A thriving art scene means the picturesque Colorado city—and iconic skiing destination—has much to offer year round
Though the small mountain town of Aspen, Colorado, is regarded worldwide for its winter skiing, its summer appeal as a destination for art and nature is just as deep-set. The 19th-century silver mining locale became a hub for sport and culture in the 1940s with the establishment of the Aspen Skiing Company and Aspen Institute think tank. The nonprofit Anderson Ranch Arts Center followed suit in 1966, hosting artist residencies, lectures and workshops on a five-acre property in adjacent Snowmass. The Aspen Center for the Visual Arts, now the Aspen Art Museum, was founded by a group of creatives just a decade later.
A long history of philanthropy and artist-led organizations gave the mountain town an “edgy local art scene,” says Anderson Ranch President Peter Waanders, and soon the wealthy out-of-town art collectors and part-time residents that came to ski also began to shop. In recent years, that trend has continued, expanding the art tableau to bring world-class curators, creatives and patrons to the city to live, work and attend the institutions’ annual summer benefits. In 2021, Aspen Art Museum Director Nicola Lees established Aspen ArtWeek as a structural framework for the city’s cultural happenings, and summer officially became the city’s art season.
In addition to the exhibitions and events hosted by major art institutions, ArtWeek now brings international galleries—and their collecting clients—to town. “I’ve seen a new level of positivity and energy,” says Becca Hoffman, cofounder of Aspen Art Fair, which made its debut in town on July 29 with a roster that included galleries Perrotin and Southern Guild. It joins the longstanding summer art and design fair Intersect Aspen, for which Hoffman is a former director.
Aspen Snowmass Sotheby’s International Realty was proud to sponsor Aspen’s Inaugural Art Fair.
It’s the boutique feel of the summer art events which makes them so special, says Hoffman. “There are leading institutions here that bring out amazing speakers and work, and you’re not fighting the crowds to engage with it,” she says.
Though art is a large draw in the summer, nature is still a baseline allure. “People initially come to Aspen for the winter and end up staying here because of the sensational summer,” say Mandy Welgos and Carol Hood Peterson, associates at Aspen Snowmass Sotheby’s International Realty, who are offering a six-bedroom retreat just outside town with generous summer terraces looking out on the spectacular landscape. “It’s 75 to 80 degrees during the day and crisp and cool in the evening. And there’s so much to do.”
The pandemic in particular brought an influx of residents to the area, says Jamie Tisch, Aspen Art Museum board vice president, who has had a home in the city since 2005. “People gravitate to the landscape, nature and active lifestyle,” he says, but the “vibrant mix of established local collectors and newcomers drives art appreciation and collecting in the community.”
Today, residential real estate demand remains strong, and buyers are looking for houses where they can spend quality time with family and friends, Welgos and Peterson explain. “Across the board, most [Aspen] buyers think about lifestyle and location, and the amenities they select in the home support their sense of wellbeing,” they add.
The city has changed and evolved through the years, but “change is a good thing!” maintains Waanders. “A lot of Aspen cultural institutions feel a bit more shiny and exclusive.” Nevertheless, the mountain town has managed to maintain its home-grown feel.
What pervades is the mindset of the free-thinking collectives that originally established its intertwined arts and ski organizations. “There’s this engaged relaxation that exists in Aspen,” says Hoffman. “It is unparalleled.”
Written By Elizabeth Fazzare, Originally Published on Sothebys International Realty’s Extraordinary Living Blog
Craving more of Aspen’s art scene? We continue exploring that, along with luxury market trends around the globe, in an exclusive panel discussion with groundbreaking industry leaders. At The World of Sotheby’s: An Insider’s View, the first-ever event of its kind, three heads of state representing each pillar of the Sotheby’s brand convene at The Aspen Art Museum for a panel discussion led by Aspen Snowmass Sotheby’s International Realty President Andrew Ernemann. We pull back the curtain on our local art and real estate landscapes, delve into current and future luxury market trends, and uncover the power of the Sotheby’s brand at the heart of it all.
Panelists:
- Peter Kloman, Senior VP Sotheby’s Auction House
- Chad Roffers, CEO Sotheby’s Conceirge Auctions
- Bradley Nelson, CMO Sotheby’s International Realty
While the event is private, we want to share this rare opportunity to gain insider knowledge from industry leaders with you. We’re releasing exclusive footage and content highlighting the most significant takeaways after event so you can stay apart of the conversation. Subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media @AspenSnowmassSIR so you don’t miss out.
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