Where the Art World Is Traveling this Summer
Artists, curators, and gallerists share their getaway plans, which mix culture, inspiration, and relaxation
Lauren Kelly | Nevis
“We started going to Nevis when I was around five years old. When I was growing up, the month of August was always a concentrated time together in this very special place. I continued the tradition with my kids, and we are there for most of the month. The Hermitage hotel is like our base camp—where we can get a cup of tea in the afternoon and play backgammon. They have an honor bar for people who live in the neighborhood. Pinney’s Beach is the largest on Nevis, and I love the little cabana restaurants. Nevis Peak is an iconic volcanic summit because most people approach the island by water—just like Christopher Columbus, who gave the island its name. He mistook the white clouds for snow, which is nieve in Spanish.”
Sarah Stein-Sapir | Ibiza, Spain
“Last year, we decided to rent a villa in Ibiza. My husband is Spanish, and we love the idea of immersing our children in the language and in nature. We are returning this summer to Cala Vadella, which is so serene. The image of us sitting in the sand, watching the red sun dipping into the water, stays with me all year. At the house, we have a chef cook leisurely dinners served at this long table next to the pool while the kids run in the backyard. We enjoy great Spanish wine and fresh salads every night, alongside grilled steak and chicken, pimientos, and Spanish tortilla. You can have as refined or as casual an experience as you desire. There’s a special restaurant called Cala Gracioneta, which I think captures that unique duality of Ibiza. It’s down these winding stairs and looks out onto a little, secluded, 30-foot beach. It’s well known but still very private.”
Rachel Lehmann | Hydra and Athens, Greece
“I love Greece because of its unique combination of ocean and nature with culture. There’s this clarity to the water as well as a connection to the past and present. The island of Hydra has managed to stay authentic—there are no cars, and you can get completely lost in its blue-and-white villages. It’s also a destination for art lovers, and where Greek collector and patron Dakis Joannou established the Deste Foundation’s Project Space Slaughterhouse in 2009. This summer, one of our artists, Nari Ward, will unveil a fantastic new installation and exhibition there. His artwork carries a very hopeful and poetic message about healing and justice. Nearby is Athens, one of the most mythic cities in the world, and it’s worth seeing how Greek lighting designer Eleftheria Deko has transformed the Acropolis at night.”
Nicola Lees | Aspen, Colorado
“Many people know about the ski season here, but they don’t realize there’s also a rich history of artists spending time in Aspen. At the museum, we just had a major show by Jacqueline Humphries. This summer, Adrián Villar Rojas is having an exhibition that transforms two floors. He’s installing a bronze Triceratops sculpture he made, which explores the connection between mythology and early archaeology. I really love spending time on the Aspen Institute campus, taking in the mountain views, as well as visiting Anderson Ranch Arts Center.”
Maxwell Anderson | Barbados
“I go to Barbados at regular intervals, but I especially enjoy the summer because there are fewer tourists, so there are more opportunities to spend unhurried time with Bajans. At LMI, we are assisting in creating a 150-acre cultural district adjacent to the Newton Slave Burial Ground. To experience the natural beauty of the island, I plan to visit the Andromeda Botanic Gardens, an institution prized by locals for its commitment to conservation, as well as the Animal Flower Cave, known as a place to explore the beauty and mystery of caves. And I highly recommend a visit to downtown Bridgetown—Barbados declared itself an independent republic in 2021, and since lowering the royal standard flag, national pride is more visible on its streets than ever.”
Sanford Biggers | Sag Harbor, New York
“I started spending time at my in-laws’ house in Sag Harbor during the pandemic lockdown. Then my family and I got our own home. Sag Harbor Village has a quaint, low-pressure vibe; it is a more relaxed part of the Hamptons. I grew up with California light, and I’m quite familiar with the light on the Côte d’Azur. But driving over the bridge into Sag Harbor Village has this very specific, inspirational glow—from morning to dusk—and there are aspects of that landscape, cloudscape, and skyscape in the artworks I’m making for my show nearby at the Parrish Art Museum. Clouds have come to symbolize infinite potential and ephemerality to me, and the exhibition title, ‘Drift,’ evokes the cloudscapes, seasonal shifts, slight refrains, and passages of time and thought that I experience while out east.”
A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2026 Summer Issue under the headline “Incredible Journeys.” Subscribe to the magazine.