Meet the Artist
Introducing Mary Chandler, one of six artists commissioned as part of the transformative 2023 hotel renovation at White Elephant Nantucket. From the lobby to the guest rooms, guests will experience a modern take on a Nantucket classic. In keeping with White Elephant's artistic legacy, new art will be installed throughout the historic harborside accommodations. Read more about the new hotel design here.
A Watercolorist's Affinity for Nantucket Island.
Proximity to the shoreline creates an atmosphere that resonates in Mary Chandler's paintings. Her interest in architecture, florals and the wild textures of the coastal landscape provide inspiration depicted in watercolors that capture the harmony of light, shadow, and mood. Inspired by Nantucket's beautiful light and historic architecture, Mary decided to pursue a career in painting. In 2000, she was commissioned to create a watercolor rendering of the renovation of the White Elephant hotel. Mary created a painting depicting a view of the new hotel as it would look from the harbor. For the newest iteration of White Elephant, Mary has spent time on island creating watercolors to complement the redesign of the Garden Cottages at White Elephant.
Newly renovated cottages featuring newly commissioned art.
White Elephant's 11 cozy cottages will all be individually renovated, redecorated and renamed after plants indigenous to Nantucket: Bayberry, Hydrangea, Daylily, Beachplum, Honeysuckle, Holly, Arrowwood, Marigold, Rosa Rugosa, and Snapdragon. Each cottage will take a plant as inspiration, with color palettes and complementary floral artwork painted by Chandler. Guests can look forward to tones of buttery yellow for the Honeysuckle room, pale lavender for Beachplum, and pale pink for Rose. Each private cottage will feel like stepping into a home named for Chandler's floral watercolor featured within. To be one of the first to stay in our new imagined one-, two- and three bedroom cottage reopening May 14 click here.
Artist in Residence Program.
Chandler is one of six artists who participated in the Artist-in-Residence Program. The program is a mini-residency made up of acclaimed artists from around the world who each spent time on Nantucket as inspiration to create art specifically for the newly renovated harborside hotel.
You can read about all six Artists in Residence commissioned by White Elephant here.
Mary Chandler is an award-winning member of the New England Watercolor Society and American Artist Professional League, as well as a member of the Copley Society of Boston and Rockport Artist Association & Museum. See more of Mary's work at www.chandlerstudio.com, or follow her on instagram.com/chandlerstudio.