embassy suites hotel
A large-scale steel artwork depicting the island of Montréal, created for the reception area of Embassy Suites by Hilton Montréal.
Montréal on a grand scale
As part of their project for the hotel, Fleur de Lis Interior Design invited James Kennedy to create an artwork for the reception area. The hotel's interiors draw inspiration from the city itself. Their vision: a large-scale representation of Montréal.
working at scale in the studio
For this piece, James Kennedy meticulously redrew the island of Montréal and its surrounding islands before having the design laser-cut from a single sheet of steel.
He reorganized his studio to accommodate the large format and adapted his oxidation painting technique, bringing colour to selected areas while allowing the rest of the plate to retain the steel's deep, dark character.
The river takes on shades of blue, green and copper. Finishing a surface of this size by hand required particular care and precision.
project details
- artwork
- Montréal · steel artwork
- dimensions
- 150 × 305 cm | 59 × 120 in
- material and technique
- Hot-rolled steel, acid-induced oxidation, laser cutting, oil finish
- design
- Precise redrawings of Montréal island and the surrounding islands for this large-scale work
- fabrication
- By the artist, assisted by a team for handling and studio finishing
- interior design
- Fleur de Lis Interior Design, Toronto
- contractor
- Construction Vergo
- installation
- July 9, 2025
Delivered and hung by the artist and his team on the wall support installed by Construction Vergo - location
- Behind the reception desk, Embassy Suites by Hilton Montréal, 208 West Saint-Antoine Street
- year
- 2025