Written by Helen Tootsi
IN southeast Texas, by the Gulf of Mexico sits a gem of a city. Bustling with culture and energy, Houston is a home much more than just space exploration. For decades, the city has slowly been emerging as the next incredible art destination. In the fall of 2020, amid global pandemic, The Museum of Fine Arts Houston opened its new Kinder Building. It is surprising to many how cultural the heartbeat of this Texan metropolitan truly is. Among the well-known Rothko Chapel, The Menil Collection of Art, and Contemporary Arts Museum sits a treat by the way of The Post Oak Hotel. Deemed as Texas’s only Forbes Double Five-Star rated hotel, the 38-story elegant tower sits on ten oak studded acres, housing two-story Rolls-Royce showroom, on-site Bentley and Bugatti Post Oak Motors dealership, as well as six restaurants and bars throughout the property. It is evident that the hotel is a landmark of its own, but what sets it apart from every other place, is their commendable love and contribution to art.
At a first glance, the property seems like yet another high-end establishment, but do not get fooled by a mere passing look. Daring to take a deeper dive, there’s much more to discover than one can predict. When businessman and owner of the Houston Rockets, Mr. Tilman Fertitta started planning the property, he knew it would need to pay a homage to the art world. “This was not going to be another property with ‘hotel art’. This collection was always focused on a level of epic. It is a multi-million-dollar, museum-worthy collection for all to enjoy,” shares Steven Chow, the General Manager of the property. With works from Robert Motherwell, Alex Katz, Donald Sultan, Joseph Glasco, Friedel Dzubas and Howard Hodgkin, the atmosphere of the place creates a haven for any art lover. It is not only the art, but also its unique interior design like one-of-a-kind chandelier and commissioned furniture pieces that can be found throughout the hotel’s public spaces and hallways, that create a cohesive element of an art destination.
Everything from the early stages of conceptualized planning to execution has been thought through to the smallest of details. This formidable idea to create something unique in the city that hides behind the fame of a more industrial past was a bold one. “Mr. Fertitta’s vision was to offer world-class art for an international clientele in a city that boasts both. He wanted a modern and contemporary collection of American masters who matched the caliber of The Post Oak Hotel. The power of significant art elevates the experience,“ adds Chow proudly. The architectural landmark boasts many impressive design features, but the artwork within its walls is the attraction piece alone for the visitors. Despite the fact that The Post Oak is not a museum, it certainly is a destination that offers an elevated experience of one. Their Guided Art Experience incorporates some finer things in life: feeling pampered and allowing guests to feast their eyes on the exhibited pieces. It is as if they’ve been given the after-hours-tour of a private collection. To fully submerge into the experience, Chow suggests a longer stay than initially planned. A mere day can make the difference and make the guests feel as if they’ve been transported into a world of its own.
The Post Oak doesn’t only stand on its own but evolves constantly with keeping a finger on the city’s art scene pulse. Much like everything else in life, current movements and trends change as well. When the immersive Van Gogh exhibit opened in the fall of 2021, it was not lost on the property’s executive Chef Oralia Perez. Pulling inspiration from the travelling exhibit, she put a twist on the traditional “afternoon tea” experience by incorporating various interpretations of impressionist art into her culinary creations. And so, the Starry Night Tea Service was created. It requires Perez more than astounding 36 hours of preparation to create fully edible hand painted colorful pastries and desserts. The dedication and love that goes into creating this experience is commendable and gives back to the local community. Being immersed into creative field truly runs through every element of the hotel from the design and fine art to the culinary mastery and Houston’s cultural scene. It is clear in our conversation with Chow that the element of giving back to the local community is important to the hotel. It is heartwarming to witness the care that goes into preserving uniqueness of one’s home. The Post Oak worked closely with Perez and created a way to donate $500 from each service to Arts Connection Houston, a local non-profit organization uniting the greater Houston community to ensure access to high-quality arts education in creative writing, dance, music, theater, and the visual arts for every student, beginning with Houston ISD.
When considering Houston, one may not initially think of a place that treats you with finer, decadent, more sophisticated experiences in life. “Houston, we have a problem!” a term coined by Jack Swigert, American astronaut on board of the famous Apollo 13, takes us down one very specific route. However, it is time to expand the grasp of knowledge in the art world and recognize the city’s incredible array of creativity. It is the privilege of today’s global citizen to recognize and witness the growth of a hub that incorporates more than meets the eye at first. Houston, get ready for a whole new ‘problem’ – an influx of curious art driven adventurers. Being able to cater for all the senses, it seems as if the city has always known its own greatness by the way of its multifaceted culture from space exploration and capital of international energy, to being home to cultural heartbeat and the Post Oak Hotel. -