order to define the brand and enhance guest experience, much like the Bellagio has done with their fine art museum.

Wynn Casinos

One of the most notable considerations when it comes to art in casinos is that it has had mixed results, with the Guggenheim’s Hermitage Museum at the Venetian closing due to the lack of interest from guests, and the Wynn gallery also closing in 2009 to be replaced with a Rolex store. However, Wynn has taken this experiment and changed his approach, by scattering artwork from his private collection throughout the properties that he owns. Now, guests can see favourites such as Attempting To Calm a Titan, and Mercury Ascending Azo by David Guidera, the bronze horse and shoe sculptures by Stephan Weiss, a wooden chandelier by Gustav Eiffel, Full Fathom Five painting by Tim Bavington, and a ceramic sculpture by Viola Frey amongst the various properties that Wynn owns. Now, casinos are turning to exhibitions rather than dry artworks in order to provoke interest from guests rather than being open all year round.