Eaton Fine Art (EFA), a full-service art consultancy firm based in Austin, has presented Moxy Austin. Located in Austin’s Campus District across from the University of Texas, Moxy Austin—University draws inspiration from the traditions of the West Campus neighborhood, as well as Downtown Austin’s bustling atmosphere. Owned by White Lodging, Moxy Austin is Marriott’s experiential brand targeting ‘fun hunters’ and young-at-heart. The 162 guestrooms boast a modern, industrial chic style with a 24-hour, walk-up taco window (Zombie Taco) and a 150-seat bar (Bar Moxy), which offers guests both indoor and outdoor seating.
Led by Gwendolyn Mesa, director, projects, Eaton Fine Art, the Austin-based art consultancy firm was tasked with assembling a cheerful, modern art collection for the hotel’s lobby, guestrooms and guestroom corridors. The collaboration between Flick Mars, a hospitality design firm based in Dallas, and Eaton Fine Art led to the creation of vibrant pieces that complement the city’s rich tradition of eclectic culture and music.
“Our team wanted each piece to reflect the diversity of the students at the University of Texas, both past and present, as well as the city of Austin as a whole,” Mesa said.
Upon entering the hotel, guests are greeted with an art gallery wall filled with pieces that represent Texas. This includes an image of an armadillo, a bold text sign that reads “Howdy,” a miniature cowboy and images of a record and cassette tapes. Other art within the public space and lobby area encompasses black macramé wall hangings and images of longhorns grazing in the field. In the guestrooms, the artwork draws on the city’s dichotomy in a playful way, bringing in rich color and humorous depictions of Austin life like the team’s addition of the array of rainbow horseshoes. For each floor’s elevator landings, the Eaton Fine Art team incorporated a fun and unique spray-painted piece to tie back to the industrial chic style of the Moxy brand. These pieces show a hand holding the number of the guest-floor level, providing visitors with a sense of place within the five-story hotel. Noteworthy art pieces create an enjoyable and welcoming atmosphere throughout the public spaces.
“Carefully curated artwork brings an exciting yet modern feel to guestrooms and public spaces while giving guests a sense of place,” Mesa said. “In hotel lobbies, for example, art gallery walls greet guests with bright and inviting pieces that represent the lifestyle and traditions of the surrounding location. At Eaton Fine Art, we collaborate with artists who are locally based to help create a space that embodies the local area.”
