Hotel Chelsea, New York. Eighth Floor, South, 2011

Victoria Cohen  

This artwork captures a stark urban vista through an open window, framing a scene of brick buildings and a leaden sky. The bricks present a textured, geometric pattern that contrasts with the sleek window frame. The muted color palette emphasizes a somber mood, underscoring the isolation of urban living. The composition cleverly uses the window as a physical and metaphorical boundary between the viewer and the outside world, inviting introspection. The perspective imbues depth, leading the eye from the intimate interior toward the sprawling cityscape. The lighting highlights the sharp lines of the architecture, enhancing the sense of rigidity and structure. This piece uniquely encapsulates a moment of stillness amidst the bustling city, inviting contemplation on the interplay between interior life and external chaos.

Photographs from the photography book entitled Hotel Chelsea (publisher pointed leaf press 2013).  C-print archival. Edition of 10 + 2AP. More Editions & Sizes: Small: 20 H x 30 W in. Edition of 15 + 2AP. Large: 40 H x 60 W in.  Edition of 6 + 2AP. Unframed . *Extra Large size available in Edition of 3 (by special order) 

These extraordinary photographs are part of the the Hotel Chelsea series. The Hotel Chelsea closed its doors for the first time in its iconic history of over one hundred years. American photographer Victoria Cohen exclusively photographed the hotel's original interior before it's closure for a redesign and complete renovation. Cohen's photographic journey through this mesmerizing and extraordinary place, that possessed not only the contents of an era gone by but a palpable feeling of being transported to a time and place of this Bohemian Mecca. The result of which produced these evocative and ambitious collection of fine art tableaus. For three weeks everyday Cohen was not only photographing the rooms and halls, but experiencing a feeling of overwhelmed emotion walking the in the spaces that had been inhabited by legendary figures of the arts and culture such as Patti Smith, Robert Mapplethorpe, Jimi Hendrix, Leonard Cohen, Dylan Thomas, Andy Warhol and so many more that called these rooms home throughout its storied history. Uniquely, Cohen, with the personal insight and exceptional vision to see the extraordinary, was able to transcend the concept of an interior space as an environment filled with inanimate objects, and redefine the subject matter into individual portraits that evoke a feeling of intimacy. This prominent body of work casts the historic landmark through the lens of the twenty-first century, exhibiting it as it has never been seen before, and will never be seen again. In 2013, this monumental project was made into a world renowned fine art photography book entitled Hotel Chelsea, published by Pointed Leaf Press.