Home to an eclectic collection of artworks, Resorts World Las Vegas takes a refreshing approach to casino art with its self-guided art tour and exceptional attention to detail. Prepare to be delighted, art lovers, because this collection is like no other. Grab your phone, throw on a good pair of walking shoes, and take a stroll through this combination of modern and historical works, made interactive through QR codes that guests can scan for additional information.
There really is no bad place to start; you’ll find intentionally conceptualized, crafted and curated work anywhere you go. “Being that many of our areas are open to the public, we often have to consider many different cultures when selecting subject matter,” says Darla Real, director of interior design. “Art should be evocative and create a conversation, but we are careful to not create controversy.”
Perhaps you’d like to start by strolling through Resorts World’s three lobbies:
• In the Conrad lobby, you can find David Spriggs’ Holos, an awe-inspiring installation consisting of 20 individually painted acrylic planes that align to create one whirling, spherical entity. Be sure to move all the way around this piece, as its dimensionality shifts depending on your perspective.
Samurai Cat by Hiro Ando
• Continue to the Crockfords lobby, where you’ll find Samurai Cat by Hiro Ando, a contemporary take on the traditional maneki-neko, or lucky cat. Ando, a Japanese neo-pop artist, creates work that combines tradition with contemporary elements and has become well-known for his cat-like sculpture. Symbols of luck have always had a place in Las Vegas. After all, this city is built on luck, so it’s exciting to see a different take on the tradition this city is built on. Is the lucky cat a new concept? Of course not, but the idea of taking a traditional token of good fortune, reimagining its design, and prominently featuring it in a town flooded with horseshoes and triple sevens adds an element of identity to the property.
• The Hilton lobby features the colossal Hippo Wild Ride By Gillie and Marc. The bronze sculpture commemorates endangered species and promotes wildlife conservation. Also in this lobby, you’ll find Michelangelo Bastiani’s Clouds and Jars, a digital installation featuring holograms of graceful ballerinas and trapeze artists, contained within glass jars.
As you tour the property, a common theme becomes incredibly apparent: Resorts World is full of animals! And that’s no coincidence. “We as humans relate to animals from a very young age, being given teddy bears or pets as children, or watching cartoon animals on Saturday mornings,” says Real. “The introduction of animals, in many different forms, is meant to create a surprise, provide some delight and leave our guests with a feeling of amusement.”
Cloned Bulldog with Pet Bottle by William Sweetlove
On your way to the casino floor, you’ll pass the High Limit Lounge, which houses its very own beast: Louis-Vuitton Doberman by Herb Williams. Made entirely out of crayons, the form brings whimsy to the space while enhancing its luxurious appearance. Another creature awaits on the casino floor. Belgian artist William Sweetlove’s Cloned Bulldog with Pet Bottle awaits, to be exact. Fitted with rain boots and carrying a water bottle on its back, this sculpture represents a future in which there’s a lack of fresh drinking water and an excess of ocean water. Sweetlove’s dadaist combination of irony, surrealism and pop art carries a clear message about climate change throughout much of his work.
The chrome-finished clone on display at Resorts World stands as a reminder of how fragile our ecosystems are, especially in a city that uses immense quantities of water despite having a dwindling water supply. Its presence forces patrons to confront the environmental impacts of wastefulness that the human race so easily commits, and possibly encourages conservation efforts among everyone who has the pleasure of enjoying this beautiful desert oasis.
While you’re on the casino floor, make sure you get a glimpse of Jae Yong Kim’s Donuts. These delightful, brightly colored ceramic donuts add a lot of joy. I mean, seriously, how could you look at those without smiling?
In fact, according to Kim’s Blank Space Art web page, the Korean artist began using donuts as a symbol of greed and gluttony, but found a lot of joy in making the ceramic sweets. Over time, the iconography of the donuts evolved from greed and gluttony to have many meanings for the artist, from providing sweet relief on a hard day to representing the cheap sugary foods many living in poverty find to be most accessible to them. This pastry-themed pottery adds depth to the collection at Resorts World.
Speaking of food, you’ve done a fair amount of walking and probably need to refuel. Luckily, there’s another piece of art you have to see at Famous Foods Street Eats. Actually, there’s two.
Tea Bag Art by Red Hong Yi
While enjoying a nosh in this spot, you’ll find Red Hong Yi’s Tea Bag Art, a three-dimensional portrait created with 20,000 individually dyed tea bags. Contrasting many of the modern themes found in art around the property, this installation highlights the Chinese-Malaysian artist’s cultural roots while maintaining the ingenuity that is apparent throughout Resorts World’s collection. Also featured in Famous Foods is Yi’s 10-foot-tall Lucky Cat sculpture (a continuation of the feline theme). The towering sculpture constructed entirely from gold-colored coins radiates positivity and prosperity across the entire food court.
From Famous Foods, make a short walk to RedTail, where you’ll be greeted by RedTail the sculpture. Custom made by Kevin Barry Fine Art, the brightly colored kitten emanates humor and exuberance. This anime critter even playfully holds a finger to its lips as if it’s just told you a secret. Maybe it’s reminding you: What happens in Vegas … you know the rest.
Conclude your journey with a trek to Kusa Nori, where Red Beetle by Ichwan Noor awaits. The contorted car brings the same liveliness that many of Resorts World’s sculpture do, but it also uses the car as a symbol of what Noor calls “transportation culture.” By taking this symbol and physically reshaping it, Noor is seemingly challenging people to rethink transportation; the way we approach it, the way it affects the world around us, and ways we can do better.
Admittedly, this isn’t an exhaustive list of all the art at Resorts World. There are Andy Warhol paintings to see in the Baccarat Salon and Genting Palace’s private dining room. There’s a propertywide digital art experience called GLOW. There’s even a limited-time-only, propertywide elephant parade to raise funds and awareness for elephant welfare and conservation.
The art at Resorts World is more than enough to satisfy even the most ravenous craving for high-quality art, and it’s well worth the walk. After all, why not get your steps in on vacation while looking at some sensational artwork?
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