CONTEMPORARY COOL

A Luxury Hotel and Fine Dining are only part of the story of The Joseph

Written by Melissa Mahanes / Photos by Eric Laignel

Nashville is so fortunate to have the spectacular Joseph Hotel added to our repertoire of places to stay and play in Music City. What lies beyond the living wall and cobblestones as you enter from Korean Veterans Boulevard is so much more than a stunning 279-room hotel. It is a gloriously appointed group of spaces with one of Nashville’s finest eateries (we told you all about Yolan in our Jan/Feb issue), a breathtaking rooftop bar and pool, and houses a world-class art collection.

Alteronce Gumby “What is this thing called red”, 1985

The Pizzuti’s collection began with Ann and Ron Pizzuti’s 1972 trip to Paris, where they were particularly captivated by Frank Stella’s art. Starting with the purchase of a $900 work by Karel Appel at a Columbus gallery paid for in installments, a passion would grow over the next three decades into a family collection of nearly 2,400 sculptures, paintings, and works on paper with an emphasis on established masters and emerging talents. In 2013, the Pizzuti Collection became a cornerstone of the Columbus Museum of Art, where the Pizzutis supervised the renovation of a building in the Short North neighborhood of Columbus. They also gifted access to their collection for exhibitions in the museum and donated several additional works to the CMA.

Lobby: (left) Jackie Saccoccio “Portrait (bomb)”, 2013 (over front desk) Brie Ruais “Cycling, Two Times 135 lbs”, 2020

The Joseph in Nashville is the second Pizzuti hotel (the first is Le Meridien Columbus, The Joseph) to benefit from the family’s keen collecting eye and is a gift to the community much as The Pizzuti Collection is to Columbus. They want to convey the message that living around art and experiencing it does not have to be intimidating.

Lobby: Marcel Wanders “Dysmorphophobia 3”, 2015

Joel Pizzuti is carrying on his family passion for art by placing over 1,000 works of art at The Joseph that have been meticulously selected from the family’s private collection as well as collaborations with local artists (known as The Tennessee Portfolio). Pizzuti collaborated with local artists on the Tennessee Portfolio to give The Joseph its own dose of Music City flair.

8th Floor Exhibition Space with Alex Soth photography installation

Allow me to be your docent and point out some of the notable items and show you how Joel and his family have curated a dynamic and sophisticated haven of art in Downtown Nashville.

Your art tour begins as you pull into the Porte Cochère with living green walls and a bright blue rolled steel and enamel Hank Willis Thomas sculpture that resembles a comic book speech bubble. As you await your valet, a sizeable screen displays a constantly rolling group of video installations. On my last visit, I was taken with a video by Miler Lagos entitled “Home”—a man contentedly floating and fishing atop a small water tower in the middle of the ocean. Even the door handles at the entrance are commissioned works of art: New York sculptor Rob Wynne created playful bronze teardrops to welcome you into the Lobby. Wynne also designed the door handles at the entrance to The Pizzuti Collection in Columbus.

Porte Cochere: View through Hank Willis Thomas’ “Harriet and Annie (Capri)”, 2018

The Lobby is a feast for the eyes and full of details intended, as Pizzuti explains, “to stimulate both emotionally and intellectually”. The artworks were installed after the hotel was designed and built, and the result is perfection at every turn. The Joseph is comfortable and sophisticated and is resplendent with clever design details. The Lobby’s custom-loomed carpets are a nod to country music costume designer Nudie with its appliqued flower motif. The hardware in the Guest Rooms have been modeled after Gibson Les Paul guitar volume knobs. Above the custom-designed Lucchese hand-tooled front desk is a striking fired clay swirl by California ceramicist Brie Ruais, who uses the equivalent amount of clay to match her body weight and manipulates her shapes organically.

The front of the Lobby houses two colorful abstract works by recently deceased Rhode Island artist Jackie Saccoccio that are reminiscent of Jackson Pollock and provides a splash of color to the sleek entrance. The open Lobby Bar and Yolan restaurant are equally graced with video installations, ceiling and wall art. These play artfully with giant wheels of Parmigiano-Reggiano and the exposed wine cellar in Yolan.

The Eighth Floor houses the function and meeting rooms and a grand exhibition space that currently houses Minneapolisborn artist Alec Soth. His series “Songbook” features large-scale black and white photographs from his road trips across the United States, and the subjects are part journalistic and part random encounter. This space will eventually rotate with new art installations, and with The Joseph’s collaboration with the Nashville Symphony, it will hold salon-style musical experiences. Pizzuti tells us the acoustics are incredible.

Presidential Suite: Danni Pantel “bubble bath?”, 2019

Presidential Suite: Lucia Love “Llewellin’s Home for the Coming Season”, 2016

Your tour continues on the 20th Floor that houses the Spa, Fitness Center, Denim Bar and Pool, and spectacular views. The Rose Spa has a selection of works by British artist Melanie Goemans of dream-like depictions of flowers that mesh perfectly with the amazing fragrance wafting from the signature “Rose” candle created in collaboration with Nashville-based 27.9. The Fitness Center has floor-to-ceiling windows and features funky black and white works by Ukrainian artist Marta Vovk. She has taken logos from athletic brands Nike, Adidas, and Puma and distorted them in a psychedelic fashion. The rooftop Denim Bar and the Pool area are cool spots to hang out and view a Joel Pizzutidesigned custom neon sign inspired by a haiku he wrote on gluttony: “Seek only pleasure/Time evaporates quickly/Leaves an empty heart.” In true gallery-style, Pizzuti intends to label artworks, and employees of The Joseph are receiving docent training so they are prepared to answer questions visitors should have about the art and fine details throughout the hotel. From beginning to end, there are so many enjoyable visual aspects to The Joseph. I hope I have piqued your interest—visit soon and enjoy your own art adventure. sl

Guest Room: Glen Baldridge (TN Portfolio) “No Way”, 2019

Presidential Suite: Kaveri Raina “Prefer the Past”, 2016