American contemporary sculpture by the artist KAWS is the centerpiece of the opulent two-story lobby lounge at Four Seasons Hotel Madrid. Created in 2013, Along The Way is a sculpture from KAWS’ Companion Series, that is formed of two figures made of interlocking hardwood pieces. Together the statues weigh 1,362 pounds and stand 8 feet high.
The KAWS sculpture has been loaned to Four Seasons Hotel Madrid by Mark Scheinberg, founder of the global investment company Mohari Hospitality. Mohari is a co-owner of the Centro Canalejas Madrid building within which Four Seasons Hotel Madrid is located.
Started as a New York graffiti artist in the 1990s, KAWS has become a globally recognised name, renowned for exploring the themes of reinterpretation and deconstructive appropriation. His work includes cult-collectible figures, paintings, sculptures and large-scale public projects. These art pieces are collected by connoisseurs and exhibited in major museums around the world.
The new lobby sculpture complements Four Seasons’ existing art collection. Elite curator Paloma Fernández-Iriondo assembled nearly 1,500 paintings, graphic works, photographs, and sculptures – all by Spanish artists. She sought out work by emerging Spanish artists by arranging a competition at fine arts schools in Madrid, Malaga and Seville. Over a four-year period, more than 500 proposals were submitted in the categories of painting, graphic work, work on paper, photography, work in plaster and sculpture. 75 proposals were selected and reproduced to decorate the guest rooms, suites, and corridors of the luxury hotel. Some artists were also commissioned to produce site-specific works to decorate the hotel’s amenities, including Dani restaurant, ISA Bar and The Spa at Four Seasons.