Revived Hollywood divas come to life with lots of colours, blending nostalgia with modern artistry
German contemporary artist Mari Arp is currently showcasing her work at the Vilalara Grand Hotel Algarve, in partnership with the Côrte-Real Gallery, one of the Algarve’s leading names in the art scene.
The exhibition is part of the hotel’s new commitment to bringing art into its spaces, enriching the experience of guests and the wider community.
Mari Arp reinterprets icons of classic cinema and the editorial imagery of the 20th century through montage and collage techniques, using images from advertising posters and vintage magazines – featuring actresses, models, and pin-up figures – that she deconstructs and recomposes into works with a strong visual impact.
Arp has previously exhibited in London, Berlin, Chicago, and at the Côrte-Real Gallery itself, which currently represents her work in Portugal.
Bringing together six works – Grace Kelly, Friends, Film Director, The Golden Fish, Double Divers, and Polka Dot –, Mari Arp’s works are displayed across the anterooms of the Coral and As Gaivotas restaurants, with pieces available for purchase.
Vilalara’s general manager, Robert Neves, shared that the resort is taking a discreet but “clear step” towards integrating art into the guest experience, with this exhibition marking the beginning of “a new way of being at Vilalara” – one that aims “to touch the emotions, awaken the eye and surprise” –, building a connection with art and culture that the resort intends to deepen in 2026.
The exhibition is open to both guests and the general public and will be on display until October 31.
About the artist
German contemporary artist Mari Arp, born in 1963 in Preetz, Schleswig-Holstein, has been surrounded by creativity since childhood. Daughter of a carpenter, she was captivated early on by the craftsmanship and beauty that emerged from her father’s workshop. Her first artistic ventures took shape through filigree wooden figures and her own furniture, later evolving into painting and graphic experiments.
A transformative trip to Brazil in 2001, where she met artist Miro Bampa, ignited her artistic spark, inspiring Arp to embrace experimentation, blending diverse materials and techniques to produce her first large-scale relief works.
Over time, Arp’s style evolved into a distinctive fusion of painting, collage, graffiti, and structural play, becoming more figurative and emotionally resonant. Her more recent works – particularly her colourful portraits of iconic Hollywood divas – reveal a mastery of texture, emotion and form, earning her recognition at several exhibitions, such as the Discovery Art Fairs in Frankfurt and Cologne and in exhibitions across the Rhine-Main region.
Today, Mari Arp is a permanent artist at the Côrte-Real Gallery and at the Arp Galerie in Hanau, Germany.
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