By Kat Herriman
A trip to the Luma Arles art complex is a must when visiting the South of France this summer. Photo © Adrian DeWeerdt; courtesy of Luma Arles.
Summer means many things for many people. For the art set, it’s visiting fairs—old and new—or maybe hunkering down for the season in the arts nexus du jour. Here are some of the destinations that the cultural jet-set are flocking to this summer—and a few things to pack in your carry-on for the journey.
South of France
Marseille (and the South of France at large) occupies a special place in the literary imagination thanks to generations of sun-seeking legends, from Aldous Huxley and Sybille Bedford to Leonora Carrington and Max Ernst. Once again, this seaside town is enjoying a vogue among the young and aspirational.
See this: The Luma Arles art complex, which serves as an international bellwether for the blue-chip, announcing the arrival of soon-to be-household names like Egyptian artist and Venice Biennale standout Wael Shawky, is a must-see. The Luma Tower, designed by Frank Gehry, is at the heart of the nearly 67-acre complex.
Stay here: Luma Arles has its own hotel property, LeCloître, designed by Iranian-French architect India Mahdavi, which can be a fun way to plunge all the way in. If you want something closer to the seaside, we recommend checking into Les Bords de Mer, where you can wake up on the edge of the storied harbor.
Pack that: With endless antiquing opportunities, you might want to bring a large suitcase with plenty of extra room.
Maine
A longtime haven for mythologically outsized artists like Marsden Hartley, Alex Katz, and Robert Indiana, Maine has kept up its mystique among the creative class and its privacy-seeking patrons.
Nicole Wittenberg’s Woods Walker 2, 2021 is part of the artist’s two-part survey in Maine this summer.
See this: If you want to dip into its old-money scene, let the institutions light the way, and focus on New York– and Maine–based painter Nicole Wittenberg’s two-part survey, which begins at the Ogunquit Museum of American Art and ends in Rockland at the Center for Maine Contemporary Art.
Stay here: Home to the state’s largest airport, Portland provides a perfect first stop for a Downeast odyssey. Take advantage of the burgeoning food scene with an overnight stay at the Blind Tiger. This lushly detailed boutique hotel will put you within striking distance of Tandem, the city’s best bakery for a cure-all bacon egg and cheese, and the Portland Museum of Art, where selections from the Alex Katz Foundation will be on view through September.
Pack that: Embrace the high-prep ease of the region and opt for looks that both sailors and Upper Eastsiders would appreciate.
Aspen
A city for those who embrace a Swiss medspa’s definition of wellness, Aspen’s approach to the arts is equally goal-focused. This philosophy translates into an abundance of TED talk–like programming, offering attendees a more intimate interaction with the artists and curators at the forefront of today’s conversations.
Nairy Baghramian’s Jupon de Corps, 2023, at the Aspen Art Museum
See this: Summer brings a new summit to the mountainous town. AIR, a global gathering and invitation-only retreat from July 26-August 1, is the $20 million brainchild of the Aspen Art Museum; its headliners read like a dream dinner party, with André 3000, Matthew Barney, and Mati Diop in attendance.
Stay here: The Little Nell has long reigned supreme thanks to its storied coziness, but the Mollie, a boutique venture that opened last year, is making a compelling case to shake things up. And Michelin agrees: the hotel earned a Michelin Key last fall.
Pack that: Forget the mountain cowboy schtick and opt for ski-coded sunnies and sporty accessories.
The Hamptons
During the pandemic, the popularity of the East End—from the Hamptons to all the way to the North Fork—spiked, and still hasn’t abated. With this wave of life came a strengthened art world and beloved local institutions, such as the performance art–driven The Watermill Center and the expansive Parrish Art Museum, bolstering their Boards. The foundation of this community is the Hamptons’ independent gallery scene, which is anchored by long standing residents, such as Harpers (founded by Harper Levine) and Eric Firestone.
An installation of Indonesian house posts at The Watermill Center.
See this: One of the most exciting tentacles of this sprawling and privileged community is Max Levai’s The Ranch in Montauk, which stages immersively sized exhibitions and attracts Page Six–worthy gossip. Read up about the scandals and then make up your own mind.
Stay here: Famously a difficult place to find a great hotel, the area produces a new contender for the title every summer. This year, Three Ducks in Westhampton shows a lot of promise, with minimalist design and a focus on integration with the land, including farm-to-table dining options and an on-campus dahlia stand.
Pack that: For a post-ocean dip into the art museum, a kitten-heel sandal makes for the perfect summer click-clack.
