With a proud history of showcasing the works of local independent female creators, the nearly century-old Hotel Figueroa celebrates Women’s History Month (March) by welcoming Los Angeles-based visual artist, Ruthanna Hopper as the hotel’s 2022 Featured Artist. In homage to both its feminist roots and ongoing support of the arts, the hotel showcases the work of L.A.’s most compelling female artists and culture-makers through its Featured Artist Series Exhibit.
Showcasing a fully immersive art experience during her year-long residency, Hopper’s exhibition, The Emergence—launching March 14, 2022 (and running through February-end 2023)—is a direct response to navigating the ebb and flow of life in a global pandemic as we process a collective change in our learned experiences over the past two years, whilst looking ahead to a new chapter that lies ahead. Displaying her works for the first-time ever in Los Angeles, Hopper aims to evoke the release of new feelings and experiences. Her show reflects a renewed sense of hope for Spring.
The year-round exhibit located in Hotel Figueroa’s Artist Alley features between 16 – 20 original works from Hopper, providing guests and locals alike an opportunity to experience the world through a new perspective, exploring unresolved memory, heirlooms, movement, and the visceral experience of the internal and external landscape in an attempt to metabolize experience. The pieces originate from both a personal and a collective wintering and are an offering to regenerate, to surface, to renew. Seamlessly aligned with Hotel Figueroa’s overarching pillars of togetherness and rejoicing women in the arts, Hopper’s work includes “Prophetess,” a painting dedicated to her grandmother and acclaimed American choreographer and dancer, Anna Halprin, and “Consorting with Heirlooms” (for her mother, former actress and somatic-expressive arts therapist, Daria Halprin), greatly inspired and deeply influenced by the women in her life that have paved the way forward.
Ranging in size from 30”x30” to 48”x60”, the hypnotic collection of Hopper’s original art will include select pieces available for purchase starting at $2,000 and up:
“Inspired by the history of the Hotel Figueroa as a revolutionary, first of its kind space for women to safely travel, The Emergence is about coming out of the dark wintering and emerging on the other side; of embracing the hope of a seed turning to flower, as we welcome the possibility of change that each season of life brings with it. The paintings are a process of dealing with unresolved visceral responses to life. How do we peel away the past to unearth beauty: patterns, textures, recollections, people, energies, and our identities — processing, uncovering, and discovering until all of these fragments synthesize.” ruminates Hopper. She adds, “I am incredibly honored by the opportunity to show these paintings at Hotel Figueroa with its remarkable history in support of women artists and travelers that resonates deeply within me.”
The daughter of actor Dennis Hopper and artist Daria Halprin, Hopper grew up among artists and dancers in Marin County who gathered to work with her mother, grandmother, dancer Anna Halprin and grandfather, landscape architect Lawrence Halprin. In addition to studying Art at UC Davis, Hopper considers this bohemian, artistic upbringing her most influential teacher. It is through this immersion in creative life and process in her formative years that she inherited an education in art. Returning to her roots in visual art, Hopper explores unresolved memories, heirlooms, and movement through oil and acrylic paintings.
Funded and built by women in 1926 as an exclusive women’s hostel by the YWCA, Hotel Figueroa was “financed, built and operated by and for femininity,” according to a Los Angeles Times article at the time. Originally intended for solo female travelers looking for a safe place to stay – an incredible feat during a time where women were prohibited from traveling without a male chaperone—the hotel was the largest project of its kind in the United States to be financed, owned, and operated by women. Nearly a century later, the hotel’s vision continues to be rooted through the female lens, with highly curated art programming spanning the mediums of photography, painting, mixed media, sculpture, sound, and performance.
Upon arriving at the hotel, guests will immediately discover that women-made art is integrated across all spaces on the property—from the walkable Featured Artist Series Exhibit, and newly launched Featured Artist Suite, to the hotel’s guest rooms and meticulously hand-painted elevator banks by local women artists such as Gabby B-Vasquez, and even the striking building exterior, which features a 14-story high custom Fig motif designed by U.K.-based muralist Bella Gomez. From its inception 95 years ago to its modern-day design, Hotel Figueroa has consistently dedicated itself to becoming a creative space designed by women, for women – making its spirit undeniably feminist.
“As a cultural oasis in downtown Los Angeles for nearly a century, Hotel Figueroa has played an ineradicable role in women’s history and continues to be a proud supporter of local female artists across L.A. and California. Strong, loud, and proud – we have supported female artists across all creative endeavors since our inception in 1926. Heavily inspired by the important female figures in her life, Ruthanna’s work truly embodies the cultural legacy of the property, and we are thrilled to welcome and showcase her work as our 2022 Featured Artist,” adds Hotel Figueroa’s Managing Director, Connie Wang.
Hopper’s pieces will be on display through Spring 2023 at the property for visitors and guests to enjoy. Original art will be available for purchase at the hotel throughout the duration of her showcase.
For more information on Hopper, visit her Instagram @ruthannahopper or www.ruthannahopper.com.
About Hotel Figueroa
Hotel Figueroa remains one of the only preserved treasures in Downtown Los Angeles with a uniquely independent spirit and luxury brand authentic only to the City of Angels. Originally opened in 1926 as an exclusive women’s hostelry, the iconic destination underwent an extensive redesign in 2018 that pays tribute to its rich history, melding original 1920’s Spanish Colonial splendor with contemporary touches that celebrate its deep roots in Los Angeles. Hotel Figueroa’s reimagination exceeds expectation of a new generation of guests with 268 guest rooms and suites that are distinctively engaging. An ever-evolving art program offers museum quality installations from local artists and literary collections from Los Angeles based authors. New and exciting culinary experiences include on-site destination restaurants, a poolside eatery, and forthcoming elevated bar & nightlife concepts later in the year. Expansive and intimate private event venues span 10,000 square feet in addition to a lushly landscaped pool area.
Hotel Figueroa is located at 939 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, California 90015, in the progressive and ever evolving South Park district of Downtown Los Angeles on S. Figueroa Street between W. Olympic and W. 9th Streets. For more information or reservations, please call (877) 724 1973, visit www.hotelfigueroa.com or email info@hotelfigueroa.com.
About Ruthanna Hopper
Ruthanna Hopper is an L.A.-based visual artist with a background in visual art. Ruthanna Hopper was born in Taos, New Mexico, the daughter of Daria Halprin and Dennis Hopper. She grew up in Marin County, in the laboratory of artists and dancers, who gathered at the Mountain Home Studio to work with her mother, and grandmother, the dancer, Anna Halprin, as well as her grandfather, landscape architect, Lawrence Halprin. Ruthanna studied Art at UC Davis. After graduating she moved to New York to study theater. Upon graduating from the theater program at William Esper, she returned to California where she co-wrote two novels published by St. Martin’s Press. Ruthanna has returned to her roots in visual art, making paintings in her Silverlake art studio.