Moxy Milan Celebrates Inspiring Artistic Talent in Hunt to Find Next Best Artist
Live 'Blank Canvas’ challenge puts three finalists under intense pressure to produce incredible art in only 60 minutes.
Moxy Milan, the new economy design hotel in Milan, Italy, announced Nune D'Amico Kerobyan as the winner of its artist-in-residence competition - Blank Canvas #atthemoxy - which was held at a spectacular opening party that brought together media, hotel guests, art enthusiasts and the Milanese social scene on 30 October.
In a thrilling climax to the competition, three finalists created an artwork in just 60 minutes, in front of a live audience, using only a black blank canvas and pink, white and black paint pens. A tattoo artist, Leonardo Giacomo Borges, courtesy of Marriott Rewards, painted semi-permanent tattoos on guests whilst they sipped on Nespresso cocktails including iced raspberry macchiatos and mojito coffee cocktails with Havana Club and a selection of Red Bull drinks, Sugarfree and Red Bull Red Edition. The electric music set, by Red Bull DJ Stefi Oyadi, kept the party dancing well into the night.
Moxy Milan - artists at work during competitionThe three finalists were selected from 300 submissions to global creative community, Talent House, for the first round of the challenge which required artists to submit artwork with a bold, vibrantly coloured design, capturing the character of Milan and displaying a Moxy attitude: spirited, fun and thoughtful.
Moxy Milan - Laura Hayden MC and Red Bull DJ Stefi Oyadi Ramesh Jackson, Vice President, Franchise Brand Operation, Marriott International and member of the judging panel said: "Watching the artists get to work in such a pressurised environment for the Blank Canvas challenge made for a thrilling evening — and one that immediately set the vibe we are so proud to nourish in the Moxy brand: daring, creative and fun. Celebrating raw creative design and vibrant urban energy is at the heart of Moxy's core values and the response from the artist community for Blank Canvas #atthemoxy has been so exciting. This is just the start of a long creative partnership as we continue to support artistic talent at our hotels"
The three finalists, Ana Androska, Hector Darcos, and Nune D'Amico Kerobyan, were shortlisted because their work displayed the individuality and artistic energy that Moxy's expert art judges* were looking for:
Winner Nune D'Amico Kerobyan is a designer and painter from Rome, Italy. Judges admired her painting, Passion, for its decorative richness. This portrait is of a thoroughly modern, 21st-century woman, but Nune's palette and approach is sensual with a nod to Art Deco style.
Runner upHector Darcos is a graffiti artist from the Canary Islands, who was raised in London and Barcelona. His abstract painting, Urban Flow, impressed the judges for its finely controlled line, and fluid, organic, almost other-worldly atmosphere that simultaneously feels very urban and contemporary.
Runner up Ana Androska is an artist from Skopje, in Macedonia. Her painting, Liberty, immediately caught the judges' eyes. Liberty is, says Ana, about "celebrating the joy and passion of life — a bottle of wine shared with dear friends, with laughter, music and food". Moxy's art judges praised Ana's charming, whimsical and figurative style.
As the proud winner, Nune was awarded a cash prize and her artwork will be displayed in the hotel's Living Room. When receiving her prize from the judging panel, Nune explained "My artwork was inspired by the energy of cities around the world, fast free and always evolving and by the carefree Moxy way of life. I am so pleased and excited to win this prize and to be a part of the Moxy experience"
The Moxy Milan is located within walking distance of Terminal Two at Milan Malpensa Airport. Complimentary 24-hour shuttle service is available from Terminal One.
For more information on Blank Canvas #atthemoxy visit: MoxyHotels.com/BlankCanvas. For more information on Moxy Hotels visit: www.moxyhotels.com
Vastint Hospitality is the property owner and developer
Vastint Hospitality was established in January 2012 to create long term value by developing and investing in hotel properties and student properties across Europe. Currently its focus is on acquiring sites for hotel development in Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria and the Nordic countries. Vastint Hospitality is located in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. For more information, visit www.vastint.eu.
Nordic Hospitality is the franchisee
Nordic Hospitality AS is a Norwegian hotel management and development company operating Marriott hotels in Scandinavia under franchise agreement. The company's pipeline currently includes hotels in Poland, Finland and The Netherlands. In August 2012, a new central office in Amsterdam was established to support development and operations for the new MOXY HOTELS. For more information visit www.nhospitality.no or www.shmanagement.com
About Marriott International
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of more than 8,100 properties under 30 leading brands spanning 139 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. The company offers Marriott Bonvoy®, its highly awarded travel program. For more information, please visit our website, and for the latest company news, visit Marriott News Center. In addition, connect with us on Facebook and @MarriottIntl on Twitter and Instagram.
