Casa Monti – The Art Suite

Casa Monti is a discreet, design-led sanctuary steeped in artistic heritage and the third property in the Leitmotiv portfolio. Joining this curated collection of characterful hotels inspired by local culture, thoughtful design, and a strong sense of place, Casa Monti blends historic provenance with contemporary Roman living, just moments from the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, the Colosseum and Monti’s vibrant streets.

Image credit: Manfredi Gioacchini / Casa Monti

Known for blending impressionism with fauvism, McGregor’s practice has been shaped by travel. Since 2016, McGregor has been drawing on hotel stationery, a spontaneous decision that has become a staple for the globe-trotting artist, who now lives in Athens, and who has spent the last decade living and working in Mexico City, Los Angeles, Paris, London, Greece, and Italy. Drawn to the contrast between formal logotypes and pastel-pencil gestures, he found poetry in the juxtaposition.

Today, his works are defined by an expressive, instinctive visual language and this dialogue between place and impermanence are set to arrive at Casa Monti this spring. For his Roman residency, McGregor will transform the dedicated suite into a fully liveable artwork, blurring the boundaries between contemporary art, design and hospitality. Guests will be invited not just to stay, but to fully immerse themselves in the artist’s world.

Image credit: Omar Golli / Casa Monti

Through this new residency, drawings and paintings will unfold across both paper and textiles, woven into the very fabric of the room. This new body of work, developed during his Roman residency, is informed by visits to the city’s cultural landmarks and hidden gems, including Centrale Montemartini, Villa Medici, and Palazzo Venezia.

Custom wall panels will anchor the space, while exclusively designed patterns extend across upholstery and decorative elements, binding structure and surface into a singular vision. Works in the suite, centred on antiquity and Greco-Roman mythology, reference lines of ancient poetry by Horace, reimagined through Michael’s distinctive visual language. One particular work draws inspiration from a late Republican Roman mosaic frieze discovered during excavations in Via Panisperna.

A bespoke backgammon set, designed by McGregor and adorned with his signature motifs, offers a playful invitation for guests to engage directly with his work. Sketches, art books and personal objects will be placed throughout, reinforcing the sense of stepping inside an artist’s private universe.

Also debuting in the suite is ROMA AMOR, a new collection of drawings and sketches McGregor created during his stay at the hotel in 2025, reflective of his creative psyche and relationship with Rome, including inspirations from his visits to the sites of Centrale Montemartini, Villa Medici, and Palazzo Venezia.

McGregor returns to the hotel on the 8th April, to inhabit and refine the space, ensuring each detail embodies his precise vision ahead of the residency.

Image credit: Omar Golli / Casa Monti

Commenting on the partnership, McGregor says, “Casa Monti offers a rare opportunity to work beyond the walls of galleries and studios, in an intimate space where I can connect directly with guests. My aim is to craft moments of discovery through small gestures, playful details, and subtle interventions that spark curiosity, invite personal engagement and challenge my own techniques.”

The Art Suite exists in natural dialogue with Casa Monti’s own design philosophy, where artworks, patterns and fabrics echo the iconic figures of roman history. The residency embodies Casa Monti’s vision of hospitality as a cultural platform, where art is lived rather than displayed. Rooted in Rome’s creative spirit, the hotel provides a natural home for McGregor and continues to foster meaningful dialogues with contemporary artists in the Eternal City.

Main image credit: Omar Golli / Casa Monti