Wynn Magazine - Las Vegas
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/386731
60 Wynn art spotlight indeed, says thomas, narrative and provenance are critical to Wynn. "he's always been willing to challenge himself with masterworks rather than finding what's easy." steve Wynn has a niche, but it isn't a particular school or time period – put simply, it's "the best." Wynn's passion for art has even impacted the logistics of sotheby's sales, according to george gordon, co-chair of the sotheby's old Master paintings department. "he was the single reason we switched to having our london main sales in the evening—the first time he bought a picture with us, i could hardly hear him, the poor chap," gordon says, "he had got up in the middle of the night to take a call in his bathroom, so as not to wake the household. i thought, We can't do this, we must retime the sales so it's more convenient for him in the United states." sleep deprivation is one hint to Wynn's consuming passion for art. it's typical of him, once taken with a topic, to educate himself to sensei- level—or, as thomas puts its, "When steve decides he has an interest? he's insatiable. it's all-in." When John richardson's picasso biography was published, Wynn invited the author to dinner to discuss the art- ist's work and life, within weeks. "he puts me to shame sometimes, and i'm a dealer," laughs friend larry gagosian. "he knows more than i do." Unlike many collectors, he doesn't rely on a cadre of advisers to offer groupthink advice on purchases, either. "i've found it to be very refreshing that he has the conviction and the confidence to just say, 'okay, i want to acquire this,'" gagosian continues, "on more than one occasion, he would come into the gallery, see a picture he liked, and buy it on the spot." Most importantly, though, Wynn wants to share this passion, rather than ring-fence it for his private enjoyment. Within Wynn, among other pieces, guests can see a raoul Dufy tapestry, a chandelier by gustave Eiffel, two Viola Freys (one, a monumental amphora on the Wynn Esplanade), bronze sculptures by Fernando Botero, and an important limestone rendition of Eve by French modernist Joseph andrau. in fact, Wynn las Vegas has published a new booklet, Taste of the Arts, a guide to the fine works on display throughout Wynn and Encore, available at the concierge desks. Fittingly, it opens with a quote from Wynn: "You never own any of this stuff, you just have custody. and frankly that's enough. But then they're meant to be shared with everybody." More than simply a matter of giving art to the public, though, Wynn also views some of his public art pieces as an important way to give guests cultural context. For instance, a quartet of important Qing Dynasty vases graces the lobby of Wynn Macau —only one other such set exists, in Buckingham palace. "if the quartet of vases is an important cultural statement for a Chinese hotel, we can say the same thing about popeye in this hotel," Wynn says. "popeye is part of american pop culture." Wynn's commitment to putting art in the public domain birthed the boom in culture that las Vegas now enjoys, such as CityCenter's massive installations by Jenny holzer and Maya lin, or the video art which fes- toons the lobby at Cosmopolitan. "Everybody was scampering around, trying to outdo steve, and he was amazing—he had anticipated it all," says acquavella, "he has totally changed the cultural life of Vegas." gagosian agrees. "steve didn't create las Vegas, but he reinvented it—he's the father of contemporary las Vegas and he's brought a level of style and panache that hasn't been equaled." n stEVE WYnn has a niChE, BUt it isn't a partiCUlar sChool or tiME pErioD. pUt siMplY, it's "thE BEst." above left: Fernando Botero's Seated Lady is the centerpiece of Botero's dining room at Encore. above right: Jef Koons's 2,000-pound Popeye sculpture landed on the Wynn Esplanade this May. photography by barbara kraft