Through
A New Lens

As Stella Asia Cosonni’s work focuses on the unifying force of love, she was particularly inspired by the electric port city of Osaka, where W Osaka is located, keen on capturing the emotional human connections that live against the frenetic backdrop of the city’s neon lights.

“I thought of it as an opportunity to explore love in a culture where public displays of affection look different than in my home country of Italy,” she explains. However, after interacting with locals, Stella quickly realized that the essence of love was universal. Embracing the language barrier as an opportunity to use non-verbal cues and mutual curiosity, she was able to champion authentic interactions, celebrating human connection and love as a commonality that transcends linguistic differences.

“It was an incredible experience to be welcomed into the lives and homes of people whose language and culture differ from my upbringing. On several occasions, I felt like I was in the presence of my grandparents, friends, and family.” She recalls photographing an elderly couple at their home, where they had lived for over 65 years. While snacking on traditional tea and crackers, they sat around the kitchen table, sharing pictures of their respective families. “As an Italian, food is deeply rooted in my culture as a form of love that brings people together.

On her last day, she enjoyed one final meal at W Osaka, which she deemed the best hotel breakfast she’d ever had, particularly appreciating the Japanese selection, which included her favorites: congee, seaweed and pickles. “Sensing a similar passion [for food] in a city on the opposite side of the world from my country made me feel at home,” she muses.

Oumayma Ben Tanfous’s personal work focuses on the social dynamics within communities and how gathering in unique spaces defines their collective values. Intrigued when learning about Budapest’s relationship to thermal baths and the vibrant culture centered around them, she decided to pursue her artist residency at W Hotels’ new Budapest location, exploring the city’s historic bath ritual through its diverse community of bathers.

Known as the ‘City of Spas,’ Budapest is host to a historic secret world of bathhouses where Oumayma spent the week uncovering evocative environmental portraits of the bathers. “There were the locals, who were there every week, some I crossed paths with for several consecutive days,” she recalls. Oumayma was pleasantly surprised by their willingness to be photographed. “I didn’t expect to make such beautiful connections,” she says, recognizing that the spa tradition remains a lively and valuable part of the fabric of Budapest culture. “I smile, looking back at the portraits. Each of them reminds me of an intimate exchange.”

Time became evident the longer she was immersed in the baths, noticing the imprints left by the visitors over time in these centuries-old spaces. “The traces of wear, the shifting hues of tiles, and the sculptures [with] mythical water themes all contributed to the overall grandeur and opulence of the environment,” she explains. Pairing these historical nuances with intimate portraits of the bath-goers, her photo series intertwines the personal stories with the enduring legacy of the bathhouses themselves.

Inspired at the end of each shoot day, she formed her own ritual with a daily visit to the AWAY Spa at W Budapest, whose own design referenced the city’s ancient bath houses with its rounded archways, ornate gold detailing and tiled bath floors. “It became my sanctuary,” she says. “A space where I could relax, listen to music and review my images as the day wound down.”

Kennedi Carter’s work explores moments where Black communities feel their most free, a practice personal to her upbringing as a southern Black woman. When she learned of the artist residency at W New Orleans, she knew it would provide the perfect platform for her craft. “New Orleans evokes imagery of the bluest jazz song, a sticky sweltering heat, and the lawless movement of Black folks in streets,” opines Kennedi, who considers New Orleans one of the most captivating cities in the world.

The doors of W New Orleans placed Kennedi in the heart of the French Quarter, instantly immersing her in New Orleans’ storied musical scene. Explaining that some of the most dynamic images were formed by unplanned moments, Kennedi recalls an interaction with a performer named Spy Boy, a Mardi Gras Indian whom she had met walking through the city one afternoon and later photographed in Tulane’s woods. “Do you know what Spy Boys do?” she recalls him asking. “We lead.” With the moon in the trees as if casting a natural spotlight on her new friend, she watched him perform, captivated by his power.

After spirited days, moving to the sounds of the city and weaving through the marshlands, Kennedi returned to the hotel and explored its charming characteristics. Each space throughout W New Orleans - French Quarter featured a different design specific to the locations around New Orleans with deliberate attention to detail, further immersing herself in the local culture through custom design elements. “I was struck by this really cool lamp that projected through a piece of glass that was painted on the ceiling, the landscape of a bayou,” she reflects. “I just remember thinking, I’ve got to come back here.”