LOS ANGELES – August 27, 2018 – Sunset Marquis, the iconic luxury hotel located off the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood CA, reveals the second art installation by street artist, Elle, as part of the hotel’s ongoing artist residency program featuring creative spirits. In support of “Education Is Not A Crime,” the largest global street art and human rights campaign, Elle’s poolside masterpiece accompanies her first work at the hotel. These interior and exterior murals provide hotel guests and Angelenos with Instagrammable moments throughout the property that not only make for social media-worthy photography, but also share a meaningful message. In addition, Elle also painted three one-of-a-kind canvas works for sale in the hotel’s Morrison Hotel Gallery.
“Throughout our hotel’s 55-year, storied history, Sunset Marquis has served as gathering place and source of inspiration trailblazers in music, art, film, television, fashion and tech,” said Rod Gruendyke, General Manager of Sunset Marquis. “Our guests are creatives, sometimes renegades, bound not by what is, but rather by what is possible – a philosophy that Elle completely embodies. We could not be more thrilled to have her in-residence and provide her with a platform to do what she does best, which is create awe-inspiring art.”
After quitting fine art and moving to New York, Elle saw street art for the first time. She was in awe of the pieces and their makers who risked freedom to create art for the public. What most drew Elle to street art was the idea that a piece can be made in the middle of the night and instantly take on a life of its own—individuals could collaborate on it and pedestrians could enjoy it. Unlike the fine art that Elle was used to making, street art did not live in a pitch-black storage unit. She became obsessed with the medium, and later began to focus on graffiti.
Over the years Elle became noteworthy for her use of diverse media on the streets, which included bus shelter ad replacements and fire extinguishers, and received recognition from the likes of Vogue, V Magazine, and Vice, among others. With each large-scale piece, Elle uses her work as a medium to send messages to her audience whether it be on feminism, the environment, or promoting an important cause such as “Education is Not A Crime.” Started in 2015, Education Is Not A Crime works to raise awareness about the education apartheid by Iran’s government against tens of thousands of Baha’is. By partnering with some of the world’s most renowned street artists, the campaign fights this injustice and send messages of hope to those affected through the mediums of creativity and art.
Elle’s latest pieces are painted exclusively with spray paint and are executed in her signature style that collages various women’s faces to make a coherent, powerful image. Ultimately, the paintings’ messages say “we are all one, and we are more powerful together.” One of the paintings created at the Sunset Marquis will be exhibited as part of an augmented reality show in Los Angeles in September, during which audiences can watch the painting come to life through their phones.
“When people look at my art, I want them to think about their own lives, what they’re doing, and try to make a positive impact in some way,” said Elle. “The Sunset Marquis has provided me with the space to further my passion and has served as location that inspires me to create work that helps to spread awareness for such an important cause.”
The canvases range in price from $5,500 to $14,000, two of which were painted under the Sunset Marquis’ serene gardens and the more expensive of the three being Elle’s first spray painted canvas pieces ever created.
For more information on Elle’s collaboration with Sunset Marquis, please visit the hotel’s website at www.sunsetmarquis.com.
About Sunset Marquis Hotel:
Centrally located between Beverly Hills and the beaches, and mere steps from the world-famous Sunset Strip, Sunset Marquis Hotel in West Hollywood, CA offers a secluded oasis of 152 luxurious suites and villas intertwined within 3.5-acres of lush gardens and private retreats. Since opening its doors in 1963, the hotel and its experienced staff have created a home-away-from-home for rock legends, filmmakers, writers, actors and discerning guests from around the globe, providing them with peace of mind and an unmatched guest experience. Sunset Marquis features al fresco dining in its world-class restaurant, Cavatina, two heated outdoor pools, the iconic BAR 1200, and a full-service spa. Additional amenities include NightBird Recording Studios, home to numerous Grammy winning artists, and Morrison Hotel Gallery, which features a collection of some of the most renowned celebrity photography.
