Raffles Boston
Boston, MA, USA
The Emerald Necklace
Hanging from the “neck” of the Boston peninsula, the 1,100-acre Emerald Necklace, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, was designated a Boston Landmark in 1989 and continues to serve as a vital green corridor for the city. Over nearly two decades of work on the Emerald Necklace (1878–1896), he envisioned and shaped these green spaces as vital retreats for both active and passive recreation, offering relief and refreshment from the pressures of everyday life.
Inspired by the iconic local landmark, ArtLink curators art-directed a series of botanical wall artworks for the hotel as a tribute to the city’s natural legacy. Referencing the historic chain of nine connected parks, the works evoke a sense of calm, connection to nature, and quiet reflection. Wrapped along the hotel’s walls and ceilings, the artworks create an immersive experience rooted in place and the surrounding landscape.
Feast for the Senses
ArtLink partnered with botanical artist James Roper on three bespoke commissions for the hotel, each drawing from his intricate visual language inspired by nature. Using his own photography of flora and fauna gathered while exploring the British countryside, Roper crafts detailed digital collages. that invite viewers to visually slow down, reconnect with nature, and find renewed attention to the wild beauty embedded in everyday life.
For the restaurant space, Roper created a vivid series of hyper-real florals. Lush, layered, and immersive, the works heighten the dining experience with a rich tapestry of color and form—offering a sensory dialogue between food, art, and the natural world.
Boston Blossoms
For the hotel’s ballroom, ArtLink and James Roper collaborated on a suite of ten botanical panels tailored to the elegance and scale of the space. Drawing inspiration from Boston’s iconic cherry blossom trees, these works adopt a lighter, more impressionist approach, contrasting with the hyper-real florals featured in the restaurant.
Infused with the spirit of the Emerald Necklace, the panels provide a quiet yet vivid backdrop for celebration and gathering, echoing the fleeting beauty and delicate charm of the blossoms that grace the city each spring.
Tonal Immersion
ArtLink art-directed a bespoke wallpaper installation for the speakeasy, designed to envelop both walls and ceiling in deep, sensuous hues that complement the room’s intimate, immersive atmosphere. Created by artist James Roper, the work draws on the dramatic tonal depth and composition of Old Masters such as Titian, Velázquez, and Caravaggio. Rich in layered color and shadow, the piece echoes classical painting traditions while setting the mood for a contemporary, after-dark retreat.
“We want a ground to which people may easily go when the day’s work is done, and where they may stroll for an hour, seeing, hearing, and feeling nothing of the bustle and jar of the streets where they shall, in effect, find the city put far away from them...”
Project Details
Inspired by Boston's iconic Emerald Necklace, ArtLink curators art-directed a series of botanical wall artworks for the hotel as a tribute to the city’s natural legacy. Referencing the historic chain of nine connected parks, the works evoke a sense of calm, connection to nature, and quiet reflection. Wrapped along the hotel’s walls and ceilings, the artworks create an immersive experience rooted in place and the surrounding landscape.
Project details
Client: Accor
Works Provided: 3
Artists: 1
Services provided
