Lio Malca’slatest exhibition, Arte en la Playa, is Casa Malca’s real work of art.

Lio Malca opened his hotel, Casa Malca, on the pristine beaches of Tulum in 2014. The New York-based art dealer transformed Pablo Escobar’s once-private mansion into a truly unique art escape.

With part of his personal collection of contemporary pieces on permanent display throughout the hotel’s various spaces, Lio Malca built a unique concept, one where guests coexist with works of art worthy of a museum that rotate with the seasons. The hotel’s current exhibition, “Arte en la Playa,” will be on display until April 2020and features work from Fabien Verschaere, Sui Jianguo, Jitish Kallat, Kenny Scharf, Kaws, Mark Ryden, Ravinder Reddy, Subodh Gupta, Sunil Gawde, and Yue Minjun.

Each room is beautifully decorated with unique furniture and art personally chosen by Lio Malca, and everything inside the compound walls serves the senses. From the main house bar—the wallpaper of which has Keith Haring patterns—to its world-class dining, Casa Malca perfectly delivers a luxury retreat where guests receive attentive, dedicated service, and maximum privacy while enjoying one-of-a-kind art pieces.

The hotel’s main restaurant, Philosophy, celebrates cuisine through modern dishes prepared with local ingredients inspired by the unique flavors of the region. Ambrosia, the property’s Asian specialty restaurant, features dishes created by Chef Jonathan Carbajal in an environment built entirely with recycled wood and decorated with works of art by Keith Haring.

While the contemporary pieces throughout the hotel might be on a seasonal rotation, it’s Casa Malca itself that remains the true work of art.

Words by @karastud